Our Story

Established in 2010, the Upper Trinity Conservation Trust leads a voluntary, non-regulatory approach to land conservancy and water quality protection. As development continues in North Texas, the Trust seeks to preserve special natural areas and protect the quality of water resources for future generations. As a non-profit land trust, the Trust receives and oversees conservation easements in perpetuity. The Trust is managed by a nine-member Board of Trustees that oversees and approves all programs and transactions that are made.

The Trust’s priority areas include the watersheds of Lewisville, Ray Roberts and Grapevine lakes, and the future Lake Ralph Hall. Seeking to protect water quality in the local watersheds, the Trust educates landowners on proper land management practices and works with landowners, municipalities, and developers to place conservation easements on natural areas within the watershed.

In 2012, the Trust attained its 501(c)(3) status as a non-profit land trust and is a qualified organization according to Section 170(h) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 as amended. The Trust adopted the Standards and Practices of the Land Trust Alliance and has been a member of this national organization since 2020. The Trust is also a member of the Texas Land Trust Council.

The mission of the Trust is to promote the conservation and stewardship of land and water resources through educational activities, coordination with local governments, and the acquisition of land and conservation easements - - protecting water quality in our watersheds for future generations.