The historic OH Ranch, long owned by Daryl (Doc) Seaman and held up as a picture postcard of southern Alberta grasslands, has been listed for sale at $49.2 million.
“These are the rolling foothills. It is the iconic landscape of southern Alberta,” said Alan Gardner, executive director of the Southern Alberta Land Trust Society.
However, whoever purchases the lands, or a parcel, won’t be able to divide it up for acreages.
Under a number of conservation measures set in place before Seaman died last year at age 86, the hills of rough fescue grass on Eastern Slopes sites must be left relatively undisturbed.
Gardner noted the conservation measures affect the cash flow of the property, thereby the market value and who will be willing to buy.
“It’s a big responsibility,” he said.
A conservation easement is an agreement between a private landowner and an easement holder, such as Gardner’s society, that limits the amount and type of development that can occur on a property.
The public land portions of the OH Ranch are designated by the province as heritage rangelands. It is more limiting than the conservation easement, as it restricts surface drilling. Directional drilling could still be allowed.
Because of the ecological protections in place, Gardner said he doesn’t believe it matters whether the four sites of the ranch – spread out across southern Alberta at Longview, Pekisko, Dorothy and Bassano – are sold separately or all together.
Bids are currently being vetted by Seaman’s estate.
kcryderman@theherald.canwest.com
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