Summit County preserves 61 acres of Kamas Valley farmland

Maxo Meadow in Kamas Valley, now protected under a conservation easement through Summit County’s open space bond funds. Photo: Summit Lands Conservancy

KAMAS VALLEY, Utah — A 61-acre Eastern Summit County property known as Maxo Meadow was permanently preserved Monday through a conservation easement backed by Summit County’s open space bond funds. The easement, facilitated by Summit Land Conservancy, the Eastern Summit County Agriculture Preservation and Open Lands Advisory Committee (ESAP), and county officials, marks the third conservation easement and fifth property secured with funds from the 2021 General Obligation (GO) Bond for Open Space.

Located on the west side of Kamas Valley, north of SR-248, Maxo Meadow has a long-standing agricultural history, with farming and ranching activity dating back more than a century. The Young family currently operates a cattle-grazing ranch on the property and intends to keep it in agricultural production and family ownership.

“We are grateful to the Young family for entrusting Summit Land Conservancy to hold this conservation easement which aligns with Summit County’s vision to preserve agricultural land within the Kamas Meadows,” said Summit County Council Chair Tonja Hanson. “Summit County wouldn’t be what it is today without the many contributions of our agricultural community.”

Over the last four years, the Summit County Lands and Natural Resources Department has focused on preserving the Kamas Meadows—a vital wildlife corridor, water resource, and viewshed—with the aim of safeguarding its agricultural legacy. Since the 2021 bond’s passage, 13,835 acres have been secured countywide through a combination of bond funds, grants, and support from volunteer boards such as ESAP and the Open Space Advisory Committee (OSAC).

The following properties have been protected in part with open space bond funds: Andrus Family Farm (96 acres), Wright Echo Canyon (4,285 acres), and now Maxo Meadow (61 acres). Two additional properties—the Ure Ranch (835 acres) and the 910 Ranch (8,558 acres)—have also been secured and are nearing completion.

“It has been a great honor to work alongside Summit Land Conservancy and other federal and state partners, to protect land throughout Summit County,” said Summit County Lands and Natural Resource Director Jess Kirby. “I commend each of the landowners who have selflessly chosen conservation for their properties, an act that will be their lasting legacy. I feel so lucky to live in and work for a community that values open space and agricultural preservation the way Summit County does. Without the community support of the GO Bond in 2021 we would not be celebrating these monumental conservation achievements.”

Summit County continues to acquire land and secure easements to protect open space, natural resources, and agricultural land. Landowners interested in having their property evaluated for potential use of Open Space Bond Funds can submit a Notice of Interest at summitcounty.info/NOI. Only property owners or authorized representatives may submit a request.