newsletter 2004 - The Crested Butte Land Trust

CRESTED BUTTE LAND TRUST 2004 NEWSLETTER
SARAH BRANDT GREEN
CRESTED BUTTE LAND TRUST
CRESTED BUTTE LAND
TRUST
“Preserving the Present for the Future”
P.O. Box 2224
Crested Butte, Colorado 81224
Phone: (970) 349–1206
Fax: (970) 349–1210
[email protected]
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
PRESIDENT
Sandy Leinsdorf
VICE-PRESIDENT
Jennifer Rose
SECRETARY
Jim Starr
TREASURER
DEAR MEMBER,
A
S THE CRESTED BUTTE LAND TRUST COMPLETES ITS 13TH YEAR OF SUCCESS,
our community is entering another period of economic growth and real estate
value increases. We are now, more than ever, thankful for our successful land
purchases and the generous conservation easement donations from area
landowners over the past years.
We clearly face challenges. The West is growing at a phenomenal rate. The
population of the 13 Western states has risen 47% since 1980, mostly occurring in
rural areas. Agriculture lands are being converted to residential and commercial
development at an escalating rate and land prices are skyrocketing in resort
communities.
We are proud to have received one land and four conservation easement
donations from landowners at the end of 2003. The landowners’ appreciation of and
dedication to land preservation and tax benefits offered as incentives by the federal
and state governments have been enormously beneficial to our land conservation
efforts. These donations have increased our total preserved acres by 450.
This year we are working on the Rozman Ranch conservation easement, an
opportunity to preserve open space and the Rozman’s ranching heritage. The
reclamation of the Peanut Mine, which was delayed by the state last year, should be
completed by the end of this summer. In addition, we continue to work with the
Trust for Public Lands to preserve the High Elk Corridor in the Schofield area.
We are pleased to welcome real estate broker Dan McElroy to our board. Dan,
who has lived in Gunnison County for over 35 years, adds diversity to our tenmember community board.
The continued support and contributions from our membership and community
members are essential to our success. We thank our members, the Town of Crested
Butte, Great Outdoors Colorado, the Gunnison County Land Preservation Board
and 1% for Open Space for their continued contributions to our land preservation
efforts. This promises to be another year of achievements as the Crested Butte Land
Trust continues to protect and preserve those open spaces that are important to so
many of us.
Lowry Smith
David Baxter
Peter Bogardus
Glo Cunningham
Jeff Hermanson
John Hess
Dan McElroy
John Spencer
EXECUTIVE ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Bill Abraham
Norm Bardeen
Tim Clark
Jim Gebhart
Marcia Hegeman
Jackie Ingham
Dan Jones
Robert Kerr
Paula Lehr
Linda Powers
Scott Truex
ACCOUNTING
Bookie
STAFF
DIRECTOR
Vicki Church
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Lisa D’Arrigo
ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
Sincerely,
Melissa Giacchino
COVER PHOTO
Sandra Allen Leinsdorf
President
2
Kevin Krill
Lupine Blooming
NEWSLETTER 2004
CRESTED BUTTE LAND TRUST
JAN RUNGE
ROZMAN RANCH TO BE PROTECTED
BY CONSERVATION EASEMENTS
By John Hess
J
OHN AND MARILYN ROZMAN APPROACHED the Crested
Butte Land Trust (CBLT) in 2002 to talk about placing a
conservation easement on their ranch in the Slate River valley.
Located two miles south of Crested Butte, between the base of
Whetstone Mountain and the Slate River, the Rozman Ranch
forms a highly visible and important open space area.
Since 2002, CBLT has been working with the Rozmans to gain a
basic understanding of the ranch, so we could write a conservation
easement that fits the ranch, the Rozmans and CBLT. To do this we
have inventoried and surveyed the wetlands on the ranch, walked
the ranch during all seasons, conducted a bird inventory, and met
with the Rozmans and tax advisors to discuss State and Federal
income tax credits.
The Rozmans run a cow/calf operation on the ranch and their
cows graze on neighboring lands and the CBLT Robinson Parcel,
which also helps keep those parcels in agricultural use. The ranch
is home to about 60 bird species and 47 non-game mammal species
including “threatened” Bald Eagles. The ranch also has
appropriate habitat for “endangered” lynx and “endangered”
boreal toads.
Six other ranch families own and use land in the Slate River
valley, but only the Rozman Ranch and one other ranch are
NEWSLETTER 2004
headquartered here. As such, this ranch is special to the people of
Crested Butte and our visitors who come here year-round for the
western heritage and the wide-open spaces, which are often
preserved by the ranch families of the valley.
The plan is to preserve the southern 319 acres of the ranch by
purchasing and placing a conservation easement on it (CE 1). This
portion of the ranch includes hay meadows, forested land, pasture
land and some riparian wetlands along the river. We would also
like to preserve about 125 acres of the northern portion of the
ranch within two years (CE 2). CE 2 includes irrigated pasture,
non-irrigated pastureland, forested lands and wetlands. A third
CE on the existing gravel mines will be negotiated in about 20
years, after the gravel mines are reclaimed.
The Town of Crested Butte, 1% for Open Space, the Gunnison
County Land Preservation Fund and Great Outdoors Colorado have
already committed funding to the project. CBLT has applied to the
Federal Farm and Ranch Protection Program for a grant and we
should hear a response in June.
The Rozmans are donating 25% of the conservation easement
value to the transaction. CBLT plans to close on CE 1 by September
2004. If all grants are fully funded, CBLT will be raising about
$229,500 from individual donations for the first two CEs.
3
WILLIAM DURYEA
CRESTED BUTTE LAND TRUST
HUCKEBY AND ZELIGMAN FAMILIES DONATE
CONSERVATION EASEMENT NEAR CB SOUTH
B y Vi c k i C h u r c h
A
FTER YEARS OF THE HUCKEBY and Zeligman families and
CBLT working to figure out a way to finance the preservation
of their land, the landowners agreed to donate a conservation
easement on their two parcels of land. The parcels straddle the
East River just north of the Cement Creek Road and are situated
below the Crested Butte South subdivision.
This property had been on and off the market for the past few
years, while the Land Trust contemplated how to protect it. With
the passing of the Colorado state tax credit, finally the Land Trust
could offer an alternative financing option for the landowners so
they could realize some financial remuneration in exchange for
putting a conservation easement on the property and removing all
development rights.
Thanks to the generosity of the Huckeby and Zeligman
families, the Land Trust was able to protect nearly 20 acres in two
parcels, one that is 12.25 and the other that is 7.5 acres. This
property is home to rich wetlands, wildlife, and plant habitat that
includes fir trees, willows, coyotes, deer, eagles and dozens of
other species and will remain a sanctuary for many bird species
that migrate along the East River.
Elizabeth Huckeby comments about her donation, “I’d rather
have the property pristine than misused. Conservation easements
add to the value of the Crested Butte area.”
We are grateful to the Gunnison County Land Preservation
Board, the Crested Butte South homeowners and the CB South
Homeowners Association for helping to raise $23,000 to cover
costs associated with protecting this wildlife haven. We are also
grateful to the Huckeby and Zeligman families for their patience
in working with the Crested Butte Land Trust to finally set aside
this property as a wildlife preserve.
PEANUT MINE RECLAMATION UPDATE
By Jennifer Rose
M
ARK JULY 19 ON YOUR CALENDAR as the beginning of
the Peanut Mine Reclamation Project! Say goodbye to all
of those nasty, stinky tailings ponds and say hello to a
landscape that will be recontoured, cleaned up, and
revegetated.
