Summer 2015 Newsletter - Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas
Transcription
Summer 2015 Newsletter - Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas
Issue 22 Summer 2015 Serving Lake, Chaffee, Fremont, Saguache, and Park Counties Final Phase of Headwaters Ranch Conservation Easement Completed by Andrew Mackie Headwaters Ranch Conservation Easement, Phase III W hen driving through Lake County, Colorado, your lungs go into overdrive to extract every molecule of oxygen possible. Approaching Leadville from the south, you enter the 10,100-foot-high city and realize this is different from everywhere else. Over your shoulder to the southwest are the two highest peaks in Colorado, Elbert and Massive. At this point you have to wonder if shortness of breath is due to the elevation or the unbelievable scenery. Entering Leadville is a journey back in time. The signs of the past are everywhere, from the mine tailing piles to the architecturally ornate buildings constructed from fortunes made on gold, silver, and copper. Continue your trek out of Leadville to the northeast on Route 91, and soon the road is following the meandering course of the East Fork of the Arkansas River. This is a very different river from lower in the Valley. Many would call this watercourse a creek, since any normal throwing arm could easily put a stone across it. You have reached the Headwaters continues on page 3 Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas Page 2 contacts Office: PO Box 942 128 East First Street Salida, CO 81201 719-539-7700 [email protected] www.ltua.org Board of Directors Michael Scott President (Salida) James Keil Treasurer (Cotopaxi) Richard Cuyler Secretary (Salida) Robert White (Salida) Hayden Mellsop (Salida) Daniel Larkin (Salida) Matthew Coen (Salida) James Culbertson (Buena Vista) Impermanence by Michael Scott, LTUA Board President I ’m only in my fourth year living in the Arkansas Valley (although it has been in my heart much longer), but I understand that this is surely a historic year for water in the Arkansas Valley and throughout much of our state. I’ve always viewed water as a rollercoaster in Southern Colorado. In the San Luis Valley, we would cut the alfalfa and then stare at the skies for a week while it cured. Inevitably, the only storms of the summer would materialize during that week, and I remember watching my father stare blankly out the window as the promise of a premium crop drained into the field, where water pulling nutrients out of the hay left bleached windrows whose leaves disintegrated as the baler ate them up. While water has never been instrumental to my livelihood, I am keenly aware of the storm cycles that pass through our valley. I certainly cursed the precipitation that failed to fall in late winter, when my new skis were collecting dust. I lamented the late spring precipitation that caused my trees to shatter. I was amazed that the snow held in the Sawatch Range for as long as it did, and I wondered whether the Angel of Shavano would ever appear. Finally, I was reminded how ephemeral the snowpack can be when the river began to rise ferociously, the Angel appeared, and the snowpack on the Continental Divide was replaced by luscious grasses and wildflowers seemingly overnight. While the snowpack is impermanent, the conservation work done by the Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas (LTUA) is not. The land conserved by the LTUA is done so in perpetuity. As you appreciate the seasons and all that they bring, remember to not take the beauty of this valley for granted. Do what you can to support the LTUA and other organizations that are here to preserve it. Permanently. Gary Mason (Poncha Springs) Staff Andrew J. Mackie Executive Director [email protected] Lucy Waldo Conservation Director [email protected] Julie Richardson Membership and Common Cents Coordinator [email protected] Doug Chapman OSM/VISTA Volunteer [email protected] Volunteers Make a Major Difference in Conservation! The Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas is looking for new board members to help build the organization. The board of directors meets monthly and is responsible for long-term planning, fiscal oversight, and fundraising for the Land Trust. If you’re interested in becoming part of a strong, meaningful organization, contact board president Michael Scott at [email protected]. The Land Trust Board and Staff would also like to take this opportunity to thank the following volunteers for their work and support. We appreciate everything you do! Denny Arter Becky Biglow Boyd Clark Mary Cuyler Ann Dukett Janet Franz Bill Goosmann Beth Grimes Tyler Grimes Rebecca Hinds Svata Louda Paige Madden Tim Martin Terry Peterson Denny Radabaugh John Russell Dick Scar Jan Scar Bill Schukert Linda Schukert Allison Stewart Nancy Tatge Susan Tweit Sally Waterhouse Summer 2015 Page 3 Headwaters, from page 1 very headwaters of the mighty Arkansas River. If you were able to mark one water droplet and follow it from the River’s source through plunging rapids, numerous towns and cities, past agricultural fields, and through dams, you would trace it to the farthest point from the start of its journey: the Mississippi River and, ultimately, the Gulf of Mexico. The River’s riparian zone also looks different here. Absent are the cottonwood trees found at lower elevations, replaced by broad plains of shrubby willows, called willow carrs. Beaver ponds add to the complexity and diversity of the River. In some areas, green carpets of grasses and sedges dominate. This area is where the Land Trust has been working for the last several years. The Headwaters Ranch is mostly a linear property, stretching from approximately Mile Marker two to Mile six on Route 91. The Arkansas River flows through this entire property. In a close partnership, the Land Trust has been working with the Colorado Office of the Trust for Public Land (TPL). TPL brings years of experience to the table, especially with large and complicated transactions such as