State Trust Land Program Area

State trust lands are a unique category of lands granted by the federal government to states upon entering the Union to support vital public institutions, such as schools. The square mile sections were granted in a regular pattern, where available, in each state with the direction that the proceeds from the sale of the lands be used to generate revenue for public education and other essential institutions. Many states divested themselves of these lands quickly without leaving a lasting benefit to the schools. As a result, states admitted to the Union later had tighter restrictions placed on their state trust land grants to ensure that the lands would be available to support the beneficiaries in perpetuity.

There are approximately 46 million acres of state trust land in the Intermountain West, located in both rural and urban areas. The management of these lands is governed by a fiduciary trust responsibility. Because of the vast state trust land holdings throughout the West, their role in shaping growth and development patterns and on the integrity of large-scale, ecologically intact landscapes is significant.

Western Lands and Communities seeks to assist state trust land managers in meeting their fiduciary duty in the changing West by broadening the range of land-use information, tools, and policy options available for the long-term, sustainable management of state trust lands. The project's goal is to enhance the value of the trust for its beneficiaries by fostering better planning and implementation of residential and commercial development on state trust lands and by increasing the amount of state trust land in conservation use.

Superstition Vistas, Arizona

Development of the 275 square mile state trust land parcel known as Superstition Vistas has the potential to make a meaningful impact on growth patterns in the Phoenix metro area and serve as an example of sustainable development. While the area won't be developed for a number of years, planning that involves neighboring jurisdictions, electric and water utility companies, hospital providers, a mining company, independent consultants, and public feedback has already occurred. Read more about our involvement in Superstition Vistas.