Success Stories

Since 1989, Conservation Alliance grants have helped save more than 124 million acres of wildlands; protect 4,964 miles of rivers; stop or remove 43 dams; designate five marine reserves and a national marine sanctuary; and purchase 22 climbing areas. Learn about the successes we’ve supported along the way.

Success Stories

Save Sáttítla – Medicine Lake Highlands

Mt. Shasta Bioregional Ecological Center

Trout Unlimited

Result: 224,000 acres
Year: 2025

Southern California National Monuments

CalWild

Result: 624,000 acres
Year: 2025

Pecos River Watershed 2-Year Withdrawal

Trout Unlimited

Result: 165,000 Acres Protected
Year: 2024

Implementing Traditional Ecological Knowledge in National Marine Sanctuary Management

Northern Chumash Tribal Council

Result: 4,543 square miles of ocean protected
Year: 2024

Pomeroy Dam Removal

WaterWatch of Oregon

Result: Dam Removed
Year: 2024

Blake Higgins Dam Removal

The Connecticut River Conservancy

Result: Dam Removed
Year: 2024

Protecting Colorado’s Outstanding Waters

American Rivers

Result: 385 river miles protected
Year: 2024

D-1 Protection Campaign

SalmonState

Native American Rights Fund

Result: 28 million acres protected
Year: 2024

Klamath River Restoration

Ridges to Riffles

California Trout

Result: 3 dams removed
Year: 2024

Marshall Mountain Park

Friends of Missoula Parks

Result: 480 acres protected
Year: 2024

San Gabriel Mountains National Monument Expansion

CalWild

Result: 105,919 acres
Year: 2024

Protecting Molok Luyuk

Tuleyome

Result: 13,696 acres
Year: 2024

National Petroleum Reserve-Alaska

Alaska Wilderness League

Audubon Alaska

Result: 13 million acres protected
Year: 2024

Bureau of Land Management Public Lands Rule

BLM Public Lands Rule

Conservation Lands Foundation

Outdoor Alliance

Result: 245 million acres prioritized for conservation and recreation
Year: 2024

Wilderness Workshop Autumn on the Thompson Divide

Thompson Divide Administrative Mineral Withdrawal

Thompson Divide Coalition

Wilderness Workshop

Result: 225,000 acres protected
Year: 2024

Willapa Bay – Expanding a National Wildlife Refuge

Western Rivers Conservancy

Result: 2,366 acres protected
Year: 2024

West Fork Washougal Conservation

Columbia Land Trust

Result: 300 acres protected
Year: 2023

Protecting North Carolina’s Mountain Treasures

Outdoor Alliance

Result: 49,000 acres and nine rivers protected
Year: 2023

WA Flagship Outstanding Resource Waters Designation

Washington Wild

Result: 958 River Miles Protected
Year: 2023

Lower Yellowstone River Acquisition

Wild Montana

Result: 328 acres protected
Year: 2023

Mariano Rancho Acquisition

Ventura Land Trust

Result: 1,645 acres protected
Year: 2023

North Cascades – Washington State Wilderness Campaign

The Wilderness Land Trust

Result: 21 acres protected
Year: 2023

Labyrinth Canyon Wilderness Protection

Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance

Result: 40 river miles protected
Year: 2023

Valentine Park and Nature Trail: Nature, Conservation, Confluence

Valentine Conservation Community

Result: 4 acres protected, community park and trail opened
Year: 2023

Klamath River Restoration

Ridges to Riffles

California Trout

Result: Dam Removed
Year: 2023

Crevice Mountain Gold Mine on Yelowsstone Border

Yellowstone Boundary Gold Mine: Extinguishing the last remaining gold mining threat to Yellowstone National Park

Greater Yellowstone Coalition

Result: 1,598 acres protected, mine defeated
Year: 2023

Trout Creek Ranch and Pueblo Mountains Conservation Project

Oregon Desert Land Trust

Result: 16,645 acres
Year: 2023

Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (Designation and Defense)

