Five New Conservation Projects for 2009
There are many stories that surround each completed conservation effort. Some have to do with wanting to keep the ranch operation in the family, others have to do with just wanting to conserve wildlife habitat and local scenery. Many of the completed projects for 2009 have especially meaningful narrations that deserve sharing. We want to thank all the landowners who conserved their properties last year, adding to the legacy that we are creating for posterity, as well as all our members and contributors who help make our services possible!
Stonewall Creek Ranch. Over a period of seven years, Larry and Anne Peterson worked with Legacy Land Trust, who worked with Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), the City of Fort Collins, The Nature Conservancy, and the Colorado Division of Wildlife to protect almost 1,000 acres of their ranch land in the Laramie Foothills north of Fort Collins. The conservation of this ranch is part of a larger landscape project by many landowners and partners that now protects over 49,000 acres of prime ranch lands and exceptional wildlife habitat. Larry and Anne are comforted to know that no matter who owns the property in the future, it will be protected for agricultural uses and wildlife.
|
Tibbits Lake, Laramie Foothills |
Owl Mountain Ranch |
Owl Mountain Ranch. Verl and Ann Brown are providing for their son to take over the day to day ranching responsibilities of the picturesque Owl Mountain Ranch in North Park. Part of their planning includes conserving the ranchlands. In 2009, they added 320 acres of outstanding riparian and forested areas with tremendous views to the 360 acres already protected in 2008. Ranching in North Park has its challenges, but for this family, the love of it runs deep and provides them with great satisfaction. |
Swanson Ranch. Since 1964, Byron and Kathryn Swanson and their children and grandchildren have enjoyed their ranch just south of Red Feather Lakes. The ranch supports horses and cattle with a year-‘round stream, several meadows and forested areas with wildlife habitat that is rich and varied. For years they wanted to see the ranch protected and were finally able to complete their dream by conserving over 480 acres in 2009. Another picturesque and valuable ranch protected near urban areas will serve our residents well into the future as well as fulfill the wishes of the landowners.
|
Swanson Ranch |
Prairie Windmill |
Purcell Prairie, Weld County. Protecting this additional 310 acres of irrigated corn, alfalfa and sugar beets also helps create contiguity with other conserved parcels in the Ault/Briggsdale area as well as protecting agricultural production and mountain views. While not a family operation, the owner is interested in continuing to protect plains agriculture and has completed several conservation projects with Legacy Land Trust.
|
Circle AD Ranch. This Redstone Canyon conservation project is part of the local history of the settling of the foothills areas west of Fort Collins. The 236 acres of exceptional wildlife habitat protected in this easement are part of what was once a larger homestead behind Horsetooth Mountain and what is now Lory State Park. The owners, Dorothy and Bob Antrim still live on the property that Dorothy traveled horseback as a child, exploring every nook and cranny available for inspection. Cattle still graze the hills and a feeling of timelessness is evident once you get on the property that not only has outstanding natural values, but incredible 360 degree views.
|
Views from the Antrim Ranch |
Completed in 2008
Dakota Ridge, west of Loveland along the Dakota hogback. This easement expands an existing project to protect a total of 114 acres of native grassland, upland shrubs, with a mixed ponderosa pine forest that provides public open space along a prominent scenic ridgeline. This was a cooperative project between Legacy Land Trust, the City of Loveland Open Space Program, and the developer of an adjacent housing community. |
|
|
Crow Valley ranchland in Weld County. Another 1,440 acres of native grassland used for grazing and wildlife habitat have been added to 3,367 acres on this ranching property. Briggs Lake is on the property providing vital riparian habitat for migrating birds and mammals. In addition to agricultural and wildlife values, the property offers scenic and open space values. |
Dryland agricultural ground, near Briggsdale, Weld County. The project protects 480 acres consisting of two separate non-irrigated parcels in the conservation reserve program (CRP). These two parcels help to create contiguity among many conserved parcels across the Briggsdale landscape. Along with contiguity, this project protects native wildlife habitat, viewsheds and open space. |
|
 |
Pawnee National Grasslands vicinity, Weld County. Another 1,200 acres near Briggsdale is protected in this project consisting of four parcels totaling 1,200 acres of cultivated winter wheat and millet. There are no reserved rights on these 1,200 acres expanding the habitat for local wildlife and migrating birds. In addition to wildlife habitat the property merits conservation for creating contiguity with the landowner’s adjacent protected parcels, the Pawnee National Grasslands, and provides visual open space and significant views. |
Owl Mountain ranch, Jackson County. This property is east of Rand and part of a 2,300 acre grassland ranch. This phase of the ranch protection consists of 360 acres including grazing, riparian and mountainous habitat. Owl Mountain Ranch is a functioning ranch in an area of high conservation priority. Conservation values protected include considerable wildlife habitat, large areas of native grass for grazing, open space and scenic values with its spectacular views. |
|
|
North Park ranch, Jackson County. The 960 acres protected in this project are part of a 10,000 acre ranch of which 3,310 acres are now conserved. The property is filled with mature sagebrush habitat and natural draws, attracting wildlife. The family is committed to conserving the beautiful landscape and ranching heritage of North Park for future generations and will continue to place easements on the remaining parcels of the ranch. The land protected in this project possesses natural, scenic, agricultural, open space, aesthetic and ecological values.
|
|
|