Headwaters Ranch. The project was dependent on the landowners’ interest and cooperation. Jim and Larry are the two owners making up Birdseye Land and Water, LLC. They both wanted to see this special property protected. Earlier this year, the Land Trust and TPL closed on the third and final phase of a conservation easement. We had already completed two phases, which totaled 375 acres. Phase III adds another 175 acres, for a grand total of 550 acres and a stretch of the Arkansas River just over three miles long. Headwaters Ranch is dominated by wetlands along the River. The wetlands are important for many species of wildlife. As you get away from the River, forests cover the landscape, varying from stands of lodgepole pine to spruce-fir forest. This mix of habitat provides both food and shelter for species such as elk, moose, mule deer, black bear, bobcat, coyote, red fox, lynx, mink, snowshoe hare, and many species of birds. In addition to the wildlife values, public fishing is included in the conservation easement. The Land Trust is working with the landowners and Colorado Parks and Wildlife to establish parking areas, signage, and trails for this fishing access. It will probably take at least another year before these areas are open to the public. The Ranch is also rich in history. A historic wooden stave line that transported water to Leadville runs across the property. This water line was part of the Stevens and Leiter Ditch, with water rights filed on September 1, 1873. The original owners of the rights were the Leadville Water Company and the Leadville Power, Water, and Mining Company. The decreed amount was 38 cubic Wooden stave line on Headwaters Ranch. feet per second. The stave line is buried or totally absent in places, but can still be found in certain areas. All of these values made this a high priority project for the Land Trust, TPL, and other groups. Several years ago, the Lake County Commission relayed to the Land Trust that this section of the River was a high priority for them. The Land Trust is a member of the Lake County Open Space Initiative (LCOSI), and we helped rank priority projects in Lake County. Headwaters Ranch became the highest priority for the LCOSI. Overall, the Headwaters Ranch Conservation Easement is a monumental accomplishment. Saved in perpetuity are the natural and historical values of not just the 550 acres of the Ranch, but also the headwaters of the Arkansas River. The Land Trust is grateful to have worked with the landowners, TPL, LCOSI, Lake County, and the funders who made the project possible, including Upper Arkansas Natural Resource Damage and Restoration Trustees, Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), and Colorado Parks and Wildlife.LTUA Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas Page 4 Beyond the Beauty: More Benefits of Conserved Lands by Lucy Waldo and Andrew Mackie M agnificent mountain views are just one of the gifts provided by conservation easements. Natural areas and agricultural lands also create resources and foster processes that sustain our planet. “Ecosystem Services” are the natural cycles and processes that provide the fundamental needs for human life on our planet. We depend on nature for food, water, fuel, timber, medicines, and fiber. Ecosystems also provide regulating services that make life possible. Plants clean the air and filter water. Bacteria decompose wastes, groundcovers prevent soil erosion, and insects pollinate flowers. The natural world also provides the basic services of photosynthesis, nutrient cycling, and the water cycle, which are fundamental processes that support our world. We can also appreciate that our cultures have been influenced by the natural world since the beginning of civilization. Creativity, recreation, and social development have all been shaped by the ecosystems around us. Wetlands Flooding damage in the U.S. averages $2 billion each year. Many wetlands help soak up flood water, releasing it slowly back into the system. A typical wetland can store about three acre-feet of water, or one million gallons. Coastal wetlands also help buffer and diffuse storm surges. All of these benefits come at no engineering or construction costs to our municipalities. Wetlands also provide needed habitat for some part of the life cycle of 75 percent of the fish and shellfish commercially harvested in the United States and up to 90 percent of the recreational fishery. The U.S. commercial catch in 2013 was worth $5.5 billion, with a processed value of $10.8 billion, generating over $199 billion in economic activity and supporting over 1.7 million jobs. In 2013, 55 million Americans took at least one recreational fishing trip and spent $41.7 billion on the activity. Courtney White's Carbon Ranch concept explores strategies that use food and stewardship to sequester CO2 in soils and plants, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and build ecological and economic resilience in local landscapes (figure used with permission from the Quivira Coalition). Summer 2015 Page 5 Pollinators Pollination is a natural service provided by bees, flies, butterflies, birds, bats, and other animals. Animals help pollinate 30 percent of all human crops and over 90 percent of wild plants. This translates into a major economic benefit for us. More than $15 billion a year in crops in the United States are pollinated by bees. In addition, $150 million is produced in honey by U.S. bee keepers. Medicine The U.S. pharmaceutical industry depends on the testing of wild plants and animals for new drugs. Today, 56 percent of the 150 most popular prescribed drugs in the U.S. are derived from compounds found in the wild. The value of these drugs is over $80 billion per year. Not all of these drugs come from compounds from far-off places such as tropical rainforests. The Pacific Yew from the oldgrowth forests of the Pacific Northwest yielded a compound now sold as Taxol and used in the treatment of ovarian, breast, and lung cancer. A compound called GsMTx4, found in some