Water. It’s the lifeblood of your land. No other feature rivals this resource for enhancing habitat, nurturing biodiversity, and bringing beauty (and value) to your property. By Corinne Gaffner Garcia Stand in the middle of Montana’s Running Colter Ranch and perk up your ears. If you listen closely, you’ll hear the sweet summer melody of Western
The Driving Force of All Nature? Water! Read More »
As the shale-gas boom engulfs Ohio, landowners are negotiating much higher oil and gas leases. Pennsylvania-based Eclipse Resources recently paid an astounding $16 million — $4,000 per acre plus 19 percent royalties — to some 70 landowners in the Upper Ohio River Valley. Additionally, landowners have been able to take the uncommon step of securing
Subsurface Values Soar in Rural Ohio Read More »
In Far West Texas, just off Interstate 10, entrepreneurs have staked a 10,000-acre claim on state land administered by the Texas General Land Office. Their goal is to mine rhyolite, which contains rare earth minerals used in iPods, Stealth bombers, and dozens of other products. “This is a low-grade occurrence, but it has massive potential,”
Rare Earth Minerals Bonanza Read More »
Burrell Day and Joel McDaniel sued the Edwards Aquifer Authority after it issued a permit limiting the amount of water they could pump from their Bexar County ranch. The two ranchers claimed the permit amounted to an unconstitutional taking of property without compensation. The high court sided with the landowners, saying they own the water
Texas Supreme Court Sides with Landowners Read More »
Walton Ranch, situated in the shadow of Wyoming’s magnificent Grand Teton Mountain Range, is one of the most exquisite, authentic working cattle ranches in the American West today. The 1,848-acre ranch has its own resident elk herd, which can be seen on the property daily, and is home to deer, eagles and bears. The three
Land Report Top 10: Walton Ranch Read More »
Dan Ashe was sworn in as the 16th director of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on June 30. President Obama had nominated Ashe to head up the nation’s principal federal agency dedicated to the conservation of fish and wildlife and their habitats last December. Thanks to his father’s 37-year career at Fish and Wildlife, Ashe
Ashe Takes Oath as Fish & Wildlife Director Read More »
The China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) has purchased a 33.3% undivided interest in Chesapeake Energy’s 600,000 net oil and natural gas leasehold acres in the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas. The deal was CNOOC’s first to close in the U.S. since its failed 2005 Unocal bid. Deal terms included $1.08 billion in cash, plus
Market Watch: Chesapeake Sells $2.16B Eagle Ford Stake Read More »
America’s largest landowner is full speed ahead on his renewable energy venture. Turner Renewable Energy and Southern Co. acquired a 30 megawatt (AC) photovoltaic solar power project that is being developed by First Solar (FSLR) adjacent to Ted Turner’s Vermejo Park Ranch in northern New Mexico. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. The
Turner Renewable Energy Acquires Solar Power Project Read More »
Florida Gov. Charli It’s been almost two years since Florida Governor Charlie Crist announced the $1.75 billion purchase of 187,000 acres in the Florida Everglades from United States Sugar. Since then the economy has tanked and the purchase price has been lowered twice: to $1.34 billion and now $536 million. In each instance, the number
$500 Million Everglades Deal Postponed Again Read More »