The Peanut Mine was operated as a coal mine from the early
1900s to the 1930s. For a period of time after this, the mine was
used as a mill site to process hard rock ore. Piles of slag are
modern-day reminders of the process by which miners
extracted the valuable minerals from the hard rock.
The Reclamation Project entails scraping the earth at the
mine site of all piles of coal and slag. This material will be used
to fill in a natural gully, and a French drain will be created to
direct run-off water from the old mine site.
The Peanut Mine Reclamation Project should take up to 60
days. Pedestrian traffic to the Lower Loop will be allowed, but
please be careful as there will be lots of heavy equipment.
The Peanut Mine cleanup is a $670,000 project funded by the
Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology, The Gates Family
Foundation, the Environmental Protection Agency Brownfield’s
grant and private donations. Once again your kind and
generous donations have helped fund a very important project
of the Crested Butte Land Trust.
The cleanup should be an incredibly fascinating project to
watch as the land will transform before our very eyes! We will
offer free, guided tours every Tuesday at 4:30 pm beginning July
20 through September 7. Call the CBLT office (970) 349–1206 and
sign up in advance. Please join us!
LOWER LOOP PARKING WE ASK YOU TO PLEASE PARK in the general parking lot at the beginning of the Peanut Mine
Road. Restricted parking is available at the mine site for those who find it physically difficult to get to the trailhead. Please do not
abuse this privilege. Excessive traffic on the Peanut Lake Road makes it unappealing for those walking, running, or biking to the
trailhead. Please note that parking will be available only in the general parking area once the Peanut Mine Reclamation has begun.
4
NEWSLETTER 2004
CRESTED BUTTE LAND TRUST
LOCAL DEVELOPER TAKES ADVANTAGE OF CONSERVATION
TOOLS TO CREATE A WILDERNESS FISHING CLUB
B y Vi c k i C h u r c h
A
S THE PRICES of real estate continue to rise in Gunnison
County, the Land Trust is limited in its ability to buy land and
easements outright. So the Land Trust is beginning to look to
innovative developers to lessen the impacts of their plans to fragile
lands. Such developers can use tools like the Colorado state tax
credit and local resources to create conservation developments.
And so it came to pass with the Gunnison River Banks Ranch that
Bill Coburn approached the Land Trust and protected about 85%
of 455 acres under a conservation easement in 2003.
The property is located six miles north of Gunnison adjacent to
Highway 135 and straddles the Gunnison River. Coburn and
partners donated a conservation easement to the Land Trust and
then proceeded through the Gunnison County Land Parcel Incentive
Process (LPIP), which guarantees expedited review in return for the
developer providing open space and clustered homesites.
Coburn worked to screen and hide the 21 building sites from view
to minimize visibility from Highway 135 and the river. In addition the
homesites are limited to 2,500 square feet and will be screened by
vegetation and set back from wetlands and steep riverbanks.
Bill commented about the project, “I’ve always believed there’s
a group that appreciates little things, people who want something
less. We proved it with the group that we put together. We did
everything we could to keep the land in a natural state. I believe
this is a template for other development projects.”
The project emphasizes wilderness fishing cabins and does not
allow the County right to a secondary residence. Outside of the
conservation easement area, in addition to the 21 three-acre singlefamily lots, Coburn has renovated the original ranch house, barn,
chicken coop, blacksmith shop and outhouse. The project will also
provide a riding arena, small stable and guesthouse.
The Land Trust encourages developments that incorporate
conservation values that will ultimately benefit the property
owners and the public as well as protecting critical wildlife and
plant habitat. Thank you to Bill and his partners!
PLEASE HELP WITH THE HIGH ELK CORRIDOR
By David Baxter
NEWSLETTER 2004
treasures. We probably have the most to gain from its preservation,
as we live in the closest community. We need your help!
Please contact the CBLT office if you have questions or ideas,
but most importantly if you would like to make a contribution to
High Elk, or if you have any thoughts on other funding sources.
JAN RUNGE
THE HIGH ELK CORRIDOR connects the historic town sites of
Gothic and Marble. It includes the West and East Maroon
trailheads, trails traveled by hundreds of hikers to and from Aspen
each summer and fall. It connects the Raggeds and Maroon BellsSnowmass wilderness areas and the critical wildlife migration
routes between the two. It includes the Rocky Mountain Biological
Laboratory, providing unparalleled opportunities for long-term
biological research including the cause and effects of global
warming. It is transited by a jeep road connecting the East River
and Crystal River valleys which provides hiking, biking and
motorized transit through the historic ghost town of Crystal and
past the Crystal Mill, probably the second most photographed
spot in Colorado. It connects the Gunnison and White River
National Forests. It includes some of the most spectacular scenery,
recreational opportunities, historic sites and biological treasures in
our country. It needs to be saved!
The Trust for Public Land (TPL) continues to lead the charge
for preserving the High Elk Corridor connecting the historic and
vital communities of Gothic and Marble. TPL secured a
$1,000,000 grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund in
2003 and is currently trying to secure an additional $1,500,000
from that same fund for 2005.
If that effort is successful, these funds will provide a little less
than half the dollars needed to protect the corridor. The balance
of roughly $4,000,000 must come from private donations of
land, conservation easements, and dollars (approximately $2
million of them).
This past year, the Crested Butte Land Trust assisted in the
placing of a conservation easement on the Cottage Home site,
which is the waterfall between the north end of Schofield Park and
the Devil’s Punchbowl. It also received a generous donation of
several Schofield town site lots from Peter and Margaret Kennel,
local Crested Butte residents.
CBLT continues to work with TPL, Rocky Mountain Biological
Laboratory, the Aspen Valley Land Trust, the Wilderness Land
Trust, Pitkin and Gunnison Counties and the communities within,
and many others to preserve what is clearly one of our national
5
CRESTED BUTTE LAND TRUST
HAVE YOU JOINED THE CRESTED BUTTE LAND TRUST FOR 2004?
The following donors supported the Crested Butte Land Trust from May 31, 2003 to May 31, 2004.
Thank you for your generosity and for helping to “Preserve the Present for the Future.”
Jerry Abeles
Mark Abraham
Mr. and Mrs. William E. Abraham
H. Norman and Idelle R.
Abramson
Paul and Joy Adams
Mr. and Mrs. James Akers
William H.Alexander
Richard and Mary Allen
Bruce and Deborah Alpern
Hermann R. and Betty M.
Altenfelder
Trent and Linda Anderson
Susan H. Anderton
Bryce Appleton
Mr. Kirk Apt
Don and Victoria Roach Archuleta
Monica Ariowitsch
Edward and Dee Arnold
Alan and Joy Ashlock
Susan Lloyd Ayres
Todd and Cynthia Azud
Lou R. and Nell F. Baeten
Laura Bailey
Byron and Marilyn Baird
Donald and Beverly Baker
Donald R. and Janis Baker
John and Joan Banker
Norman and Susan Bardeen
Clif and Kathy Barnhart
Jack and Nancy Bass
Keith Bauer
David and Chris Baxter
Harry and Nancy Beaudry
Clifford T. and Susan D. Beckman
Lou Beckman
Brian M. Beitner
Kevin J. and Susan W. Beltz
Charles Bennett, Ph.D.
