After several years of collaboration, the Ranchland Trust of Kansas (RTK) is pleased to share the conservation easement on Pleasant Valley Ranch officially closed April 10. Owned by Mark and Cindy Smith of Wallace, the easement encompasses 938 acres and is located southwest of Wallace along the Smoky Hill River. With Pond Creek and Coon Creek winding through the ranch, the area provides water, shelter and natural protection for livestock and wildlife. The surrounding bluffs also offer lookout points and refuge from harsh winds and winter blizzards.
Conservation always has been a focus for the Smiths. Mark believes the presence or absence of wildlife on grassland is a barometer for the quality of forage available to cattle. Without a functional ecosystem, the land will be more susceptible to the harsh climate of western Kansas.
Pleasant Valley Ranch also has a deep historical significance. Before the establishment of Fort Wallace, the Union Army was headquartered at Camp Pond Creek, located on what now is the ranch. Original building foundations and other remnants of that era still can be found on the property. Additionally, there was a stage station for the Butterfield Overland Despatch Trail, which provided a place for settlers to eat before traveling further west. The property also served as an important site for Native Americans because of its strategic and life-sustaining features. The Fort Wallace Museum in Wallace has many original artifacts, maps and photographs from the property.
This voluntary conservation easement was made possible by donations from the Smith family and grant funding through the North America Wetlands Conservation Act, issued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, in partnership with Ducks Unlimited. Additional funding was provided through the America the Beautiful Challenge, a public-private grant program issued by the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation in partnership with Playa Lakes Joint Venture