By John Dobberstein

Tulsa World

Land Legacy plans to buy more easements to conserve prime farm land in Oklahoma because property values near growing suburbs are too high to attract donations.

Land Legacy, a Tulsa-based conservation organization, has already secured 3,600 acres of open space at 21 sites across the state. But the organization decided last year that relying on good-hearted donations wasn't effective enough, said Robert Gregory, Land Legacy's executive director.

He said Land Legacy has narrowed its priorities and will start initiating contact with land owners.

One priority, he said, is conserving prime farm land in Tulsa County, especially south of Bixby where open space is subject to intense development pressures.

The proposed private toll bridge over the Arkansas River, if it happens, could further speed development of riverfront property and productive farm land.

"We've learned if we knock on the land owner's door, they're probably going to want to be paid for that easement," Gregory said

"If their neighbors are selling for $2O,000 an acre and we knock on their door and say 'Will you donate a conservation easement?' They'll say, 'Get out of town.'"

Land Legacy is attempting to spark a dialogue with residents, community leaders and key land owners in southern Tulsa County about conservation plans.

Gregory feels he has public policy behind him, since the Indian Nations Council of Governments (INCOG) approved plans for development of the Arkansas River that include farm land preservation.

Land Legacy has been successful with its previous approach of seeking donations. It has secured numerous conservation easements for smaller properties throughout Oklahoma, where land owners keep their property but give up the right to subdivide and build on it.

Donation is popular with some people, Gregory said, such as hobby ranchers with 200-acre plots who might be looking for a tax break.

Last year, with assistance from Land Legacy, Lindsay Perkins Development Co. donated a conservation easement for 300 acres in Osage County. The land is part of The Preservation District, a combination natural area and residential development just north of Sand Springs.

Aaron's Angels, a 100-acre property near Sapulpa, was donated to Land Legacy by its owners, the Sivadon family. The property will be subsequently conveyed to the city of Sapulpa, subject to a conservation easement, for use as a public park and nature center, Gregory said.

Perkins Ranch, a 300-acre property near Pawnee that is rife with wildlife and grazing activity, will be "forever protected" he said, through a conservation easement donation.

Land Legacy has also been involved in easement purchases of late.

The organization is working with military officials to preserve 20,000 acres of open space surrounding Fort Sill near Lawton through the purchase of conservation easements.

Valley Park, an open space near the Verdigris River in Rogers County, was preserved last year through an easement purchase. The deal included a partial land-value donation by the landowner.

Despite those successes, Land Legacy is taking a fresh look at its efforts.

"We said this is great, helping landowners preserve this, but what are we really creating over time?" Gregory said. "What good is it to have 100 acres in a certain county that's alone and by itself, preserved?'

Land -Legacy's new strategic plan spells out its highest priorities: creating urban parks and trails in the Tulsa area; preservation of prime soils and agricultural land near cities; reuse of former contaminated properties in Oklahoma City; the Fort Sill Private Lands Initiative; and protecting the Spavinaw Creek watershed.

Land Legacy's funding for land acquisition increased to $3 million last year, up from $360,000 in 2004.

But buying easements in growing areas like Bixby will require more money, Gregory said.

He hopes to persuade municipalities and private sources to contribute money. Another resource will be the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program, which provides 50 percent of the needed funds for an approved easement purchase.

Land Legacy isn't trying to stop development, Gregory said - just persuade developers to avoid prime farm soils.

Some developers, such as Perkins, are beginning to become more preservation-minded, and that's encouraging, he said.

"I think, five years ago, we weren't seeing any developers looking at (conservation) as a way of enhancing their work."