Located in northeastern Moffat County, this conservation easement includes two non-contiguous tracts of land: the 482-acre Four Mile Creek Ranch and the 1,143-acre Slater Creek Ranch. Four Mile Creek Ranch consists of sagebrush shrublands and two miles along Four Mile Creek. Slater Creek Ranch also features sagebrush shrublands along with irrigated pasture, aspen and conifer forests, and two miles of Slater Creek.
The two properties are part of a larger landscape containing Bureau of Land Management lands, Routt National Forest, State Land Board lands, and numerous conservation easements held by COL and our partners. Within 10 miles of the property, 17 easements conserve 33,000 acres. Conservation groups have focused efforts in this area due to the exceptional wildlife habitat. Bald eagle, Columbian sharp-tailed grouse, ferruginous hawk, greater sage-grouse (all Species of Concern) and burrowing owl (State Threatened) are found on McKee Ranch. Big game habitat is also provided for black bear, elk, moose, mountain lion, mule deer, and pronghorn. The properties are part of an important winter concentration area for elk, mule deer, and pronghorn.