species of tarantula, is being tested for treatment of neurological disorders including Parkinson’s disease. Five species of tarantula are found in Colorado. Carbon Cycle There has been a lot of interest lately about the global carbon cycle. Carbon in the atmosphere is considered a leading cause of climate warming. Carbon has always been stored in soils and vegetation. Wetlands, forests, and grasslands all trap carbon and keep it out of the atmosphere unless some major event, such as fire or conversion of these areas to other uses, releases the carbon. Wetlands do a great job of storing carbon based on slow decomposition of plant material and the build-up of peat. Fens and bogs contain about 30 percent of the global terrestrial carbon but cover only 3 percent of the land surface of the Earth. Historically, the United States had over 200 million acres of wetlands. More than half of this total has been lost to conversion for other purposes, often releasing this stored carbon into the atmosphere. Courtney White, founder of the Quivira Coalition in New Mexico, has been studying the role of carbon in soils and especially in agricultural systems in the United States. In his book, Grass, Soil, Hope: A Journey through Carbon Country, he outlines the importance of soil in ranching and farming. He highlights the success of the JX Ranch in Tucumcari, New Mexico. As the ranch restored the grasslands and nourished the soil, a variety of benefits followed. In this area of New Mexico, the usual stocking rate is one cow to fifty acres, but the JX Ranch uses rotational grazing and restoration techniques to encourage native grass growth and soil development. The ranch now can sustain one cow per thirty-six acres. Also, by restoring the riparian areas around springs and building the associated soil, they increased output. For example, one spring flowed at 0.25 gallons per minute, but after this work it now flows year round at 1.5 gallons per minute. The JX Ranch is sequestering more carbon in the soil by increasing plant size and vitality. All of these changes also help improve the bottom line for the JX Ranch. Hydrologic Cycle Water is the lifeblood of Colorado. Each of our watersheds plays a vital role in the purification, storage, and transport of water. As water percolates through the soil and very slowly reaches our aquifers, impurities and pollutants are filtered out. This groundwater is the source of much of our drinking water in Central Colorado. A 2014 report from Earth Economics found that Colorado River Basin ecosystems provide between $69.2 billion and $496.4 billion in economic benefits every year. Ecosystem Services is a recent term, but the concept is as old as our planet. Like all our fellow earthlings, humans are dependent on the ecosystems we inhabit. The Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas’s conservation work is helping ensure that natural areas and agricultural lands will continue to support our existence on this amazing planet Earth. Every time the Land Trust completes a project, there are direct and immediate benefits to every person living here. Please keep this in mind the next time you drive by a ranch or natural area in Central Colorado.LTUA Help Us Share Our Videos! The Land Trust’s video, professionally produced by Grit and Thistle Film Company of Salida, is available on our home page at www.ltua.org. This fourminute video covers the scope and mission of the Land Trust. We also have several video interviews available, including conversations with landowners Joe Cogan and Paul Campbell, Common Cents member Nate Porter, and LTUA board member Dan Larkin. You can help us get the word out by sharing links and letting us know your ideas for wider distribution of our video resources. Visit http://ltua.org/videos/. Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas Page 6 The Land Trust held its 2nd Annual Family Picnic for Members on June 16 at the Buena Vista Community Center. We enjoyed dinner and getting together to socialize and discuss recent achievements related to local land conservation and restoration. The event coincided with Colorado Land Conservation Appreciation Week. Working in our five-county region, the Land Trust so far has protected 9,000 acres and holds the conservation easement on 33 properties, LTUA Executive Director Andrew Mackie announced to the crowd’s applause. Thank you to everyone who attended and shared dinner selections or delicious desserts! LTUA members and guests, including Andrea Coen and John Russell, lined up for the make-your-own taco bar during the 2nd Annual Family Picnic for Members. Bobbie Eagles and LTUA Board Member Jim Willie Culbertson contemplate the dessert table’s pie selection. Leslie Champ, Mark Zander, and Jim McGannon take advantage of the beautiful late-afternoon June weather and the Buena Vista Community Center’s picnic tables during dinner. Ann Mason and her grandson, Patrick, enjoy being in front of the camera during the social part of the annual picnic, which was held in Buena Vista on June 16. Showing off their crisp, colorful LTUA ball caps are Sally Waterhouse and Denny Radabaugh. Summer 2015 Page 7 Mary and LTUA Board secretary Dick Cuyler take a moment out from socializing during the event. Mary and LTUA Board secretary Dick Cuyler take a moment out from socializing during the event. Chris and Drew Ludwig joined friends and fellow LTUA members at a table made festive by lively discussion, including tales of recent international trips, during the picnic. Kym Mellsop and daughter Beatrice, left, chat with LTUA graphic designer Susan Dunn and daughter Elena while enjoying dinner and drinks on the patio. First Look: the Land Trust’s Newest Property The Land Trust recently took ownership of a 12-acre property in Piñon Hills, northwest of Salida. The Land Trust’s new property. The property is a mix of juniperpinyon forest and grassland areas, including an open hilltop.This © Andrew Mackie new property borPinyon Jay: ders BLM land on Pinyon jays need pinyon-juniper forests. the northern boundary. Currently, the Land Trust is working on a management plan and looking at the long-term potential of the property. Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas Page 8 Landowner Profile:Terry Peavler of Los Pinos Ranch by Kim Marquis T erry Peavler was only three years old in 1946 “It was more fun in retrospect,” he says, “than it was at when his family moved to their Los Pinos Ranch the time. I remember having to go to the outhouse in the at the toe of Mount Yale, just outside of Buena Vista. middle of the night, and it wasn’t that much fun.” By age six he had his own horse, which he had to climb After earning a scholarship and leaving Buena Vista for a fence to get on. His first saddle came at age ten, but by college in 1960, Peavler soon learned he had a propensity then Peavler had been driving the family’s team for years. for languages and literature. He earned a doctorate degree He fondly remembers hearing the chug ... chug ... chug of in comparative literature at the University of California, the Denver & Rio Grande steam trains at the downtown Berkeley, then became a member of the faculty at Penn depot, gearing up for their climb to Leadville. State for three decades, retiring after stints as an associate The 367-acre ranch had originally been a major head dean of the College of Liberal Arts and head of the Departlettuce farm. Small irrigation ditches and wooden signment of Spanish, Italian and Portuguese. posts still dot the property—proof of the Buena Kist letBusy with his career, he returned to the Arkansas tuce grown there. The land River Valley only rarely for straddles North Cottontwenty years. In 1980, he wood Creek for a mile, and and his brother, Jim Peavincludes reaches of both ler, acquired parts of the Mercury and Red Deer ranch from their mother. Creeks. Terry Peavler married his His parents, William second wife, Buena Vista and Louise Peavler, were local Linda Deniston, in teachers with the Buena 1982, and the couple Vista School District, back agreed they would somewhen Main Street still ran day retire on the ranch. muddy with spring runoff They spent a year contemand horses waited near plating where to put the Terry Peavler placed 120 acres of land under conservation easement hitching posts in front of house before they built it at his family's Los Pinos Ranch at the toe of Mt. Yale The Lariat bar. After a long by hand together. career in academia, Peavler moved back to the Arkansas Peavler’s lessons in conservation were subtle at the River Valley and lives on a piece of the very land where he start. His mother would say, “Oh, they’re putting up angrew up. Sitting on his back porch, the Collegiate Peaks other house over there,” when he was a kid, germinating spread out from left to right across a field of swaying grass, the idea that more people and development weren’t necesPeavler remembers his formative years well. sarily a good thing. “We did everything with horses then,” he says. “I “I always had the vision of putting the property into a know how to stack loose hay and I drove a team from the conservation easement,” he says. “Now that it’s protected, time I was four. In that regard, it was like growing up fifty this is one section of the valley that’s not going to be deto seventy-five years earlier.” veloped.” The family operated a guest and dude ranch, ran catBut a desire to keep the land from developers is not tle, and produced dairy and poultry products. They sold the only reason Peavler chose to place 120 acres under a beef, milk, eggs and fryers, and also raised turkeys to sell conservation easement with the Land Trust of the Upper each November. A huge garden produced their vegetables, Arkansas. which they canned for winter. Terry raised sheep and his Around the late 1950s, a small herd of American elk brother raised hogs for 4-H projects. Yet the family had no began showing up in the Valley, using the ranch and surelectricity and no running water in their first years on the rounding private properties to travel from the Sawatch ranch. They built a roaring fire in the back yard and put a Range into the flatlands closer to town. The herd, which washtub on it to clean their clothes. Summer 2015 Page 9 today is close to one hundred head in size, also traverses the properties north and south to reach winter grazing habitat north of Buena Vista. “People will pay a lot of money to own a piece of this land,” Peavler says, “but housing developments and streets and fencing would have driven the elk out.” Peavler’s conservation efforts set an example that was followed first by his brother and then by additional neighbors, so that today about 400 adjoining acres are protected through the Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas. The elk are afforded free roam on all four points of a compass, as are mule deer, black bear, and bobcats, as well as more than one hundred species of birds, including bald eagles, great horned owls, and goshawks. Peavler’s land is enclosed by elk-friendly fencing. He irrigates a pasture for the herd and patrols the property with an all-terrain vehicle. He knows people would like to have access, but grants that to very few. “People say I’m not letting them enjoy it. But I am,” he says. Every autumn, vehicles line the sides of county roads abutting the property. Crowds stand by, holding binoculars and setting high-powered cameras on tripods. They are intent to see magnificent elk migrate through the ranches. The herd can put on quite a show. The males during the annual rut crash their huge antlers together in spectacular challenges for the cows, and sometimes the females stand on their hind legs “like kangaroos” and kick at each other, Peavler says. Viewing has become an annual event for visitors and locals alike. As long as photographers don’t approach or disturb the animals, Peavler doesn’t mind all the activity. “That’s part of the fun of having the elk herd,” he says. LTUA Several kinds of fencing line the Peavler property—all friendly to elk. Terry rights one