WOOD RIVER LAND TRUST, INC

What WOOD RIVER LAND TRUST, INC does

Wood River Land Trust, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust founded in 1994 and headquartered in Hailey, Idaho, serving the Wood River Valley in Blaine County, south-central Idaho. Its core activities are land conservation (preserves, conservation easements, enhancement projects), river restoration (Big Wood River and tributaries, including the Warm Springs Preserve floodplain reconnection and side-channel construction), and operation of 20 public access preserves covering 30,908 acres. The organization also runs education, citizen science, and Trout Friendly Yard certification programs, and since May 2024 has operated a Community Planning program focused on land-use decisions in five areas: habitat conservation, water availability, transportation mobility, community housing, and livability. Customer-facing "products" are free public access to preserves, conservation easements for landowners, and education/engagement programs for residents.

The organization's underlying operational infrastructure is human-led fieldwork (river restoration, habitat enhancement, preserve stewardship) supported by GIS-based wildlife studies (e.g., Wildlife-Vehicle Conflict Assessment on Highway 75 conducted with the Center for Large Landscape Conservation), citizen science data collection, and standard digital communications (website, email newsletter "The Side Channel," Vimeo, Instagram, Facebook). No proprietary software, AI/ML, or technology product is offered; the asset base is the land itself, conserved in perpetuity, plus the institutional relationships with municipalities, state agencies, and landowners.

The business model is donation-driven. Operating revenue is sourced from individual donations, charitable contributions, fundraising campaigns, and event sponsorships (e.g., Big Wood River Clean Up raffle partners Sawtooth Brewery, Cox Communications, Sun Valley Ski Resort). The most material financial action in the data set is the $16M Hailey Hot Springs Ranch capital campaign ($15M acquisition + $1M long-term maintenance), of which approximately $10.5M was raised by March 2025, including a $500K pledge from the Blaine County Recreation District. Pricing is not applicable to public preserve access. Go-to-market is community-led: volunteer events, workshops, newsletters, and partnerships with the Cities of Hailey, Bellevue, Ketchum, and Blaine County, plus collaborators including The Nature Conservancy-Idaho, Heart of the Rockies Initiative, University of Idaho, Idaho Fish & Game, and Idaho Transportation Department.

Name

WOOD RIVER LAND TRUST, INC

Legal name

Wood River Land Trust, Inc.

Website

https://woodriverlandtrust.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Wood River Land Trust is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit land trust in Idaho's Wood River Valley that has protected 30,908 acres, restored 15 miles of river, and operates 20 public preserves, funded primarily by community donations and serving residents, landowners, and local governments across Blaine County.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Land Conservation Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (1153), Nature Parks and Other Similar Institutions (71219)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Conservation Easements & Land Trust Services (AFAMAMAH)

akta.pro secondary industries

Land Trusts & Protected Areas (BPAGAGAC), Watershed Protection & Water Quality Services (AFAMAMAB)

Keywords

• Land conservation services
• River restoration services
• Conservation easements
• Public nature preserves
• Watershed community planning

Headquarters

HQ city

Hailey

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: The primary revenue stream for this nonprofit land trust comes from donations, charitable contributions, and fundraising campaigns from community members. Major campaigns include the Hailey Hot Springs Ranch preservation campaign seeking $16 million.
2. Volunteer and Community Engagement: Revenue generation through community participation in preserves and events, with sponsorships from local businesses for events like the Big Wood River Clean Up raffle.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Wood River Land Trust is a nonprofit conservation organization that permanently protects land and water in the Wood River Valley, Idaho through public access preserves, conservation easements, river restoration, wildlife connectivity projects, and community planning programs for smart growth. The organization operates 20+ public preserves across Blaine County and delivers watershed education, citizen science, and certification programs such as Trout Friendly Yard.

Product overview

Wood River Land Trust is a nonprofit conservation organization offering a portfolio of interconnected land and water protection services. Core offerings include Land Conservation (preserves, conservation easements, enhancement projects), River Restoration (habitat restoration, studies, education), and 21 Public Access Preserves across the Wood River Valley. Supporting programs include the Community Planning program (land use planning for conservation), Trout Friendly Yard Certification (water conservation), and Citizen Science programs. Major conservation projects include the Warm Springs Preserve Restoration, Spirit Woman Ranch (80 acres protected), and Hailey Hot Springs Ranch (2,700 acres in progress).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Land Conservation Program A program focused on protecting land and water in the Wood River Valley through public access preserves, conservation easements, and habitat enhancement projects, offered to landowners, community members, and conservation partners.
• River Restoration and Education Service line that restores vital waterways including the Big Wood River and its tributaries through process-based restoration, monitoring, studies, and educational programs for the community.
• Public Access Preserves A portfolio of 21 public access preserves across the Wood River Valley (including North Valley, Mid Valley, South Valley, and Sawtooth Valley locations) that provide free outdoor recreation, wildlife habitat protection, and community gathering spaces for residents and visitors.
• Community Planning Program A program dedicated to managing growth for conservation through community engagement on land use planning decisions across five focus areas: habitat conservation, water availability, transportation mobility, community housing, and livability.
• Trout Friendly Yard Certification

Quantifiable outcome

• 30,908 acres protected for conservation
• +8 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

21 partnerships are on record, tiered core, supporting and minor.