Alaska Wilderness League

Gwich’in Steering Committee

Audubon Alaska

Trustees for Alaska

Alaska Conservation Foundation

Result: Oil and gas leases canceled
Year: 2023

Cottonwood Wash Acquisition

The Wildlands Conservancy

Result: 320 acres protected
Year: 2023

Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Grand Canyon National Monument

Grand Canyon Trust

Result: 917,618 acres protected
Year: 2023

Greater Chaco Protection Campaign

New Mexico Wild

Result: 336,400 acres
Year: 2023

Connecting with Community to Protect Marfa’s Grasslands

Big Bend Conservation Alliance

Result: 30 acres protected
Year: 2023

Nestwood Forest

Columbia Land Trust

Result: 820 acres protected
Year: 2023

Owyhee Canyonlands

Oregon Natural Desert Association

Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

Result: 400,000 acres protected
Year: 2023

Otter Creek Wildlife Management Area Expansion

The Trust for Public Land

Result: 355 acres protected
Year: 2023

Castner Range National Monument

Frontera Land Alliance

Nuestra Tierra Conservation Project

Result: 6,672 acres protected
Year: 2023

Avi Kwa Ame National Monument

Monumental SHIFT

Result: 506,000 acres protected
Year: 2023

Tongass National Forest Roadless Rule restoration

Southeast Alaska Conservation Council

Trout Unlimited Alaska

The Wilderness Society

Women’s Earth and Climate Action Network

Audubon Alaska

Alaska Wilderness League

Taxpayers for Common Sense

Result: 9,370,000 acres protected
Year: 2023

Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness Mining Ban

Earthworks

Northeastern Minnesotans for Wilderness

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers

Result: 225,504 acres protected
Year: 2023

Bristol Bay Watershed protections

United Tribes of Bristol Bay

Trout Unlimited Alaska

Result: Mining limited over 309 square miles
Year: 2023

Land Easement for access to Continental Divide Trail

Continental Divide Trail Coalition

Result: Easements through approximately 67 acres of state land (through 74 parcels), providing access and protection in New Mexico
Year: 2023

