The family of the late Stephen and Mary Garst has donated another 1,200 acres of prairie, wetlands and working farmland to the Whiterock Conservancy near Coon Rapids. A total of 3,365 acres has been donated to Whiterock Conservancy, which was formed in December 2004 by Mary Garst, her five daughters and sister-in-law in December 2004 after the death of Stephen Garst. The family plans a total donation of more than 5,000 acres, the majority of it located in the watersheds of Middle Raccoon and South Raccoon rivers. The donated farms are subject to property taxes and maintain net farm income through a combination of row crop, federal conservation program payments, pasture, hunting and hay sufficient to pay those taxes and take care of basic maintenance. Restoring the various habitats and opening them to the public will requires public support through donations, according to a release.