Thank you to Joanie and Donald! Land/habitat conservation is the best way to help birds!!
----- Forwarded Message ----- From: "Bree Robles" <northwestarkansaslandtrust...> To: "Betty Evans" <betty_evans...> Cc: Sent: Thu, Oct 29, 2026 at 4:05 PM Subject: The Patterson-Oulette easement brings NWALT beyond 10,000 acres permanently protected.
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The Patterson-Oulette easement brings NWALT beyond 10,000 acres permanently protected.
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NWALT staff with landowners Joanie Patterson and Donald Oulette.
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Together, a lasting conservation legacy
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Northwest Arkansas Land Trust (NWALT) has surpassed a major conservation milestone, permanently protecting more than 10,000 acres across Northwest Arkansas through voluntary land conservation.
The milestone was achieved through the recent protection of the 62-acre Patterson- Oulette property in Washington County, a forested tract in the Winfrey Valley area near Winslow featuring sandstone bluffs, rock shelters, waterfalls, and valuable wildlife habitat. The property is now permanently protected through a conservation easement that ensures its natural character remains intact for future generations.
The Patterson-Oulette property holds particular conservation significance because it creates an important connection between the White Rock Management Area and the Ozark National Forest, helping maintain habitat connectivity for wildlife across the landscape. The property is also located near another NWALT protected property on Frog Bayou.
"Reaching 10,000 acres protected is an extraordinary achievement, but what’s equally important is what this milestone represents," said Marson Nance, CEO of Northwest Arkansas Land Trust. "It represents hundreds of landowners and supporters who have chosen to leave a lasting conservation legacy. We're especially grateful to Joanie Patterson and Donald Oulette for helping us cross this threshold and for their commitment to protecting a truly remarkable piece of Northwest Arkansas."
The Patterson-Oulette property consists of mature forest with dramatic sandstone bluff formations up to 65 feet in height. The property also contains natural springs, rock shelters, and a significant waterfall, contributing to both its ecological and scenic value.
“Love of nature is in my blood and bones. Birds especially are suffering greatly due to habitat loss, and I’m overjoyed that my 62 acres connects much larger parcels where birds and other wildlife can live undisturbed,” said landowner Joanie Patterson.
The property's conservation values include wildlife habitat, forest conservation, scenic protection, and preservation of an important landscape corridor connecting larger public conservation lands. Visitors to the area, including users of the Ozark National Forest and White Rock Management Area, benefit from the protection of the property's scenic bluffs and forested viewshed.
"We often talk about acreage, but conservation is really about protecting the places that define our region," said Nance. "The Patterson-Oulette property is a perfect example. It protects wildlife habitat, preserves a beautiful Ozark landscape, and strengthens connections between some of Northwest Arkansas's most important public lands. Those are exactly the kinds of conservation outcomes that make this milestone meaningful."
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Bluff shelter on the Patterson-Oulette Conservation Easement.
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The 10,000-acre milestone comes as Northwest Arkansas continues to experience unprecedented growth.
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Since its founding, NWALT has worked with private landowners to conserve forests, farms, streams, wetlands, wildlife habitat, and scenic landscapes throughout the region. Nationally, less than 20% of regionally focused land trusts reach the 10,000 acre milestone.
While celebrating the milestone, the organization emphasized that conservation needs remain significant.
"Ten thousand acres is not a finish line," Nance said. "It's a testament to what is possible when landowners, supporters, and communities work together. There are still important places to protect, and we're committed to ensuring that future generations inherit the natural heritage that makes Northwest Arkansas special."
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Our Contact Information
Northwest Arkansas Land Trust
(479) 966-4666
www.nwalandtrust.org
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