Colorado Open Lands

Southern Sangre de Cristo :

Preserving Agricultural and Natural Landscapes

The Southern Sangre de Cristo landscape is located in south central Colorado and encompasses portions of Costilla, Huerfano, and Las Animas counties. Costilla and Huerfano Counties are two of territorial Colorado’s “original” Counties, established in 1861 by Congress. Spanish Peaks Map

Colorado Open Lands’ presence in the Sangre de Cristos began in 1999 with the combined efforts of several residents living in the La Veta area who took it upon themselves to preserve the Wahatoya Valley, a scenic gem at the base of Cuchara Peak.  The Wahatoya Valley is now 90% protected.   Colorado Open Lands has geographically expanded its work and adopted the Southern Sangre de Cristo as its newest Community Conservation Area, thanks to the recent priority designation by the Colorado Conservation Partnership.  This larger area is approximately 1 million acres, spreading along both sides of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, and including portions of Costilla, Huerfano, and Las Animas counties.

The Sangre de Cristo Mountains are one of the world’s longest fault-block mountain ranges, stretching from Poncha Pass in Colorado southward to Glorieta Pass in New Mexico.  Encompassing the highest peaks of the southernmost reach of the Rocky Mountains, this landscape contains major wildlife corridors and several globally rare plant and animal communities.   Because of this, the Southern Sangre de Cristo landscape represents a critical linkage within a much larger ecosystem that spans state lines.

The history of the Native Americans, along with early Spanish and later Mexican settlers has endowed this landscape with a rich cultural heritage and a strong agricultural identity (the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area was designated by Congress in 2009).  Traversed by two State designated scenic byways, the Southern Sangre de Cristo landscape is truly one of Colorado’s scenic, biological, and cultural gems.

Significance

The Sangre de Cristo landscape is rich with history, culture and biological significance.  Named for the Costilla River, which means "little rib" in Spanish, Costilla is one of Colorado's original counties.  The area was first settled in 1861 by Colonel John Francisco, who, as legend has it, claimed “this is Paradise enough for me” when he first laid eyes on the lush landscape below the towering Spanish Peaks.  The arrival of the Denver and Rio Grande railroads in 1876 brought increased growth to the area and resulted in the founding of the town of La Veta.  These days, the area’s remarkable scenery is showcased by two Colorado byways: the Highway of Legends in Huerfano and Las Animas Counties, and Los Caminos Antiguos in Costilla County.

The recently established Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area — covering part of Conejos, Costilla and Alamosa counties — recognizes this area as the confluence of American Indian, Latino and Anglo cultures. The National Heritage Area Program is administered by the National Park Service to recognize distinctive landscapes shaped by natural, historic, and recreational resources.  Further demonstrating the importance of this area, the Colorado Natural Heritage Program has identified nine Potential Conservation Areas within this landscape which contain species found almost nowhere else on earth.  Culebra and Trinchera Creeks and their drainages, for example, provide habitat for globally rare plant communities and aquatic species.

Some of the significant natural resources this landscape exhibit possesses include:

  • The majestic Spanish Peaks, rising nearly 7,000 feet above the Great Plains of south-central Colorado,
  • “The Big Wall” - a 100-foot high volcanic, granite dike that extends for three miles from the base of the Spanish Peaks like a great rampart,
  • Blanca Peak, known as the Sacred Mountain to many Native American tribes,
  • A rich diversity of ecotypes, from alpine tundra to subalpine forests, piñon-juniper, and cottonwood riparian systems,
  • Critical winter range for elk and deer, as well as year-round habitat for black bear, mountain lion, wild turkey, and other wildlife, and
  • A strong agricultural community.

The Southern Sangre de Cristo landscape has been identified by The Colorado Conservation Partnership (CCP) as a Priority Landscape in the Keep it Colorado campaign.  The CCP is a collaboration of state and national conservation organizations that have launched an ambitious program to preserve twenty-four of Colorado’s most unique places.

Threats and Impacts

Comprised primarily of old Spanish land grants, the Southern Sangre de Cristo landscape contains some of the largest remaining private ownerships in the state.  This land ownership composition – unique for Colorado, a state with over half of its land in public ownership – means that there is both a high level of conservation opportunity and a high potential for threat.

Until recently, the areas surrounding the Southern Sangre de Cristo Mountains – the Spanish Peaks on the east and the San Luis Valley on the west – have remained largely secluded agricultural communities.  Relatively new activities threaten much of this natural and agricultural setting.