Richard C. Berg
Walker and Ruth Berkshire
Glee Biery
Thomas and Linda Biery
Robert J. or Tina M. Bishop
Paul and Mary Lou Blacharski
Peter Bogardus
H. David Bonnett and
Anne. M. Cargill
Peter Booth
Ted and Kim Carroll Bosler
Sandra S. Bougere
John and Susan Box
Robert J. and Malla T.
Brandenberger
Lawrence J. Brannian
Dr. and Mrs. Robert E. Breeze
Robert D. and Susan M.
Brickman
David Broderick
Robert H. and Laura A. Brodie
Dale A. and Christina E.
Broekemeier
Bernie Brown
Allen T. Brown
Dwight and Patsy Brown
Stephen and Bernadette Brown
Kathie L. Broyles
Michelle Brugiere
Michael A. Brummer
John P. Brunso
Bill and Carolyn Brusman
Bernard E. and Martha A. Bryson
Georgiana Buckler
Charles and Mary Buckley
Russell and Dorothy Budd
Betty Jane Burke
William N. and Lenore K. Burke
Glenn Burnham
Fernando D. and
Kathy Burstein, MD
Albert Busch and Joan Heinz
F.M. Buxton
James E. and Kay R. Cannon
Mr. Walter Carnett, Jr.
Dan and Candace Carson
Mollie Carson
William and Monica Carter
Mike Castillo and Midge Weidner
Harvey Castro
6
Paul W. Chambliss
William and Jane Chaney
E. Hugh and Linda H. Chappell
Edward Chase
Wayne and Barbara Chupik
Steve and Victoria Church
Don and Beverly Clark
Bill and Annie Coburn
Paul and Anne Cohen
Karla D. College
Darrell and Judy Collins
Mark W. and Emily G. Collins
William R. and Rita M. Collins
Dr. and Mrs. Chris Colwell
Bill and Margearita Comiskey
Gus and Karen Comiskey
Mark and Nancy Conant
Gary and Kirsten Cook
Mr. and Mrs. Harold H. Cook, Jr.
Ray and Maria Cook
Rebecca J. Cook
Reagan and Susan Coon
Robert and Elizabeth Cooperman
John Corbitt
Robert Costello
Phyllis Cowell
Mike and Patricia Cowling
Kathleen Cox
Thom and Sharon Cox
Sally Brown Crank
Winfield Craven, MD
Jenny Crawford
John Todd and Caroline Crocker
Stuart and Shirley Crow
James Crowell III, MD and
Mary T. Crowell
Joe Cruz and Jane Kuenzel
Lynn Cudlip
Glo Cunningham
Jane E. Cunningham
John and Jodeen Cunningham
Melissa Cunningham
Paul T. and Mary J. Cunningham
Steven and Gaynelle Curtiss
John Vincent Daigle
Kathy Darrow
Charles and Sharon Daubenberger
Alice and Robbin Dawson
John C and Neva C. Dawson
Joseph de Compiegne
Mr James. M. de Montmollin
Peter and Cathy Dea
Judith B. Dean
Peter W. DeLeeuw
William and Karen Deneka
Gwen G. des Cognets
Maggie Dethloff
Jack and Paula Dietrich
Randy Dietrich
Ron and Kathy Disney
John Distefano
Rick and Karen Divine
Christopher and Carole Dobbie
Tom and Mary Dobert
Kevin and Sonda Donovan
Curtis and Margaret Dorris
Sterling and Melinda Doster
Brian Downs and Gail Mancuso
Robert Drabkin
Fred and Marie Drake
Stephen Drouilhet
John Dugenske and Jackie Bush
Charles and Angela Dumas
Peter P. and Susan C. Dunda
Gilbert R. Dunn and Erika Ericksen
William and Susan Duryea
Mary Scott Earley-Moss
Margaret Easly
Scott W. and Pamela F. Eaton
Sinjin Eberle
David D. and Carole J Ebner
Dr. Paul R. and Anne H. Ehrlich
Mike and Carole Elmore
John Emery
Greg and Cathy Enright
Dr. and Mrs. B. Henry Estess, Jr.
Mitch and Chris Evans
Sandy Fails
Jerry and Mary Kay Falkner
Jim and Andrea Faust
William A. and Virginia P.
Fawcett
Mr. and Mrs. Stanley H. Feldberg
Charles A. Ferrell
Frank and Linda Fialkoff
M.V. and Judy Filippone
Jim and Charlotte Finley
David P. and Leah M. Fischer
Jay and Ginny Fitzgerald
John J. Fitzpatrick and
Anne E. Francis
Daniel and Marilyn Foster
Mary Frame
Jessica J. Frankman
Keith Frates
Nan Frates
Gil and Lynn Friedlander
John M. “Chip” Fudge
Gilbert L. Fuld
Peg Furey
Charles K. and Stephanie R. Gailey
Bruce Gallagher
Mr. and Mrs. Philip Gallant
Shelley Garcia-White
Jim Garot
Don and Judith Garrett
Mr. and Mrs. George Garzon
Jim and Rosie Gebhart
Jacob and Martha Geller
Ann Geupel
Melissa Giacchino
Robert N. and Karen F. Gilchrist
Bob, Mandy, Ben and Mo Gillie
Robert T. Goettge
Robert and Cara Goldsbury
Richard Goldstein
Robert Goldthwaite
Tara Gorman
Michael and Martha Graber
David Grainger
Bill and Susan Grana
James and Diane Grandey
David Gray and Carolyn
Blanchard
Scott and Sarah Brandt Green
Walter and Sherron Green
Balie J. and Beverly Griffith
William S. and Gail L. Hagler
Dr. and Mrs. Arvel Haley
Dr. John and Margie Haley
Steve and Sue Haley
Denis Hall
Michael L. Hall
Sally Hall
J. Marshall and Elizabeth
Hamilton
Thomas D. and Beth A. Hamilton
Ralph and Carol Hamner
Lash and Arlene Hansborough
Julia Hamilton Harms
Glenda Harper
Max Harper, III
Kirk and Mary Haskell
John and Margaret Hatlem
Donald and Be Haver
Christine L. Hayes
Matthew M. Hayes
Alan G. and Gloria M. Heath
Alan and Marcia Hegeman
Don and Cindy Hempel
Sandra C. Henry
Chris and Sally Hensley
Jeff Hermanson
Louisa Hernandez
John Hess
Lester Hess
Karen Hickey
Anne A. Hickman
Robert and Judith Hiester
Joseph and Elisabeth Hise
Mr. and Mrs. James M. Hogue
Christine P. Holbrook
Joe and Tracy Hollister
Karin Holmen
James and Jane Hopkins
Erika Hosier
Jonathan and Roanne Rouse
Houck
David and Ellyn Houghton
Nancy and Galen Houston
Robert Howard
Elizabeth Huckeby
David and Lezlie Hudiburg
Sandy Huffman
Jack and Eileen Hughes
Mr. and Mrs. Bill Humble
John Humphries
Matt and Monica Hutson
Cyndi Lang Ingalls
John and Jackie Ingham
Brian Inouye and Nora
Underwood
Randa Jacobs
Donald H. Janney and
Elizabeth Farnum Janney
Mindaugas and Linnea Jatulis
Simon V. Jeffery
Mr. and Mrs. Pat Jenevein
Steve Jennison
Marlo Johansen
Michael and Nancy Johnson
Rusty and Marla Johnson
Sally K Johnson
Steven Johnson
W. Tom and Katherine Johnson
Emily Johnston
Margaret Johnston
Dan Jones
Kendall C. Jones and
Cynthia J. Mattson
Nancy Gex Jones
Bill and Suzanne Joyce
Heidi Juhl
Jenny Kamens
Gregg and Kristine Kampf
Bob and Barbara Kauffman
James and Ruth Keene, III
Sean and Delores Kelly
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas R. Kelsey
Peter and Margaret Kennel
Richard Kimball and
Mary Louise Skinner
Anne Lamkin Kinder
Robert and Anita King
