Conservation leadership in the Madison Valley by The Sun Ranch owners Roger and Cynthia Lang

The most significant wildlife habitat of one of the largest ranches in southwest is now protected from development.

Roger and Cynthia Lang, owners of the 18,000-acre Sun Ranch, have donated a conservation easement to The Nature Conservancy that covers the ranch’s northern 6,830 acres, which make up the wildlife-rich Wolf Creek watershed. The watershed, and the surrounding bench running from the Madison Range to the Madison River, is one of the most important wildlife corridors in the Madison Valley and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem.

http://nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/montana/news/news1268.html

The agreement, in which the Langs essentially donated the development rights of that portion of the ranch, means the property will be managed as a ranch, and will not be subdivided, in perpetuity.

"This is a major milestone for the Madison Valley, and we are very excited to be part of protecting this very special and important ranch – for the business of ranching and as a way to conserve its incredibly important wildlife habitat," said Roger Lang, who along with his wife Cynthia purchased the ranch from actor Steven Seagal in 1998.

The scenic ranch, located about 25 miles south of Ennis, has it all from a natural resource perspective. The 11,000-foot peaks of the Madison Range provide snowmelt that flows into four creeks on the ranch. Stands of Douglas fir and other tree species give way to vast grasslands and streamside willows that support an immense elk herd, the second largest in the Greater Yellowstone region; up to 8,000 elk live on the Sun Ranch and neighboring Wall Creek Wildlife Management Area. A small wolf pack has a den on the property, and grizzly bear, lynx, fisher, marten and wolverine are also present.

"Given the singular importance of this ranch for connecting wildlife from Yellowstone National Park to the Madison River and Gravelly Range, this easement will significantly benefit the health of the larger Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem," said Jamie Williams, state director of the Conservancy.

But what makes this agreement even more important, said Williams, is that the Sun Ranch, a working cattle ranch, is involved in a number of projects that address issues of ranch economics, land stewardship, and wildlife and livestock management.

The ranch is home to Conservation Beefä , a program of The Nature Conservancy and Artemis Common Ground that pays a premium for grass-fed beef raised on ranches that commit to high quality land stewardship.

Two other ranches in the Madison Valley raise Conservation Beef and they, along with the Langs, are members of the Madison Valley Ranchlands Group, an organization of ranchers who work with conservation interests and public resource agencies to preserve family ranching and the open spaces on which it depends.

"The Sun Ranch easement will help preserve great ranching country and highly important wildlife habitat," said Montana’s Lieutenant Governor Karl Ohs, a founding member of the MVRG who owns a ranch in the valley. "This collaborative effort is a fine example of the vision of the Madison Valley Ranchlands Group and Conservation Beef."

The Sun Ranch provides pasture for the Conservation Beef cattle, and the MVRG helps provide the stewardship standards for the program.

"The Conservation Beef program needed a testing ground, and we felt we could run the risk and help build the model," said Lang. "We feel it makes economic sense for the ranch, and we’re interested in working with the Conservancy to develop options for making ranching more economically sound."

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A major aspect of this business model includes the Papoose Creek Lodge http://www.papoosecreek.com/

Cindy and Roger Lang purchased the Sun Ranch (including the Papoose Creek Lodge) in 1998. Completed three cabins in 2001 out of reclaimed materials such as Montana and Wyoming snow fence and river rock located on the property. The owners have a passionate concern for the environment that is evident in every endeavor they engage in. Guests have the opportunity to encounter neighbors, artists, guides and wildlife experts, and to experience the sound environmental practices at the lodge, so gaining an understanding of this deeply committed Montana community.

Both Cyndi and Roger hold positions on environmental boards and are very involved in conservation causes. In the Madison Valley Cynthia and Roger are especially active in progressive land stewardship practices including aggressive weed abatement, promoting and protecting animal habitat, and creating replicable and sustainable conservation practices. These practices include raising conservation beef and setting up conservation easements to prevent inappropriate development in the Madison Valley.

As part of the conservation program at the ranch the Lang’s replaced barbed wire fences on Sun Ranch, built a fish hatchery and brood pond to bring back the West Slope Cutthroat Trout, dedicated ranch grazing to the elk herds and continue to support the wolves on Sun Ranch by funding a research project at Montana State University. Learn more about these projects during the weekly talks from well known guest speakers.

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In addition to the cattle operations, the Langs are managing their property in ways that support native plants and wildlife. The ranch’s management plan covers soil and water quality, riparian health and wildlife habitat. Wildlife-friendly fencing has replaced barbed wire, and the creeks running through the property are fenced to protect them from cattle damage. Stock watering tanks have been installed away from streambanks.

Protecting the streams helps protect the native westslope cutthroat trout and other fish. The Langs have established a native fish hatchery on the ranch, the only one in the upper Missouri watershed, which supplies genetically pure cutthroat trout eggs to Yellowstone National Park, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, and the Turner Endangered Species Program.

The Langs have been active with the Madison Valley Ranchlands Group in promoting weed control throughout the Madison Valley. Four years ago, the Sun Ranch hosted the first valley-wide weed fundraiser, which now has become a major community event. Last year, several hundred people attended the party, which raised $42,000. The MVRG uses the funds to map spotted knapweed and other noxious weeds across the valley and partner with landowners and the county in controlling the most severe problems.

The ranch is also the site of a wolf study, now in its third year, which is evaluating the impact of the wolf pack on the elk, mule deer and moose population. "What we’re seeing so far," said MSU ecology professor Bob Garrott, "is that the numbers of elk are not affected as much as the mule deer and moose. There are fewer numbers of moose, so just a little predation on them could have a dramatic effect."

Garrott says he is concerned, though, about potential cattle predation in the summer, when the elk have gone and the small wolf pack – with pups – is in need of food.

The local ranchers are not thrilled about having wolves in the area, he said, but "I think they’re okay with the study. We need to understand how to balance wolf conservation with livestock protection."

The challenge of living with wolves and trying to run a cattle ranch is part of what gets the Langs excited about their ranch. "There are two things we’re committed to: business and conservation… This ranch is pretty special. We can’t get enough of it," said Lang.

If the Langs are helping chart a new course for ranching, they are also mindful of its history. The ranch is part of an ancient landscape that has supported people and animals for eons. Stanford University archeologists have discovered evidence of humans who lived here 9,000 years ago.

More recently, the ranch was a main center of homesteads of sheepherders and cattlemen who provided the food and wool during the Gold Rush. For many years, the ranch was known as the Rising Sun Ranch, but changed its name during World War II. Though it’s not clear how old the ranch is, it does have one of the oldest brands in Montana, says Lang.

"This conservation easement with the Conservancy is the first step toward protecting the whole Sun Ranch," said Lang. "We’re committed to actions which will help our community and ranching economics in the Madison Valley. We’d like to see other landowners consider the conservation tools available to them."

Lang is also involved in business in the Bozeman area. He founded Cutthroat Communications http://cutthroatcom.com/ , which provides Internet and networking services to western communities.