section that is designed to lie on the ground until needed so that elk can simply step over it. in the news... Changes in Colorado law provide benefit to landowners wanting to protect the conservation and agricultural values of their properties On June 4, 2015, Colorado Senate Bill 206 was signed into law by Governor Hickenlooper. This new law changes the current Colorado Conservation Easement Tax Credit program by increasing the potential tax credit for landowners. The Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas supported this legislation because it encourages the protection of additional lands in the State that are important for their natural and water resources, scenic vistas, outdoor recreation, or agricultural significance. The Land Trust’s Executive Director, Andrew Mackie states: “This is a major step forward for conservation in Colorado. Working in partnership we can maintain lands in agriculture and wildlife habitat. We work with many private landowners who protect the conservation values of the property for the greater public good and they deserve to see a realistic benefit for this perpetual protection.” The new law will provide an additional $25,000 in tax credits to landowners who donate a conservation easement to a certified entity, such as the Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas. The tax credit can be sold for cash or utilized by the landowner for their tax purposes. In addition, the new law raises the individual tax credit cap from $375,000 to $1.5 million. The increased cap will help large landowners, such as ranchers, protect the agricultural and conservation values of their properties. The Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas is ready to assist landowners who are considering a conservation easement for their property. Contact the Land Trust’s Conservation Director, Lucy Waldo at 970-901-1816 or [email protected]. The law is retroactive to January 1, 2015, so now is a perfect time to start thinking about the conservation options and expanded tax credits available to landowners. For more information on conservation easements go the Land Trust’s website at http://ltua.org/information-forlandowners/. Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas Page 10 Collegiate Peaks Scenic & Historic Byway: A Conservation Roadmap for Land Protection Efforts by Kim Marquis M any of us drive the Collegiate Peaks Scenic & as water resources and riparian areas along the Valley’s Historic Byway on a daily basis. Highways 285, most frequented travel routes. 291, 24, and 50 get us to work, to friends’ homes for potThe Collegiate Peaks Scenic & Historic Byway runs lucks, out for shopping, and to the trailheads of thousands of acres of backcountry where we refresh and rejuvenate. Along the way, stunning vistas open to towering mountain peaks. Herds of cattle graze in fields edged with gently blowing grass, and we occasionally see a fox, coyote, or hawk. How lucky we are, that our daily commutes take us along routes designated as among the most beautiful in our country. The Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas recognizes the importance of the experience for everyone— locals who travel the byway every single day and visitors who come to experience life in a high mountain valley. But how do we look around, appreciate everything within sight, and begin our conservation efforts? This summer, the Land Trust is completing the Collegiate Peaks Scenic & Historic Byway Conservation Plan, which will guide us on our mission of forever protecting significant natural, agricultural, scenic, A sample of the Public Byway Conservation Map, still under construction. and historic lands, as well Summer 2015 Page 11 fifty-seven miles on the main highways between Salida, Poncha Springs, Buena Vista, and Granite. The byway was originally designated in 2005 through work by the Chaffee County Heritage Area Advisory Board and the Greater Arkansas River Nature Association (GARNA), and the Land Trust is partnering with these organizations to protect the values that led to its original designation. The conservation plan gives us geographical areas of focus through a systematic process of measuring the conservation value of lands along the byway. Using a weighed analysis, or a points system, we applied multiple factors such as wildlife habitat and migration corridors, viewsheds, riparian areas, historical sites, working agricultural lands, proximity to public lands, and existing conservation easements, among others, to assign priority conservation levels on lands within a 2.5-mile-wide buffer along the entire route. Yvonne Barnes, a cartographer and GIS specialist and owner of Mountain Mapping in Salida, layered the information into an interactive web map, which is searchable by multiple criteria and presents a visual display of lands by their priority level. The specific criteria and detailed map are designed for the internal use of the Land Trust to help our decision-making processes. Criteria to create priority levels were derived from the original management plan that led to the Collegiate Peaks Byway designation in 2005. Another map, which will highlight general areas, is being prepared for the public. That map will be available on our website (www.ltua.org) later this summer or early fall. The conservation map was made possible by a scenic byways grant from the Federal Highway Administration, awarded to the Land Trust and GARNA in 2011. “We realize that we can’t focus on everything along the byway, so this defines our priorities and makes sure our work is geared towards the other plans and initiatives going on in the area,” said Land Trust Executive Director Andrew Mackie. The conservation plan stands as a key example of the way the Land Trust is working with local partners in its mission. We are also are working on a similar effort in Lake County, for the 115-mile Top of the Rockies National Scenic Byway that travels through Leadville. The Land Trust has already begun implementing the Collegiate Peaks conservation