Jim and Nina Kingsdale
Rina Kirchgessner
Paul E. and Mary Alice Kirincic
Michael J. Knoll
Katherine Knorr
Nicholas Koch
Key and Catherine Kolb
Fred and Robin Koval
Doug Kroft
Nita Kubricht
Thomas R. Kuhn
Craig Kurtz and Kila Lau
William and Cora La Grange
Joyce Lamb
Bill Langley and Sue Rouse
Don G. Lebrasse and
Josephine L. Longfellow
Clarke and Charmon Lehew
David and Sandra Leinsdorf
Elyse LePage
Anthony Levatino and
Sheila Madigan Levatino
Murray and Shirley Levin
Michael and Ellen Levitt
Margot Levy
Craig B. Libby
Ed and Judy Ligon
David A. and Mary D. Lind
Wendy Fisher and Woody
Lindenmeyr
Thomas F. Londrigan
Lucille Lucas
Sam and Nan Lumb
G.R. and Joni Lund
Jack and Marilyn MacAllister
Gerald and Constance Mackey
Steve and Ann Mallow
Gail Mancuso
William and Christian Manuel
Ryan and Wynn Martens
Archie and Margaret Martin
Jane Martindell and Robin Cash
Gene and Barbara Mason
Donald F. Massman and
Julia A. Heersche
John and Jan Maurer
Dr. John McAllister
William E. and Diane McCreight
Dan McElroy
T.J. McIntyre
Charles and Susan McKee
Caroline McLean
J. Benjamin McLoughlin
Patrick McNamar
Margaret Mead
Art Mears and Paula Lehr
Elisabeth Meeker
Mr. and Mrs. Harry and
Jane Meginnis
Randy Melton and Marsha Collins
Steve Meredith
Peter M. and Susan H. Mesrobian
Donald B. Meyer
John and Katie Meyer
Ronald W. Meyer
David H. and Lisa A. Michaelson
Jack G. and Gwendolyn I. Mickle
Allan and Diane Miller
David and Patricia Miller
David R. Miller
Judith Miller
Russell Miller and Carol Johnson
Mr. and Mrs. William H. Miller, Jr.
WC and Lisa Mirams
John and Dorothy Mitchell
Kenneth and Barbara Moffitt
James D. Moore
Lynn Moore
Grant and Mary Morrison
Mr. and Mrs. Paul Motheral
Edward and Darole Mulder
Christopher S. Hansen- Murray
Ted and Caroline Murray
John Nachilly and Diana DeValk
John and Susan Napier
Rod Nash and Honeydew Murray
Sue Navy
Gary and Rochelle Needham
Mike Nelson and Sherri Deetz
Allan Newcomb
Edward and Pamela Nickels
Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Nodell
Don and Katherine Norgard
Tom and Adria Norton
Jennifer O’Neal
Patrick and Jane O’Neill
Mr. and Mrs. David O’Reilly
James and Sue Oates
Susanne Obaid
Amy Olexy
Mr. and Mrs. Allen G. Oliphant
Mose Orion and Maren Orion
Oppenheimer
David Owen
John and Linda Page
Mrs. R.L. Palmer
Christopher Parks
Mr. and Mrs. Herbert and
Jerre Paseur
Robert and Monique Patton
Bill Peatross
Ron and Vicky Pelinski
Robb and Stacey Pennie
Marsha Perkins
Thomas H. Perkins
Stephen Perlman and
Roberta Kilroy
Shelly Perlmutter
Michael and Jeannette Peter
Kirk and Stacey Petersen
Ronald S. Pierce
Ralph Pike
Randall and Shirley Pogue
William and Kimberlee Powelson
Linda Powers
Sherry L. Powley
Terry and Sarah Powley
James and Joan Prentice
Greg and Margo Price
Peter and Susan Pritchett
Robert and Anita Puglisi
Robert and Barbara Pyle
NEWSLETTER 2004
CRESTED BUTTE LAND TRUST
Stephan J. Quentzel
Rob Quint
Gary and Frances Rainwater
John and Diana Ralston
George and Elaine Rau
Brett and Karen Redden
Steve and Michele Reep
Melanie Rees
Jonathan Reichlin and
Lisa Bardarson
George and Bobbie Reinhardt
Susan Reithel
Nancy Rem
Richard and Sharon Renwick
Paul and Joanne Reynolds
Jeff and Gloria Riddle
Greta Ringsby
Chris and Sarah Riopelle
Krehe and Katherine Ritter
Gareth and Linda H. Roberts
Joseph D. Robertson
Laura Rockwell
Bruce and Bonnie Rodan
Fernando and Chris Rodriguez
J.A. and Judy T. Rodriguez
John T. and Noelle M. Rohde
William and Anne Ronai
David Rose and Ceil Murray
Brent and Betty Rosenthal
Diane Ross
Eric and Kathleen Ross
Jane Dunn Rossiwall
Dr. Sandra G. Rosswork
Joanne Rotbart
Randy and Diana Shenkin
Rottman
Rudolph and Lois Rozman
Daniel and Holly Rubinoff
John H. Ryan
Dr. and Mrs. Steven A. Rymal
Scott Sanders
Mr. and Mrs. Richard S. Saperstein
David and Josie Sassaman
J.R. and Jean Scalmanini
Amy Schaeffer
Mr. and Mrs Lee and Sis Schalon
Stephanie Scheske
Joseph Schwartz
Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Scoggins
Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin L. Scott
Judge Ross A. and Mariann Sears
and Jessica Jensen
Louise Seltzer
Mr. and Mrs. Dan Semegen
Peg Sharp
Charles and Victoria Shaw
A.J. and Julia C. Shoup
James and Delrena Sides
Randall P. Singleton
Bill Smith and Jennifer Rose
Christian and Julie Smith
Chuck Smith
Forrest and Dawn Smith
Harley and Marion Smith
Lowry and LeIla Smith
Michael and Meg Smith
Dr. John and
Mrs. Marsha Soucheray
John and Haden Spencer
Nina Scripps Spitzley and
Adeline M. and Armig Smith
Cathy Sporcich
Margaret A. Sporcich
William F. and Marcia A. Stamm
Jim and Annie Starr
William Richard and Judy Stark
Chuck Stearns
Dorothy B. Steele
Elaine Steele
Robert Stephens and Julie Packard
Philip A. Stoffregen and
Leslie R. Desmond
Jerry and Virginia Stone
Lee and Elizabeth Stone
Bruce and Alice Ann Street
Anthony and Randi Stroh
Mary Swanwick
Margaret Tange
Larry and Chris Tanning
Mark Tardiff and Terre Mercier
John and Elizabeth Carson Taylor
Kendall and Kristi Taylor
Diane and Mert Theaker
J.P. Thornton
Carol Lynn Tiegs
Wally Trepp
Robert W. Trombley and
Heidi A. Schmitt
Scott Truex and Lisa D’Arrigo
Mary E. Tuck
Deborah Tutnauer
Mark Tye
David and Corinne Tyler
Dirk and Nancy Tyler
Andy and Sue Tyzzer
Michelle U’Ren
Graham Ullrich and Sue
Schappert
Norman Urmy
Wouter and Jill Van Tiel
Theodore and Martha Violett
Mark and Laurie Voegeli
Nancy Vogel
Merle and Marian Volding
Donna Walker
Joe and Ellen Walker
Rod and Vicki Walker
Aub and Fran Ward
James and Kathryn Ward
Dr. and Mrs. John Warren
Jim Watson
Ward B. Watt and Carol Boggs
C. Todd Weaver
Covie M. and Sherry L. Weaver
Beth and Ben Wegbreit
John and Jill Weigel
Lee and Lynn Weiner
Nancy N. Welch
Michael and Laura Werner
Larry and Alice West
Joseph M. Westervelt
Elinor White
James R. and Barbara J. White
Dr. John C. and Stephanie S.
