The Cache County Agricultural Advisory Board was given the Critical Land Planning award for its creation of a land evaluation and site assessment handbook, Salt Lake City Councilman Carlton Christensen said.

For purchasing more than 1,200 acres of property and limiting the impact of development through conservation easements, the Salt Lake City Watershed Land Acquisition Program was given the Critical Land Conservation award, he said.

And the Wilcox Ranch and Range Creek Canyon preservation project was given a partnership award for protecting more than 4,200 acres of land with significant American Indian archaeological resources, Carlton Christensen said.

Since its inception five years ago the Quality Growth Awards have honored 64 projects for commitment to bettering Utah.

"It all kind of speaks to the broader issue of quality of life," Huntsman said. "It's terribly important to our future."

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