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The sale, announced Tuesday, will provide long-term habitat protection for thousands of sandhill cranes, moose, migratory birds and black bears. Until Monday, the 4,000 acres were owned by the Alaska Mental Health Trust Authority.

The sale was announced Tuesday after eight years of negotiation and fund raising. The land is designated for public access, hunting and habitat conservation - a partnership agreement between the Gustavus Land Legacy group, the Nature Conservancy and the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.

"We knew it was going to (require) millions," said Lentfer, who kept detailed records of who donated how much "so I could give the money back when the project fell on its face."

But Lentfer found that the Mental Health Trust Land Office and numerous others were just as enthusiastic as he was about the proposed sale.

The Nature Conservancy, a nationwide group, joined the project in 2001 and raised more than $1 million. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provided $2 million. The project also attracted support from the Alaska Outdoor Council, which lobbied Alaska leaders, and Ducks Unlimited, which provided additional money.

"Often the notion of public lands is not a popular one. We were able to pull people together," Lentfer said.

"In my view, this is just the kind of land conservation project the Nature Conservancy looks for," said Rob Bosworth, director of the organization's Southeast Alaska chapter.

"I give a lot of credit to the community for its vision. If you think about it, in how many places have people chosen to set their beaches aside for public use and access ... rather than letting whatever development happen?" Bosworth said.

As part of the sale, more than 2,700 acres will be added to the adjacent Dude Creek Critical Habitat Area, managed by the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, to provide additional protection for the 17,000 sandhill cranes that refuel there in spring and fall on their migratory path between the Arctic and Central California.

"These refueling stops are really critical to their migration," said Bosworth, noting that only four other suitable landing spots are available along the southern Alaska coastline for the birds.

The Gustavus moose herd is also an avid visitor to the Gustavus shoreline, where wet, new land is producing extensive willow bush flats.

"One of the nice things about the area is that it's wide open - you can really see the wildlife," Bosworth said.

Mike Roy, with the Fish and Wildlife Service, and Kevin Duffy, outgoing Commissioner for Fish and Game, lauded the project.

Roy called it a "spectacular example" of governments and private organizations working together to protect wildlife and local community values.