SLA had been operating locally for nearly 40 years, had successfully conserved 44 separate properties on over 26,000 acres with project partners, and held and provided stewardship for 39 easements on 10,175 acres. See more in link!
Wildlife in the Durango area got a break at the end of 2020 when the owners of Florida River Ranch donated a conservation easement, ensuring that important wildlife habitat in the Florida Valley is permanently protected. Elk and mule deer use the lands as corridors for seasonal movements, and many other characteristic species, including wild turkeys, Lewis’ woodpeckers, and tiger salamanders are founds on the property. The easement does not provide public access, but it protects open space and a public viewshed in an areas that has seen rapid development in recent years. COL worked with La Plata Open Space Conservancy in designing a conservation easement that balanced private and public values while ensuring long-term conservation benefits, and the organizations would be happy to discuss similar possibilities with interested landowners in the Florida River Valley and surrounding landscape. Photo by Cristy Curd of La Plata Open Space Conservancy.
Become a Perennial Partner
Did you know you can automate your giving by joining our monthly membership program, Perennial Partners? Monthly gifts help protect and enhance Colorado’s most valued wild and working lands by providing steady funding for our conservation work. Learn more about becoming a Perennial Partner!
Currently, the physical offices of Colorado Open Lands are temporarily closed, and our staff is working remotely in the interest of public health and safety. We will update you here as things change. Our office phone extensions are being forwarded, and emails and voicemails are being checked regularly, so please contact the COL staff as you would normally, or you can use the general contact form. Please stay safe and healthy out there.
It’s no secret that Colorado residents and visitors love their outdoor experiences. Access for all ages and ability levels to open space contributes to our health, both physical, mental, and emotional.
Farming and ranching are an enormous part of our state’s heritage and character. Today, agriculture contributes more than $40 billion to Colorado’s economy, and sustains 170,000 jobs.
Hiking through your favorite secluded trail, would you rather see a cow or a condo? Colorado’s uninterrupted views from the mountains to the plains define our state’s heritage and character.
Access to fresh water in the American West is becoming more critical by the day. Land conservation is the perfect tool to protect our water, and keep it in Colorado.
We all know Colorado is a great place to live work and play. Colorado’s natural beauty and recreational experiences contribute to a quality of life that other states can’t match.