• Blaine County Recreation DistrictcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlanning to partner with WRLT on Hailey Hot Springs Ranch preservation, with a $500,000 pledge committed. BCRD plans to potentially build up to 6.6 miles of continuous trails in Croy Canyon and restore public access to hot springs on the preserve.
• The Nature Conservancy-IdahosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator expressing interest in Hailey Hot Springs Ranch preserve formation and maintenance. One of several conservation organizations supporting the preservation effort.
• Heart of the Rockies InitiativesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator expressing interest in Hailey Hot Springs Ranch preserve formation and maintenance.
• University of IdahosupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerUniversity is hoping to use Hailey Hot Springs Ranch preserve as a 'living laboratory' for students and as an extension of its operations on nearby Rinker Rock Creek Ranch.
• Center for Large Landscape ConservationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCommissioned road ecology team commissioned by WRLT to conduct Wildlife-Vehicle Conflict Assessment and Long Range Mitigation Plan for Highway 75. CLLC will conduct spatial analysis, develop recommendations, and support community engagement.
• Idaho Fish & GamecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization helping steer the scope and completion of the wildlife-vehicle collision assessment. Provides wildlife population data and migration route information for the Wood River Valley resident elk herd.
• Idaho Transportation DepartmentcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in wildlife-vehicle collision mitigation on State Highway 75. Has implemented nighttime speed limit reductions, improved Hospital Bridge design for wildlife passage, and installed wildlife warning signage.
• Idaho Conservation LeaguesupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner organization helping steer the scope and completion of the wildlife-vehicle collision assessment.
• Blaine CountycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in wildlife-vehicle collision mitigation through the Wildlife-Vehicle Collision Subcommittee of the Blaine County Regional Transportation Committee. County is committed to improving roadway safety and living in harmony with local wildlife.
• The Community LibrarysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerCo-presenter with WRLT and Center for Large Landscape Conservation for public lectures on wildlife connectivity and conservation topics.
• Environmental Resource CentersupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerERC partners with WRLT on volunteer work parties including Weed Warrior events at Howard Preserve. Provides environmental education resources and support for community conservation activities.
• Trout UnlimitedsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartnered with WRLT for Boxcar Bend Work Party volunteer event. Collaboration on river conservation and habitat restoration efforts.
• Cox CharitiessupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerSponsor of Community Planting Day at Warm Springs Preserve, supporting the largest river restoration project in the Big Wood River Basin.
• Sawtooth BrewerysupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerHost of Big Wood River Clean Up after party and raffle drawing. Provides drink tickets for volunteers and venue for community celebration.
• Wylde BeetsupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides free cookie coupons for Big Wood River Clean Up volunteers as event sponsor.
• ZenergyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRaffle sponsor for Big Wood River Clean Up, donating one month membership as prize.
• Sun Valley Ski ResortminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRaffle sponsor for Big Wood River Clean Up, donating two lift tickets as prize.
• Galena LodgeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRaffle sponsor donating Nordic ski, snowshoe, or mountain bike rentals as prize for Big Wood River Clean Up.
• Cox CommunicationssupportingGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner with WRLT on Big Wood River Clean Up T-Shirt Design Contest for third and fourth graders from local elementary schools.
• Sweet Potato Ranch LLCcoreOthersSeller of the 2,300-acre Hailey Hot Springs Ranch property to WRLT for $15 million acquisition price plus $1 million for long-term maintenance.
• City of KetchumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner on Warm Springs Preserve restoration project through extensive community input and long-term vision collaboration for creek and habitat restoration.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves12 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Trust for Public Land: National nonprofit focused on land conservation, conservation easements, and creating public access to nature — directly comparable core services to WRLT, though operating at national scale across all 50 states.
• Center for Large Landscape Conservation: Active WRLT partner commissioned for the Highway 75 Wildlife-Vehicle Conflict Assessment. Focuses on landscape-scale conservation and connectivity, mirroring WRLT's work on wildlife corridors and regional planning.
• The Conservation Fund: National nonprofit that works at the intersection of conservation and economic development, acquiring and managing land and conservation easements — closely aligned operating model and mission with WRLT, with federal and corporate partnerships.
• Idaho Conservation League: Active WRLT partner on the wildlife-vehicle collision assessment. Idaho's oldest statewide conservation organization focused on land, water, and wildlife policy — overlapping WRLT's mission at a broader state-policy level.
• Heart of the Rockies Initiative: Active WRLT partner on Hailey Hot Springs Ranch. Regional conservation collaborative working across the Northern Rockies on landscape connectivity, easement programs, and community-based conservation in geographies adjacent to WRLT's service area.
• Sawtooth Land Trust: Idaho-based community land trust operating in the Wood River Valley's neighboring Sawtooth region. Most structurally similar to WRLT in scale, mission, and donor base, with comparable focus on conservation easements and public preserves.

Broad incumbents

• National Audubon Society: National conservation organization with overlapping mission on habitat protection, river restoration, and citizen science. Operates at far larger scale with chapters nationwide, including in Idaho.
• Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative: Large-scale regional conservation initiative focused on connectivity across the Northern Rockies. Operates at a much broader landscape scale than WRLT but shares the connectivity, easement, and public-lands orientation.
• The Nature Conservancy - Idaho: Active WRLT partner on the Hailey Hot Springs Ranch campaign. Operates at national scale on land conservation, restoration, and easements in Idaho, with much larger capital base and broader geographic reach.

Regional players

• Vital Lands Alliance: Regional conservation organization focused on the inland Northwest, working on land and water conservation similar to WRLT. Comparable programmatic focus with a different regional footprint.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubevimeo.com/woodriverlandtrust
• Facebookfacebook.com/WoodRiverLandTrust
• Instagraminstagram.com/woodriverlandtrust
• Xx.com/WoodRiverLT
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/wood-river-land-trust

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles4 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about WOOD RIVER LAND TRUST, INC