Santa Fe River Acquisition – Phase 3

Alachua Conservation Trust

Result: 195 acres protected
Year: 2022

Bracken Mountain Preserve Expansion

Conserving Carolina

Result: 34 acres protected
Year: 2022

Millbrook Mountain Conservation Initiative: Ant Lion Crag

Gunks Climbers’ Coalition

Result: 61 acres and a climbing area
Year: 2022

Spence Mountain

The Trust for Public Land

Year: 2022

Seymour Creek Big Hole River

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

Result: 3,600 acres protected
Year: 2022

Woodbury Mountain Wilderness Preserve

Northeast Wilderness Trust

Result: 6,098 acres protected
Year: 2022

North Cascades – Washington State Wilderness Campaign

The Wilderness Land Trust

Result: 630 acres protected
Year: 2022

Kamama Prairie Gateway

Arc of Appalachia

Result: 6 acres protected
Year: 2022

Pleasant River Headwaters Forest

Appalachian Mountain Club

Result: 26,584 acres protected
Year: 2022

Camp Hale – Continental Divide National Monument

Conservation Colorado

San Juan Citizens Alliance

Wilderness Workshop

Result: 53,804 acres protected
Year: 2022

Yellowstone Gateway

Greater Yellowstone Coalition

Result: 75 acres protected
Year: 2022

Pōhue Bay

The Trust for Public Land

Result: 16,456 acres protected, including 5.5 miles of shoreline
Year: 2022

Santa Rita Ranch

The Land Conservancy of San Luis Obispo County

Result: 1,715 acres protected
Year: 2022

Cottonwood Lake

Cottonwood Lake Preservation Society

Result: 121 acres protected
Year: 2022

Nason Ridge Community Forest

Western Rivers Conservancy

Result: 3,714 acres and two river miles protected
Year: 2022

Grafton Forest Wilderness Preserve

Northeast Wilderness Trust

Result: 6,045 acres protected
Year: 2022

Elliott Forest

Wild Salmon Center

Result: 60,000 acres protected
Year: 2022

Skagit Headwaters

Washington Wild

Result: One mine halted
Year: 2022

Santa Fe River Acquisition – Phase 2

Alachua Conservation Trust

Result: 139 acres protected
Year: 2021

Wildboy Creek

Columbia Land Trust

Result: 1,300 acres protected
Year: 2021

Lakeville Community Forest

Downeast Lakes Land Trust

Result: 2,015 acres protected
Year: 2021

Upper Rio Grande Connectivity

National Wildlife Federation

Result: 278,000 acres protected
Year: 2021

Rainforest Reserve

North Coast Land Conservancy

Result: 3,500 acres protected
Year: 2021

Black River

Open Space Institute

Result: 1,277 acres protected
Year: 2021

Thumb Open Space

Access Fund

Result: 65 acres and a climbing area
Year: 2021

Arroyo San Miguel

Save the Waves Coalition

Result: 166 acres, 4 river miles, and Baja California’s first state park
Year: 2021

Deer Run Nature Preserve Phase 2

Green Mountain Conservancy

Result: 626 acres protected
Year: 2021

Skookum II Acquisition

Whatcom Land Trust

Result: 1,000 acres protected
Year: 2021

Uplands Capital Campaign

Cowiche Canyon Conservancy

Result: 245 acres protected
Year: 2021

Lost Dog Easement

Frontera Land Alliance

Result: 1,006 acres protected
Year: 2021

Walker-Hearne Ranch Acquisition

Ventura Land Trust

Result: 2,100 acres protected
Year: 2021

Rattlesnake Dam

Montana Trout Unlimited

Result: One dam removed
Year: 2021

Pebble Mine

Trout Unlimited

Result: One mine halted
Year: 2020

Santa Fe River Acquisition

Alachua Conservation Trust

Result: 254 acres and 1.3 river miles protected
Year: 2020

Hanging Mountain Climbing Area

Western Mass Climbers Coalition

Result: 14 acres and one climbing area protected
Year: 2020

Castle Crags Wilderness Acquisition

The Wilderness Land Trust

Result: 637 acres protected
Year: 2020

Temperance Flat Dam

American Whitewater

Result: One dam halted
Year: 2020

Klickitat Canyon

Columbia Land Trust

Result: 4,900 acres protected
Year: 2020

Hunger Mountain Headwaters

The Trust for Public Land

Result: 1,877 acres protected
Year: 2020

Long Lake Land Exchange

Crested Butte Land Trust

Result: 750 acres protected
Year: 2020

Wallowa Lake’s East Moraine

Wallowa Land Trust

Result: 1,791 acres protected
Year: 2020

Almond Ranch

John Muir Land Trust

Result: 281 acres protected
Year: 2020

Alder Creek

Save the Redwoods League

Result: 530 acres protected
Year: 2020

Elk River Unit Acquisition

Ducks Unlimited

Result: 560 acres protected
Year: 2020

Rolston Rest

The Trust for Public Land

Result: 2,745 acres protected
Year: 2019

Eagle Mountain Acquisition

Northeast Wilderness Trust

Result: 2,434 acres protected
Year: 2019

John Day Acquisitions

Western Rivers Conservancy

Result: 22,032 acres protected
Year: 2019

Moon Rocks at Yellow Creek

West Virginia Land Trust

Result: 866 acres protected
Year: 2019

Holy Boulders

Access Fund

Result: One climbing area and 46 acres protected
Year: 2019

Maloney Creek

Forterra

Result: 300 acres protected
Year: 2019

Fisher’s Peak

The Nature Conservancy – Colorado

Result: 19,200 acres protected
Year: 2019

Medicine Wall

Texas Climbers Coalition

Result: One climbing area and 4 acres protected
Year: 2019

Diablo Mountain

Oregon Desert Land Trust

Result: 880 acres protected
Year: 2019

Peel River Watershed

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – Yukon Chapter

Result: 13,800,000 acres protected
Year: 2019

Thaidene Nëné Protected Area

Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society – Northwest Territories