plan, by garnering federal grant funds and additional financial resources to place the Boxcar Ranch near Stone Bridge north of Salida under a conservation easement last year. At the same time, the Chaffee County Heritage Area Advisory Board has been working to preserve historical sites along the Collegiate Peaks Byway, completing a comprehensive inventory of potential sites that identified sixty-five sites deemed important for their historical significance. This year, seven historical sites from the list, located on or close to the byway, were named to the National Historic Register, and an additional six sites will be studied and nominated for consideration. Sites already designated include Buena Vista’s Comanche Drive-In, Salida’s livestock sale barn, and the stage stop and commercial hotel in Granite. “Designations are a distinctive honor and signify that a property is important to the nation’s collective history,” said Chaffee County Heritage Area Advisory Board Committee Chair Melanie Roth. “They are a way to promote the rich history that is present in Chaffee County, and hopefully in the long term will help people recognize the wonderful resources we have and appreciate them so they will be preserved.” We do appreciate the views on a daily basis, and on some level, they will always be there. But the Collegiate Peaks Scenic & Historic Byway is layered with important additional elements that make it special. Preserving working agricultural lands along the byway, for example, will help ranchers continue their traditional way of life. Taken together, all the elements of the conservation plan attempt to preserve something that is special to everyone—our sense of place. We can already feel change coming to the Arkansas River Valley, on the roads with increased traffic, in the pace of home sales, and in our downtowns, as the growing Front Range populations discover new places to visit that are located away from Colorado’s I-70 corridor. There can be an excitement in that, but also a sense of worry and concern: What will the Arkansas River Valley look like in ten or twenty years? How will development impact our enjoyment of the place where we live? The Land Trust’s work is never done. Yet with the Collegiate Peaks Scenic & Historic Byway Conservation Plan in place, we have a roadmap to direct our efforts along the Valley’s most visible and important thoroughfares.LTUA Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas Page 12 Species Profile — Lewis’s Woodpecker (Melanerpes lewis) by Andrew Mackie The Lewis’s Woodpecker is a true western native, found only in the Western United States and Canada. This colorful woodpecker was named for Meriwether Lewis. Captain Lewis first described the species in 1805 during the Corps of Discovery. Lewis described the woodpecker in his journal, but it would not be named until a few years later by the father of American Ornithology, Alexander Wilson. Wilson described the species from skins collected by the Lewis and Clark expedition. Unlike many of our other woodpeckers, Lewis’s are not black and white. They are a diverse palette of color, with green, black, gray, pink, and red. Both sexes have similar plumage. No other North American woodpecker resembles the Lewis’s. Lewis’s Woodpeckers have a host of interesting habits. Not very woodpecker-like, Lewis’s undertake prolonged gliding and aerial insect feeding. They seldom excavate trees for wood-boring insects. The species feeds on a variety of foods that can vary depending on availability. Major insects in the diet include ants, bees, wasps, beetles, and grasshoppers. Acorns and other nuts can be a major food source, and are often stored for later use. Lewis’s eat a variety of cultivated and wild fruit, including apples and crabapples. Another food source is wild seeds and several cultivated grains. Lewis’s do occasionally come to bird feeding stations. Like most woodpeckers, Lewis’s need standing dead or partially dead Photo © Mary Culyer trees for nesting. Lewis’s Woodpecker on a feeder Throughout their range near Salida, CO. in the West, the species uses different habitats, including open riparian woodland with cottonwoods, open ponderosa pine forest, and burned or logged pine forest. Lewis’s have also used pinyonjuniper, pine-fir, oak forest, orchards, and some agricultural habitats. In Central Colorado, mature cottonwood stands seem to be the predominate breeding habitat. Such habitat is in decline across most of the State due to changes in land use, invasive species, and the alteration of the hydrology of rivers and streams. One study (Snyder and Miller, 1991) found that in the lower Arkansas River and the South Platte, surface area of cottonwoods declined 31 percent and 9 percent, respectively. Overall, Lewis’s Woodpecker has a scattered distribution in the West, considered uncommon overall. Even when considered locally common, these populations can vary dramatiLewis’s Woodpecker cally year to year. In the northern part of the range, they migrate south or move down to a lower elevation. Here in Central Colorado, the population is divided between migrating and overwintering. The Salida Christmas Bird Count has reported Lewis’s Woodpecker three times in the last twelve years. Due to an overall patchy distribution and declining populations, Lewis’s are a species of conservation concern. The species is on the National Audubon Society’s and American Bird Conservancy’s Watchlists, 2014 State of the Birds Watchlist, the Intermountain West Joint Venture Priority Species List, and the British Columbia Blue List. Conservation measures include managing for the retention of snags in suitable habitat, preserving mature cottonwood trees, and managing for open, parklike habitat in ponderosa pine forest. The Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas is using the Lewis’s Woodpecker to help guide conservation and management of riparian habitat in Central Colorado. This includes developing a sightings database to help identify important nesting and wintering habitat. The effort will also help to add to understanding of Lewis’s Woodpecker ecology, leading to additional conservation strategies for the species.LTUA Summer 2015 Page 13 Our Common Cents for Conservation Program™ partners with area businesses, who collect voluntary contributions from customers or make an annual donation from the business to support land and water conservation in Central Colorado. The following businesses are part of the Common Cents program. They play a significant role in supporting the work of the Land Trust. Their participation and your patronage of these businesses are greatly appreciated. Thank You! The Adventure Company – Premier whitewater rafting. 