Whitman
Roy and Susan Widjeskog
Mr. and Mrs. Bruce Wilkinson
Ruth and Robert Willey
Claire Williams
Cohen E. and Leah Williams
James E. and Robyn S. Williams
Joe and Becky Williams
Louis C. Williams
JW Williamson
Chris and Katherine Wilson
Donna Wilson
William S. Wimmer
Richard C. Wingerson
Tim and Wren Wirth
Klaus and Karin Wisiol
Thomas M. Woodell, II
Terry Woodrow
George S. and Judith H. Writer
Mary Jane Wurster
Jim and Vigie Wynn
Roxanne Yates
Ms. Loraine Yeatts
Robert and Betsy Zakely
Henry N. and Marilyn T. Zwirek
TRUSTEES OF THE LAND
Tom and Adria Norton,
Carlson Family Foundation
Dr. John and Margie Haley
Kevin and Susan Beltz,
Pine Tree Foundation
Nina Scripps Spitzley and
Adeline M. and Armig Smith
Bill Coburn, Trout Ranch LLC
STEWARDS OF THE LAND
Brian Beitner
Bill Coburn, Trout Ranch LLC
Rick and Karen Divine
Elizabeth Huckeby and
the Zeligman Family
Peter and Margaret Kennel
Pitkin Iron Corporation
GRANTORS
1% for Open Space, Inc.
Colorado Division of Hazardous
Materials and Waste
Management, Department of
Public Health and the
Environment
Colorado Division of Minerals
and Geology, Department of
Natural Resources
Environmental Protection Agency
Great Outdoors Colorado
Gunnison County Land
Preservation Board
Town of Crested Butte
FOUNDATIONS AND
CHARITABLE ORGANIZATIONS
Akers Foundation
Amgen Foundation
Brandt Foundation
Carlson Family Foundation
Crested Butte Community
Foundation
The Dallas Foundation
Dallas Jewish Community
Foundation
Fidelity Investments
Chariable Gift Fund
Richard Goldstein,
Private Foundation
Harris Foundation, Inc.
H.B. Alexander Foundation, Inc.
Pikes Peak Community
Foundation — Paul and
Annie Cohen Fund
Pine Tree Foundation
The Saint Paul Foundation
The San Diego Foundation’s
Colwell Family Fund
Whetstone Mountain Foundation
The Winslow Foundation
The Winston-Salem Foundation
ORGANIZATIONS
Cascadilla Condos Association
CB South Property
Owners Association
Conservation Resource Center
Crested Butte Wildflower Festival
Rocky Mountain Biological
Laboratory
Trust for Public Lands
BUSINESSES AND
CORPORATIONS
Alpine Acupuncture
Alpineer
Avalanche Roofing, Inc.
Bacchanale
Bluestone Builders
Brookins Properties
City Market Cares Program
Community Banks of Colorado
Community First National Bank
Crested Butte Bank
Crested Butte Builders
Crested Butte Mountain
Crested Butte Mountain Resort
Cristiana Guesthaus
EnCana Corporation
Gunnison Bank and Trust
Company
Henning Electrical
Holbrook & Guy
Lacy & Dow LLC
Maui Jim Inc.
McAfee Enterprises
Mountain Colors Decorating Center
Noreen Construction, Inc.
Oppenheimer Funds Inc.
PR Property Management, Inc.
Red Lady Spine and
Sports Physical Therapy
Red Lady Realty
Renick Wood Floors
Shondeck Financial Services
and Insurance
Storage One
The Book Store
Tomichi Tire-Towing Service
Trout Ranch LLC
Veritas Software Global LLC
Zimmerman Construction
GIFTS IN KIND
Kathy Amen Design
Arden Anderson
Mr. Kirk Apt
Joyce Armstrong and Rose Reed
Bookie
Jack and Marsha Brenlinger
Michelle Brugiere
CB News
Cement Creek Ranch
Ralph E. and Judy Clark
Tim Clark
Clarks Market
Community First National Bank
Crested Butte Bank
Conservation Resource Center
Crested Butte Printing
Crested Butte Weekly
Lynn Cudlip
Rene Defourneaux
Ewert Appraisal Services
Jessica J. Frankman
Keith Frates
Peter Hagen
Denis Hall
Sally Hall
Ethan Hicks
Holbrook & Guy
Ronnie Holze
Idle Spur
John Ingham
Isaacson, Rosenbaum,
Woods & Levy, P.C.
Gregg and Kristine Kampf
Robert and Angela Kray
Charles Peterson
Matt Robbins
Jannette Runge
Scott Fly Rods
MJ Simmons
Bill Smith and Jennifer Rose
John Sowell
MARILYN EDMISTEN
“Why be a member of the Crested Butte Land Trust? Being a
member of the Land Trust is a way of showing tangible and much
needed community support of this most important land preservation
group. When the Land Trust applies to funding sources, community
support is looked upon with great favor. When one reads about
acquisitions and conservation easements, one feels proud and
pleased to have helped to make them possible.” — Marcia Hegeman
John and Haden Spencer
Timberline Cafe
Union Congregational Church
Loree and Ward Weisman
Tracy Wickland
Sarah Wright
Jeff Writer
IN HONOR
Linda and Allen Beck in honor of
Kathy Darrow
Clifford T. and Susan D. Beckman
in honor of Lou Beckman and
Pete Davis
Kenneth W. and Mabeth Coleman
in honor of the birth of Haley
Katherine Coleman
Karla D. College in honor of
Jeff Hermanson
Stephen Drouilhet in honor of
Roanne and Jonathan Houck
Sinjin Eberle in honor of
Jeff Hermanson
Robert Goldthwaite in honor of
Lou Beckman
Dr. and Mrs. Arvel Haley in honor
of John and Margie Haley
Steve and Sue Haley in honor of
John and Margie Haley
Max Harper, III in honor of John
and Margie Haley
Mindaugas and Linnea Jatulis in
honor of Jeff Hermanson
Craig Kurtz and Kila Lau in honor
of Glo Cunningham
Ted and Caroline Murray in honor
of Lou Beckman
John and Linda Page in honor of
John and Margie Haley
Sherry L. Powley in honor of Terry
and Sarah Powley
Robert W. Trombley and Heidi A.
Schmitt in honor of Jeff
Hermanson
Mark and Laurie Voegeli in honor
of Glo Cunningham
Covie M. and Sherry L. Weaver in
honor of John and
Margie Haley
Thomas M. Woodell, II in honor of
Mr. and Mrs. Frank Ingraham
Thomas M. Woodell, II in honor
of Mrs. and Mrs. Thomas
Biery
Thomas M. Woodell, II in honor of
Mr. and Mrs. William Manuel
IN MEMORY
Robert J. and Malla T.