Result: 6,517,651 acres protected
Year: 2019

Falls Creek Acquisition

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation

Result: 442 acres protected
Year: 2019

Nehalem River

Oregon Wild

Result: 17 river miles protected
Year: 2019

Trinity Divide Acquisition

Pacific Crest Trail Association

Result: 10,600 acres protected
Year: 2019

Bolton Dome Climbing Area Acquisition

Climbing Resource Access Group of Vermont

Result: One climbing area and 48 acres protected
Year: 2019

Catamount Community Forest

The Trust for Public Land

Result: 393 acres protected
Year: 2019

Citadel Tract, Black River Preserve Acquisition

The Nature Conservancy – North Carolina

Result: 1,790 acres protected
Year: 2019

Jesse Owens State Park and Wildlife Area

Ohio Environmental Council

Result: 5,735 acres protected
Year: 2019

Methow Valley Headwaters

Methow Valley Citizens Council

Result: 340,079 acres protected from mining
Year: 2019

Yellowstone Gateway

Park County Environmental Council

Result: 30,370 acres protected
Year: 2019

California Desert

CalWild

Result: 543,815 acres and 77 river miles protected
Year: 2019

Emery County

The Pew Charitable Trusts

Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance

Result: 971,977 acres and 63 river miles protected
Year: 2019

Organ Mountains Desert Peaks Wilderness

New Mexico Wild

Result: 241,554 acres protected
Year: 2019

Oregon Wildlands

Klamath-Siskiyou Wildlands Center

Result: 30,621 acres and 311 river miles protected
Year: 2019

Steamboat Creek

Pacific Rivers Council

Backcountry Hunters & Anglers

Result: 99,653 acres protected
Year: 2019

Skookum Creek Acquisition

Whatcom Land Trust

Result: 1,400 acres protected
Year: 2019

Tennessee Wilderness

Wild South

Result: 20,000 acres protected
Year: 2018

Geer, Cold Brook and Clark Pond Dam Removals

Connecticut River Watershed Council

Result: Three dams removed
Year: 2018

Lassen National Forest

Winter Wildlands Alliance

Result: 121,000 acres protected
Year: 2018

White Horse Mountain Acquisition

Potomac Conservancy

Result: 1,725 acres protected
Year: 2018

Galbraith Mountain

Whatcom Land Trust

Result: 2,182 acres protected
Year: 2018

Lake Kathleen Dam Removal

Conservation Resource Alliance

Result: 1 dam removed
Year: 2018

Sabin Dam Removal

Conservation Resource Alliance

Result: 1 dam removed
Year: 2018

Buckeye Knob and Barn Boulders Climbing Area Acquisition

Carolina Climber’s Coalition

Result: 1 climbing area and 55 acres protected
Year: 2018

Yellowstone Gateway Mineral Withdrawal

Park County Environmental Council

Result: 30,000 acres protected
Year: 2018

Waters of Waccamaw Acquisition

North Carolina Coastal Land Trust

Result: 2,992 acres protected
Year: 2018

Bald Mountain Pond Acquisition

Appalachian Trail Conservancy

National Park Trust

Result: 1,495 acres protected
Year: 2018

Red Hill Acquisition

Save the Redwoods League

Result: 160 acres protected
Year: 2018

Preserve the Wonder Acquisitions

Friends of the Columbia Gorge

Result: 470 acres protected
Year: 2018

Klickitat Canyon Forest Acquisition

Columbia Land Trust

Result: 3,200 acres protected
Year: 2018

Richmond Town Forest

Vermont Land Trust

Result: 428 acres protected
Year: 2018

Gulf Hagas-Whitecap Project

Appalachian Mountain Club

Result: 9,976 acres and 5 river miles protected
Year: 2018