Private Land Donation Expands Conservation Area and Returns Land to Kalispel Indian Tribe
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A Washington landowner has donated 885 acres of private woodland to the Kalispel Indian Tribe, permanently protecting a key wildlife habitat. The donation adds to a broader trend where citizens in countries like Australia and the U.S. have placed millions of acres into conservation. The land, which includes river frontage and is home to species like bull trout and elk, will now be stewarded by the Tribe.
Facts First
- Gary Verbrugge is donating 885 acres of private land in Washington to the Kalispel Indian Tribe.
- The property includes frontage on the Little Spokane River and creeks that are habitat for bull trout.
- The woodland serves as habitat for elk, deer, moose, wolves, and eagles, which Verbrugge has monitored with trail cameras.
- The donation builds on a 2007 conservation easement established with the Inland Northwest Land Conservancy (INLC).
- The move is part of a larger trend where citizens have amassed 85 million acres of private land for conservation in Australia and the U.S.
What Happened
Gary Verbrugge is donating 885 acres of his private woodland to the Kalispel Indian Tribe. The Tribe has accepted the donation. The property includes frontage on the Little Spokane River and several creeks that contain bull trout, and it serves as habitat for elk, deer, moose, wolves, cougar, bobcat, and eagles. In 2007, Verbrugge partnered with the Inland Northwest Land Conservancy (INLC) to place a conservation easement on 605 wooded acres. In 2025, he purchased an additional 280 acres from relatives to add to the conservation package being donated.
Why this Matters to You
This donation contributes to a significant, citizen-led movement for land conservation. The protection of riverfront habitats helps maintain water quality and supports native fish populations like bull trout, which could affect regional fishing and ecosystem health. The permanent preservation of large, connected woodlands provides crucial corridors for wildlife, which may help sustain populations of species like elk and deer that are part of the local natural heritage. Returning stewardship of the land to the Kalispel Indian Tribe also represents a step toward rectifying historical land dispossession, which may foster stronger community relationships and more culturally informed land management.
What's Next
The Kalispel Indian Tribe will now assume stewardship of the 885-acre property. The Tribe may implement its own land management plans to protect the wildlife habitat and cultural resources on the land. This successful donation could serve as a model for other private landowners who are considering similar conservation actions or partnerships with Indigenous communities.