1-800-497-RAFT (7238) www.theadventurecompany.com Amicas Pizza – Best wood-fired pizza around. 719-539-5219 www.amicassalida.com Arkansas River Rods – Handcrafted bamboo fishing rods. 719-239-0085 http://arkansasriverrods.com Arlie Dale’s Jug Liquors – Your source for wine, beer, and liquor in Salida. 719-539-0111 http://www.jugliquors.com/ Beadsong – Find all the beads you need for any project. 719-530-0110 https://www.facebook.com/pages/ Beadsong/189301643554) Snowy Peaks RV Park – Just north of Buena Vista, filling all your RV needs. 719-395-8481 www.snowypeaksrvpark.com Sweetie’s Sandwich Shop – The perfect spot for a sandwich or that sweet treat. 719-539-4248 www.sweetiesinsalida.com Wood’s High Mountain Distillery – Producing small-batch, handcrafted spirits. 719-207-4315 http://www.woodsdistillery.com/ Snapshot: LTUA in the Community Benson’s Tavern and Beer Garden – Quench your thirst or try something off their menu. 719-539-9391 http://bensonstavern.com/ The Book Haven – Our independent, locally owned bookstore. 719-539-9629 www.thebookhavenonline.com Dvorak’s Expeditions – Colorado’s first licensed outfitter, providing trips across the West. 800-824-3795 www.dvorakexpeditions.com Fattees – The premier T-shirt shop and screen printing business. 719-539-4599 www.fattees-printing.com Grand Slam Design, Susan Dunn – Graphic design done right. 719-395-4099 www.susandunndesign.com In the Current Imports – Unique gifts from around the world. 719-539-2321 http://inthecurrentimports.com Kym and Hayden Mellsop, Pinon Real Estate Group – Meeting all your real estate needs in the Valley. 719-539-0200 http://home-waters.com Laughing Ladies – Fine dining at its best. 719-539-6209 http://laughingladiesrestaurant.com LifeStream Water Systems – Providing water filtration systems worldwide. 719-530-0522 www.lifestreamsystemsinc.com The Maverick Potter – A variety of pottery and other art by hand-picked artists. 719-539-5112 http://maverickpotter.com/ Monarch Mountain – Powder and excitement with no waiting. 719-530-5000 www.skimonarch.com The Palace Hotel – A boutique hotel in the heart of Salida. 719-207-4175 www.salidapalacehotel.com Salida Mountain Sports – Gear up for your outdoor needs. 719-539-4400 http://salidamountainsports.com San Isabel Bed and Breakfast – Cozy and inviting. 719-539-5432 www.sanisabelbandb.com Doug Chapman, Land Trust OSM/VISTA volunteer, pulls cheat grass during a work day on the Monarch Spur Trail. Gifts of Real Estate The Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas will accept gifts of real estate that have no conservation value, with the understanding the Land Trust will sell this property and use the proceeds for conservation work in Central Colorado. Donating real estate can make a major difference in the protection of other properties in the region. If you wish to discuss the donation of real estate, please call Andrew Mackie at the Land Trust, 719-539-7700. Making such a gift can provide the following benefits: no longer having to pay property taxes, eliminating maintenance costs, preventing capital gains taxes from the sale or transfer of the property, possible income tax deduction for a charitable gift based upon the fair market value of the real estate, and the knowledge that your gift will have tremendous conservation impact! Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas Page 14 Common Cents for Conservation™ Partner Profile: Arlie Dale’s Jug Liquors by Kim Marquis C had Hixon is quick to tell you that he has been lucky in life, starting simply with where he was born. Hixon grew up in Howard, the son of a cabinet maker, and graduated from Cotopaxi High School. His early 20s were filled with adventurous gigs that fueled his passion for the outdoors, including video kayaking on the Arkansas River during the busy summer rafting season, after which he moved during the shoulder seasons to West Virginia’s Gauley River, and then Ecuador’s whitewater east of the Andes. Winters brought more fun and excitement on ski patrol at Monarch Mountain, which eventually led to backcountry guiding for the area’s cat skiing operation—one of the region’s most coveted ski industry jobs. By age 27, Hixon was living the Colorado dream. But a couple of key decisions led him away from raging rivers and big snowy mountains, to Arlie Dale’s Jug Liquors in downtown Salida, a family business venture that allowed him to settle into the place held in his heart—home. “I love this place, I love this Valley,” Hixon says. “I don’t even know how to tell you how lucky I’ve been. I was really fortunate to grow up here with a good family, and to have so many opportunities. A lot of them were really fun.” Known locally for Arlie Dale’s Jug Liquors years as The Jug liq220 North F Street uor store, and previSalida, Colorado ously owned by Al 539539-0111 Quintana, the hiswww.jugliquors.com toric F-Street building had been a real estate office in 2003, but when opportunity knocked, Hixon and his family answered by buying the building and reopening the liquor store, with a few changes. Hixon and his father, Jerry Hixon, decided to add Jerry Hixon’s father’s name, Arlie Dale, to the business. They respected the store’s history but developed ideas of their own, mainly to create a boutique liquor store that special- izes in nice wine, craft beer, and a large selection of regional