For example, lax subdivision regulations and speculation in the 1960s and 1970s led to widespread small-lot (3 to 5-acre) subdivision on the western flank of the Southern Sangre de Cristo mountains and on the San Luis Valley floor.  Costilla County is one of the most platted counties in the state, with over one-third of its land (260,000 acres) platted.  While the majority of these lots are vacant, the development of even a portion of these legally available lots would have a significant impact on the natural and cultural systems in this landscape.  The eastern portion of the landscape in Huerfano County and Las Animas County has also been affected by widespread large-lot (35 to 40-acre) division since the 1980’s, particularly on the eastern and southern flanks of the Spanish Peaks.

Wildfire in a dense second growth forest is another significant threat in the Culebra Range, as is oil/gas exploration and development.  Significant subdivision is occurring on both sides of La Veta Pass, and a major transmission line proposed over the pass is a threat in the northern portion of the landscape. 

As a result of these collective pressures, significant changes are occurring:  These changes include:

  • Conversion of agricultural lands to other uses
  • Loss of wildlife habitat
  • Fragmentation of open spaces
  • Changing character of the area

Adding to these pressures is the fact that the Southern Sangre de Cristo landscape is currently not served by any land trust in a consistent fashion.   Although many organizations hold conservation easements within the landscape, most are facing budget cuts or are pursuing conservation opportunities in other areas.  All of the land trusts interviewed as part of our vision process encouraged Colorado Open Lands to step into a lead role within the landscape.

Colorado Open Lands in action

In 2004 the Forbes family donated a conservation easement to Colorado Open Lands that protects the Trinchera Ranch on the western slope of the Sangres, south of La Veta Pass.  The 81,400-acre easement supports a rich diversity of ecotypes – from tundra to sub-alpine forests, pinon juniper, cottonwood riparian systems, and grassy glacial canyons.  Wildlife abounds on the Ranch, particularly big-game species, and several species of fish populate the many miles of streams.  The Trinchera Ranch is the largest single easement donation in Colorado history.

Since early 2009, Colorado Open Lands has focused significantly more energy and resources in this area, building relationships with local stakeholders in support of the Colorado Conservation Partnership’s Keep It Colorado initiative.  Our work in 2009 was focused on a comprehensive community planning process to design a landscape-level conservation plan.  Through multiple community meetings and one-on-one outreach, we have met with local governments, conservation districts, land and wildlife management agencies, non-governmental organizations, and community leaders.

One of our observations from the landscape visioning process is that the local communities in Costilla and Huerfano Counties have longstanding open space goals and objectives that have not been addressed.  We also understand that the agricultural communities on both sides of the Southern Sangre de Cristo range are interested in land conservation but have not been educated about conservation easements.

Our focus in 2010 is to begin implementing specific tasks outlined in the Keep It Colorado vision plan.  Specifically, Colorado Open Lands is:

  • Working with numerous private landowners to preserve working ranches, critical open space, and scenic viewsheds, to the benefit of local communities and to meet the statewide objectives of the Keep It Colorado campaign,
  • Protecting stream corridors and important riparian habitat,
  • Developing and maintaining effective partnerships
  • Raising funds for critical projects, and
  • Serving as a coordinator and resource for landowners and local groups

By 2013, our goal is to preserve an additional 18,000 acres of private land in this remarkable landscape.

Partners

Our partners in the Spanish Peaks Project Area include:

How You Can Help

Your support is critical to our ongoing success in helping willing Colorado landowners preserve and protect the great natural, cultural, and working landscapes of Colorado.  You can help support this project and Colorado Open Lands’ ongoing efforts by:

  • Making an online donation
  • Sending your donation to:
    • Colorado Open Lands
      274 Union Boulevard, Suite 320
      Lakewood, CO 80228
      303.988.2373
  • Funding or donating items listed on our Wish List!  To accomplish our mission of land preservation, it is necessary to have the right tools.  By donating either the item or the money necessary to purchase any of the items, you help ensure our ongoing effectiveness and efficiency.
  • Consider putting a conservation easement on your land.

Project Descriptions

Colorado Open Lands has preserved more than 84,353 acres through 19 projects.

Click here to view completed projects list.

Ninety-eight percent of our revenue goes directly to our land conservation programs.