Brandenberger in memory
of Mrs. Zimmerman
Nan Frates in memory of
Bernard Harlow
Jim and Delrena Sides in
memory of Julie Moore
Charles K. and Stephanie R.
Gailey in memory of
Helen S. Buynoski
Amy Olexy in memory
of Josh Olexy
Laura Rockwell in memory
of Dennis Johns
Stephanie Scheske in memory
of Ted Scheske
Andy and Sue Tyzzer in memory
of Ted Thompson
Graham Ullrich and
Sue Schappert in memory
of Ed Emmel
If we have inadvertently left you out, please let us know. We thank you for your gift and we apologize for this oversight.
NEWSLETTER 2004
7
LOU BECKMAN
CRESTED BUTTE LAND TRUST
THANKS TO THE COLORADO STATE TAX CREDIT
CONSERVATION IS A VIABLE OPTION FOR MANY
R
ECENT TAX LAWS have opened a whole new world of
financing for conservation organizations and landowners.
Eligible landowners now have the opportunity to pursue
conservation options without requiring additional fundraising
leveraging. In the past few years, the Land Trust has acted as a
facilitator for landowners to guide, execute and hold conservation
easements that take advantage of the Colorado state tax credit.
“The exciting thing about the state tax credit is that savvy
landowners are starting to come out of the woodwork and initiate
conservation easements on their property,” says Land Trust
president Sandy Leinsdorf. Recently the Land Trust held a
seminar, given by Mike Strugar of the Conservation Resource
Center, for professionals and landowners. Participants learned
how landowners may integrate conservation options into their
plans, not only as a financing technique to recoup some liquidity
from their land, but also so they may retain the aesthetic value that
is so intrinsic to Gunnison County.
In certain instances the Land Trust has coupled the state tax
credit with other funding sources when it has been necessary to
raise substantial funds for a very worthwhile project, such as the
Rozman Ranch (see story on page 3). But the intriguing aspect of
the state tax credit is that it captures landowners who the Land
Trust might not have otherwise been able to approach due to
funding limitations. The voluntary Colorado state tax credit
requires the land being preserved have conservation value as
defined by the Internal Revenue Service, which is interpreted by
the local land trust.
Jim Starr, CBLT founding board member, adds “Colorado is
leading the way for great conservation funding strategies. I
applaud our elected state representatives for supporting
landowners who initiate voluntary conservation.”
Interestingly enough, the landowner isn’t the only one who
benefits from the state tax credit. The state tax credits can be sold
to other tax payers who have a greater need for them than the
landowner. The buyer of the credit not only receives a discount on
taxes, but also receives the satisfaction of knowing their tax dollars
are being invested in the eternal public benefit of keeping
Colorado beautiful.
Mike Stugar and Debbie Pentz of the Conservation Resource
Center in Boulder specialize in matching buyers (taxpayers) and
sellers (landowners) of the state tax credit. Last year alone their
program generated $14 million in state tax credits in 155
transactions throughout the State of Colorado. Sellers of tax credits
receive 80% of the value of the credit transferred. Sellers and buyers
are matched on a first-come first-served basis. Landowners
considering taking advantage of the state tax credit are advised to
register with the Center as early as possible.
Last year the Conservation Resource Center successfully matched
all landowners with buyers of the credit. Please contact the Crested
Butte Land Trust at 349–1206 for more information on the program.
As a non-profit, the Colorado Resource Center awarded $213,000 in grants through their new Conservation Grants program, of which the Crested
Butte Land Trust received $1,850 to go toward our stewardship endowment fund. The Crested Butte Land Trust is grateful to the Conservation
Resource Center for its support of conservation in Gunnison County.
8
NEWSLETTER 2004
CRESTED BUTTE LAND TRUST
A GIFT BY BEQUEST IN MEMORY OF TATE BROOKINS
By Peter Bogardus
T
ATE BROOKINS LOVED the beauty of Crested
Butte. As a young adult, Tate skied and
snowboarded on Crested Butte Mountain. He made
lasting friendships while he explored the valleys or
just relaxed in the presence of the mighty Crested
Butte Mountain. Crested Butte was a special place for
him as it is for each of us.
When Tate returned to Georgia to help his father
with the family business, he told everyone about
Crested Butte. He could vividly describe the
euphoric sensations given to him by the landscapes Tate Brookins
of our cozy mountain hamlet. Tate, an overachiever with insatiable
intellectual curiosity, dreamed of the day he would return for a
visit to Crested Butte. Unfortunately, on June 7, 1998, Tate Brookins
lost his life in a motorcycle accident in Georgia, his dreams of
seeing Crested Butte unfulfilled.
Tate’s father, Frank Brookins, was well aware of Tate’s love of
Crested Butte. So in memory of his son, Tate, Frank Brookins has
made a gift in his will of $50,000 to the Crested Butte Land Trust to
be transferred after Frank’s death. Such a gift will help the Land
Trust work to preserve the natural beauty of our community and
will forever be recognized as a gift in loving memory of Tate.
Land trusts and charitable organizations all over the country
are working with donors to show them how easy it is to give as
part of estate planning. The Crested Butte Land Trust has recently
developed the Leave a Legacy program, producing a brochure
describing the program.
The Leave a Legacy program allows members to designate the
Crested Butte Land Trust as a beneficiary in a will or a retirement
plan so that future generations will continue to enjoy
the Crested Butte that each of us loves in our own lives.
The Leave a Legacy program also provides
assistance for members who choose to make “living
gifts” to the Crested Butte Land Trust. Living gifts
come in all shapes and sizes and provide more
opportunities for tax benefits. Some examples of
living gifts are charitable remainder trusts, reserved
life estates, conservation easements, and simple
donations of stocks, bonds and mutual funds.
Members of the Leave a Legacy program include
anyone who has made a commitment to CBLT in a will, a trust, life
insurance or retirement plan. It also includes those who have
made a living gift.
A bequest is a gift left in a will. A bequest is a wonderful way
for individuals, of both great wealth and modest means, to ensure
that the work of the Crested Butte Land Trust will continue
beyond their own lifetimes.
After the death of his son, Frank Brookins traveled from his
home in Georgia to Crested Butte to scatter some of Tate’s ashes at
Windy Gap on Mt. Crested Butte. While Tate is blowing in the
breezes of Crested Butte, his memory will be forever recorded by
the “Leave a Legacy, But Stay a While” honorarium to be
established on the Peanut Mine parcel after the reclamation is
complete. The “Leave a Legacy, But Stay a While” honorarium will
recognize those who have named the Crested Butte Land Trust in
their will or as a beneficiary in other ways.
Frank Brookins adds, “I hope that this bequest in loving memory
of Tate will encourage others who love Crested Butte to do the same.”
EVERYDAY FUNDRAISING FOR THE LAND TRUST
By Lisa D’Arrigo
FUNDRAISING. It’s a necessary and fundamental part of
everyday operations at CBLT. Being a non-profit we are always
on the lookout for fresh and creative ideas on raising money for
land preservation. So far, we have several small programs and
fundraisers established that you can support to help raise
money every day.
THE 1% FOR OPEN SPACE PROGRAM: By continuing to
patronize the many local businesses that are involved the 1%
program, you are supporting the businesses that care about open
space while raising substantial funds for land preservation. Most
recently the 1% for Open Space Inc., contributed $50,000 toward
the Rozman Ranch conservation easement.
