JOHN DAY The D.R. Johnson Lumber Co. has sold its so-called checkerboard parcels in a deal involving the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) and the U.S. Forest Service.

RMEF announced the closure of the deal Dec. 30, calling it a successful collaborative effort to permanently protect and open access to 13,085 acres in the Headwaters of the John Day River.

RMEF purchased the parcels, named because of the checkerboard pattern of ownership in the area, from D.R. Johnson and then conveyed them to the Forest Service. The deal consolidates the lands into public ownership as part of the Malheur National Forest.

This is a victory for hunter-conservationists, anglers, hikers and anyone who wants public access to more than 13,000 acres of what was previously inaccessible private land in the heart of Oregons elk country, said David Allen, RMEF president and CEO. We are grateful to a family that understands the importance of conserving crucial elk habitat and wildlife management while also providing a way for improved access to a landscape loaded with numerous vital resource values.

Johnsons widow, JoAnne Johnson, said her husband loved hunting and the outdoors, and had always felt blocking up our sections with the Forest Service property made the most sense.

She said the family wants to see the land remain accessible for hunting, fishing and outdoor activities, and receive some “much needed forest management as well.”

It is a bittersweet moment for us but we believe Don would want the citizens of Grant County to be able to enjoy this amazing property for generations to come, she said.

Pacific Northwest Regional Forester Kent Connaughton called the completion of the deal wonderful news and congratulated the Foundation for spearheading the effort.

Its a huge present for the people of Oregon and the nation, he said.

Allen said the land is important habitat not just for elk, but for other species including deer, bear, pronghorn, mountain goats, game birds and more.

The project area covers a 40-mile landscape around the origin and main stem of the John Day River as it flows north to the Columbia River and provides crucial linkage with existing public lands and all-important wildlife corridors, said Blake Henning, RMEF vice president of lands and conservation.

The area is also of critical importance to salmon, steelhead, bull trout, redband and westslope cutthroat trout due to the cold water inputs the headwater tributaries provide to the John Day River.

The most important aspect of this transaction is the entire project area is no longer threatened by development, said Allen. And not only is new land available to the public, but public access to existing federal land will be improved and new links can be made to existing trails.

RMEF partners include the Johnson family, the Forest Service and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.