CITY MARKET CARES PROGRAM: This is one of the simplest
ways to raise funds for the Land Trust. All you have to do is
provide our staff with your City Market Value Card number
and we will receive quarterly donations from the City Market
Corporation. We have been participating for just under a year.
Our thanks to all of you who are currently registered.
CONDO PROGRAM: Established by John and Margie Haley,
this program encourages second homeowners to request a
donation from their house or condo guests, in appreciation of
their beautiful retreat. The Haleys provide information to
friends and family on how to donate to the Land Trust in lieu of
gifts. This program continues to be a great fundraiser.
CORPORATE MATCHING GRANTS: We have a small group
NEWSLETTER 2004
of members who consistently submit matching grant
applications when they make their contributions. This is a great
way to double the contribution you are making, as long as CBLT
qualifies for a grant from your employer or former employer.
We would encourage all of you to research this possibility as we
hope that this fundraising tool will grow. Thanks to all of you
currently requesting these grants.
CALENDAR: Each year of the Crested Butte Land Trust
Calendar has brought increased distribution and fundraising.
Due to the efforts of the calendar producer, both past and
present, the talent of local photographers and poets, and the
support of many local businesses, the calendar is posting record
sales. We hope that this will continue as we launch the 2005
calendar.
HOLIDAY ORNAMENTS: 2005 will be the 4th year that the
Land Trust will offer hand-painted holiday ornaments as a way
to contribute to the Land Trust as well as give a very special gift.
Each year a local artist has depicted a quintessential Crested
Butte scene. Purchase of the ornament also qualifies as an
updated membership contribution. Please look out for the new
ornament around the holidays.
We encourage you to consider any one of the many ways you
can help with fundraising for open space on an everyday basis.
If you have any new ideas that could help expand this list,
please contact any of the Land Trust staff or board. Thank you.
9
CRESTED BUTTE LAND TRUST
B
JOHN DUGENSKE
1% FOR OPEN SPACE, INC.
A UNIQUE IDEA THAT CONTINUES TO SUCCEED
ACK IN FEBRUARY OF 1997, Ethan
Hicks was the manager of The
Alpineer, an outdoor equipment and
clothing store located in downtown
Crested Butte. He had a lot of contact
with both visitors and locals, who
often express their appreciation for the
wide-open landscapes in the Crested
Butte area. People wanted to help, but
weren’t always sure how. So Hicks
came up with the idea of 1% for Open
Space: a voluntary 1% added to sales
as a contribution for open space
acquisition. The idea was well
received, and by the end of the ski
season, over two dozen businesses had
decided to participate. The Crested
Butte Land Trust, along with the
Gunnison Ranchland Conservation
Legacy, was the original administrator
of the program. However, it continued
to grow, and by January of 2001 1% for
Open Space Inc. became a separate,
incorporated non-profit organization.
The program has raised a
substantial amount of money since it
started in 1997, totaling almost
$860,000! Recent donations include $50,000 to the CBLT for the
Rozman Ranch project and $30,000 to the Rocky Mountain
Biological Lab for a project located outside the historic town of
Gothic. All told, the contributions collected have helped preserve
over 1,300 acres in the Gunnison Valley.
Currently there are around 60 participants from all sectors of the
business world. “We’re proud to offer our customers the
opportunity to invest in our valley’s future,” states Candy Shepard
of Le Bosquet Restaurant. “It’s quite remarkable how 52 cents here,
94 cents there, can add up to a significant contribution. Occasionally
customers choose not to participate, but it’s quite rare.”
An important, less visible result of the 1% for Open Space
program has been raising the awareness of open space
Karyn Adelman Acupuncture, Inc.
The Air Up There
Alpengardner
The Alpineer
Audrey Anderson
Animal Hospital of Crested Butte
Artesanos
Susie Attaway
The Bacchanale
Nathan Bilow Photography
Cement Creek Ranch
Clear Rivers Skin Care and Waxing
Coldwell Banker Bighorn Realty
Cookworks
Crested Butte International Lodge and Hostel
Crested Butte Medical Center
Crested Butte News
Crested Butte Property Management
Crested Butte True Value Hardware
Crested Butte Weekly
10
preservation in the general public.
Grants are usually predicated on
significant local contribution, and a
show of local support can greatly
increase the amount of funding from
other organizations. A notable
example of this is the funds received
from the Great Outdoors Colorado
(GOCO)
program. As
Sandy
Leinsdorf, president of the CBLT’s
Board of Directors, states: “The
people at GOCO have been very
impressed with the support our
community shows for open space
preservation, and the resultant funds
from GOCO have been invaluable in
helping us achieve our goals.”
Karen Janssen, development
director of the program, notes that she
continually fields calls from people all
across the country asking for
information about the program and
praising the community for their farsightedness. “It seems that many
people return from vacationing here
and tell their local land preservation
organizations about the program,
hoping that something similar can be started in their hometown
area. Crested Butte has become quite a trend-setter in land
preservation circles.”
Proponents of the program insist that preserving open space in
the Gunnison Valley is simply good business, and an important
investment in the economy’s future. Keeping this community a
special place — unique in its sweeping views, conscientious
growth, and forward-thinking attitude — will be what keeps
visitors visiting and locals living here for years to come.
We would like to sincerely thank the following businesses that
participate, and encourage both visitors and locals to support the
participants. Doing so will help the Gunnison Valley remain as
special as it is today.
Donita’s Cantina
Dragonfly Anglers
Dragon Sheet Metal
Elizabeth Anne Bed & Breakfast
Elk Avenue Medical Center
Elk Mountain Floor Coverings/
Red Horse Tile Co.
Evans Contracting
Flying Petito Sisters Video Store
Function Before Fashion
GCEA
The Gourmet Noodle
High Mountain Drifters
Le Bosquet
Lil’s Land and Sea
Lucille Lucas Gallery
Laura Magner, Attorney at Law
Mabuhay
Alex Moran
Mountain Colors Decorating Center
Mountain Spirits Liquors
The Mountain Store
The Natural Butte
Crested Butte Nordic Council
Paradox Footwear
Paragon Gallery
Pioneer Guest Cabins
Pitas in Paradise
Pooh’s Corner
Red Lady Realty Brokers and Broker Assoc.
Rocky Mtn. Biological Lab./Gothic Store
Rocky Mtn. Sports Medicine
Rocky Mtn. Trees and Landscaping
Round Mountain Organics
The Secret Stash
Spellbound Furniture Works
Timberline Mechanical
Town of Mt. Crested Butte
Troutfitter Sports
Why Cook?!
NEWSLETTER 2004
CRESTED BUTTE LAND TRUST
STEWARDSHIP AND LEGAL DEFENSE ENDOWMENT
By Melissa Giacchino
I
F THE CRESTED BUTTE LAND TRUST’S primary work — land
conservation — is to be enduring, we need to ensure that we
have the documentation and endowment funds to back it up. After
the fundraising goals have been met and the transactions
completed, the work of the Land Trust to protect the conservation
values of that land in perpetuity have only just begun.
The Crested Butte Land Trust has completed 13 conservation
easements and holds fee title to 20 parcels of land totaling around
3,000 acres. The Land Trust is responsible for ensuring that the
land management practices and terms of the conservation
easements for all 33 properties are being upheld. In the case of an
extreme violation, the Land Trust has accepted the responsibility
to protect conservation values of the land through litigation, which
could become costly and has resulted in the formulation of a
Stewardship and Legal Defense Endowment.
MONITORING: The Crested Butte Land Trust has a
Stewardship Committee chaired by Board Member John Hess and
composed of 14 volunteers. The committee meets throughout the
summer months to discuss land management issues and to
monitor each property and conservation easement in teams of at
least two. The monitoring includes conducting a site visit to walk
the entire boundary and cross sections of the land, completing a
standard monitoring form, documenting the land through
mapping and photography, and meeting with the landowners
whenever possible. The monitoring teams document any changes
to the land or the presence of invasive species.
VOLUNTEER WORK DAYS: Once an area has been identified to
have invasive species (weeds), the stewardship committee
organizes volunteer workdays on the land to remove the
unwanted plants. The effort continues throughout the summer, as
volunteers are available, in hopes of eradicating the invasive
species without the use of chemicals. Volunteer opportunities are
available throughout the summer on numerous parcels.
ENDOWMENT NEEDS: In an effort to prevent conservation
violations, the Crested Butte Land Trust practices strict
monitoring methods and documentation. However, in the event
that the Land Trust would have to go to court to protect the
conservation values of a parcel, the Land Trust has a Stewardship
and Legal Defense Endowment Fund. The Land Trust uses a
formula created by the Colorado Open Lands to determine the
endowment funds needed for each parcel and conservation
easement based on the size, location, and violation risk of that
parcel. The endowment fund generates interest that will be used
in the event of litigation or to cover stewardship costs if needed.
The current Land Trust Stewardship and Legal Defense
Endowment Fund totals $187,700. The Land Trust has a backlog
of early properties that do not have a stewardship endowment
gift. Making a gift to the Stewardship Endowment Fund will
ensure that all conservation values preserved by the Land Trust
will be protected into perpetuity.
If you are interested in joining the Stewardship Committee, participating in Volunteer Work Days, or making a gift to the Stewardship and Legal
Defense Endowment Fund please contact the Land Trust at (970) 349–1206. It’s a gift that lasts forever.
DAN MCELROY JOINS THE CRESTED BUTTE LAND TRUST
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
THE CRESTED BUTTE LAND TRUST is pleased to
welcome Dan McElroy to the Land Trust Board of
Directors. Dan has lived in Gunnison County since
1968 as a resident, when he graduated from Western
State College with a degree in business administration.
Having lived in both ends of the valley, Dan comes to
the Land Trust having a well-rounded perspective of
the diversity of Gunnison County residents and
landowners.
Upon graduating from Western State, Dan
worked for Crested Butte Realty, a department of Dan McElroy
Crested Butte Mountain Resort. In 1979, he started working for
Bighorn Realty and still enjoys a long and successful career with
Bighorn. He owned and operated Idealco, a commercial laundry
company in Gunnison, from 1984 to 1988.
Dan’s wife Janice has been a teacher in the RE1J school system
since 1970 and most recently worked in the Crested Butte
Community School teaching second grade. The McElroys have
five children, Joe, Matt, Patrick, Christopher and
Tisha, and four grandchildren. After seeing the last
two children off to college and living in Gunnison
for 18 years, the McElroys recently relocated to
Crested Butte.
Dan feels a real civic duty to the community and
has volunteered for the Alpine Competition
Committee, the Ski Club and the Gunnison County
School Board. He remarked about volunteering for
CBLT, “It is important to set aside conservation
easements and open space for the future. I think it’s a
worthwhile cause, and I believe it’s important for everyone to feel
a call to duty to make a volunteer commitment to the community.”
The Crested Butte Land Trust will benefit greatly from Dan’s
wealth of knowledge in real estate transactions. Sandy Leinsdorf,
CBLT president, comments, “We’re very fortunate that, after we
worked with Dan as a former landowner and realtor of the Lower
Loop, he will be joining us at the table.”
VOLUNTEER OF THE YEAR MARGIE HALEY
THE CRESTED BUTTE LAND TRUST BOARD OF DIRECTORS
has named Margie Haley the 2003 Volunteer of the Year. Last
summer Margie approached the Land Trust with the idea of
organizing a volunteer effort to collect native seeds from the
Peanut Mine to be planted following the reclamation. Margie had
never before collected native seeds, so she asked local wildflower
experts to join her each week as she met with volunteers out at the
NEWSLETTER 2004
Peanut Mine. This weekly effort produced a can about two feet
high and a foot wide full of seeds. Twenty-four volunteers
participated in the seed collections and logged over 85 volunteer
hours. We are grateful to Margie Haley for creating, implementing,
and successfully completing the Peanut Mine native seed
collections. The seed collections will continue in 2004, so anyone
interested in participating can contact the Land Trust.
11
KATHY DARROW
THE 2ND ANNUAL CRESTED BUTTE BANK TRAILS TRIATHLON
By Ashley Burt
D
URING THE SUMMER OF 2002 an idea was born. During the
summer of 2003 the idea became reality. The idea was to host
a local event to support a local charity, to provide an economic
boost to the Town, and to have a lot of fun. This idea was
expanded upon and became the Crested Butte Bank Trails
Triathlon. The event is a stop on the Nissan Xterra National Points
Series to be held on Sunday July 25, 2004, and the charity is The
Crested Butte Land Trust. Last August was the inaugural event,
and it was a huge success.
The event will raise money for the Crested Butte Land Trust as
well as provide a fun event for the Town. During the inaugural
2003 Triathlon we registered 107 participants, and this year we are
hoping for 200 participants. With the increased number of
participants in 2004, we will be able to make an even more
significant donation to the Crested Butte Land Trust!
You can help! The event will require 106 volunteers on the day of
the event. Many of these will hopefully be Land Trust Members.
Please support your Land Trust and have lots of fun in the process.
Call Vicki or Melissa at the Land Trust office at 349–1206 to volunteer
for this great event. Your commitment will be a meeting or two and
then a half day on Sunday July 25. In exchange you will get a T-shirt,
support the Land Trust, help the Town, and have lots of fun!
CRESTED BUTTE LAND TRUST CADDIS CUP
FLY FISHING TOURNAMENT JULY 21 AND 22
IF YOU’RE AN AVID FISHERMAN or just like to spend time at
your favorite fishing hole relaxing on a hot summer day, you
won’t want to miss the opportunity to support a great cause
while having a fantastic time. The Crested Butte Land Trust is
looking to get a group together to have a few good laughs and
catch a few fish all in the name of land conservation.
The Crested Butte Land Trust fly-fishing tournament is one
of the highlights of the summer, with fisherman from all over
converging for an unforgettable tournament that starts off with
a welcome barbecue the night before at Cement Creek Ranch.
It’s a chance to see old friends or meet new ones. We do all the
work and you just come along for the ride. The following day
is the fishing tournament, with a wrap up party at the end of
the day to determine the top three fishing winners and Best
Fish Tale, too.
This event is for anyone who likes to fish or anyone who
likes to talk about it. Mark your calendars and call the Crested
Butte Land Trust office to register early at (970) 349–1206. Space
is limited. Special thanks goes to Ronnie Holze, local artist, for
donating a giclée print entitled, “Feeding Rainbows,” and also
to Dave Curry of Crested Butte Rod Works for donating a
custom fly rod. We also want to thank the guides who volunteer
their time, Dragonfly Anglers and The Troutfitter for making
this event possible.
Special thanks go to Kathy Amen, Sandy Fails, Crested Butte Printing and the photographers for helping to make this color newsletter possible.