whiskies. Shopping at Arlie Dale’s Jug Liquors is an experience in itself for those who have not yet been there. Original hardwood lines the floor and a tin-stamped ceiling hovers Arlie Dale's Jug Liquors is in a historic F-Street building. The location was a liquor store as far back as the late-1940s, and maybe even earlier. above. Antique pharmacy cabinets display merchandise along the shop’s perimeter. These shelves are complimented by hand-crafted cabinets made by Jerry Hixon. An advertisement for Southern Comfort from 1948, found inside a wall during renovations, hangs prominently above the cash register, and a black-and-white framed print shows a couple wearing white lab coats, looking stern and standing among multiple displays of beer. These are likely the Dinkins, who apparently owned the store in 1950, according to a printed liquor license with an annual fee of $150—close to the cost today. There were three types of brew then, according to the photograph, compared to 180 today. Hixon says he sets the business apart from other package stores in town by trying to hire the friendliest staff, able to answer questions and complete special orders for customers. The staff is quick to welcome shoppers and offer help finding items around the 400-square-foot store. Despite its size, the shelves hold 380 different wines and an Summer 2015 Page 15 impressive, beautiful selection of liquors behind a glass cabinet. The Jug Club gives regulars 5 percent off through a rewards card, and monthly wine specials accompany tasting events that are announced on the store’s website. Traditional modern-day liquor stores might expect to sell up to 70 percent beer, but beChad Hixon stands among handcrafted cause of Hixon’s wooden display cabinets made by his father and under a 1948 liquor advertisement found goal to offer an on the property during renovations. eclectic selection, wine and liquor sales run about even with beer. “That’s not very common,” Hixon says, adding that Colorado spirits drinkers are adventurous in their alcohol beverage selections. “They want to try different things, try something local, or are willing to pay more for a handcrafted bottle of whiskey because they’re into the experience of it.” Arlie Dale’s Jug Liquors has grown right along with downtown. When it opened in 2003, multiple storefronts surrounding the 220 North F Street location were empty. While business boomed a couple months a year, winter still stretched long and quiet. But Hixon borrows an old phrase to explain what happened in Salida’s historic district over the last decade, as one restaurant turned into a few, and those handful became ten new businesses. “A rising tide rises all ships,” he says. “Pretty soon, there was a nightlife and it just changed the whole place. Now it’s hard to find a spot in downtown to start a business.” The timing of Arlie Dale’s Jug Liquors opening ended up being another way Hixon found a bit of luck. He cultivated a strong business in a growing small town, and before reaching forty years old, he has created a good job in a place he loves to call home. Becoming a Common Cents for Conservation partner through the Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas was an easy decision for Hixon, who became familiar with the concept while earning his degree at Western State Colorado University in Gunnison. “The Gunnison Valley is a bit ahead of us in the way it has developed, because of the Crested Butte ski area. The land trust there and its 1 percent for open space program was very important and really successful,” Hixon says. “When I found out it was available here, it made sense for us to do it.” LTUA The Long Road On April 6, 2015, the Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas boxed up its national accreditation application and sent it off to the National Accreditation Commission’s office in Saratoga, New York. It has been a long road to get to this point. We started working on the process of accreditation over seven Katie Kelly with the finished years ago. We had to comaccreditation application plete many checklist items, including an organization-wide assessment, a comprehensive review and updates to our policies and procedures, changes to our fiscal management, and thorough documentation of all our land protection records. The buildup to April’s deadline was intense. The entire Land Trust board and staff participated to get everything ready. We hired a part-time temporary employee, Katie Kelly, to help assemble the application. Recently, the Land Trust had a follow-up call with Accreditation Commissioners to go over our application. Now we wait. The Commission will give us the final word about accreditation in February 2016. LTUA Staff sending off the application (from left to right, Katie Kelly, Julie Richardson, Doug Chapman). Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas Page 16 Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas Donations and Membership The Board of Directors and Staff of the Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas would like to thank the following donors for their support in 2014-15. Mount Antero Andrew Mackie Ann and Gary Mason Kathlyn and Steve Matre Michael Mowry Cookie Perl and Steve Harris Jamie and Drew Peternell Jeannie Peters and Charles Rose Fred Rasmussen Larry Rice Karen and Alan Robinson Jan and Dick Scar Lacey and Michael Scott Bobbie Eagles and Larry Soukup Gail Stitt Kelli Stone Jane Templeton Barbara and Charles Tidd Caroline Triplett Jennifer and Josh Visitacion Sally Waterhouse and Denny Radabaugh Pat and Pete Watson Ann and Norman Wells Cathy and David Wood Leslie Champ and Mark Zander Anonymous – 4 Sylvia and H.R. Aslakson Donna and Ted Bauer Peter Bond Deborah and Joseph Bowes, III Chris Boyer Barb and Doug Brady Gloria and Irv Broudy Kim Hoover and Paul Brown Alys and Jim Bruffy Kathleen and Paul Campbell Doris Carney Pamela and Jay Close Phillipa and Aaron Conrad Mary and Dick Cuyler Danielle DeForest Carol DeStefanis Terry Deveney Judith Dockery Lee Dodge Cheryl and Ken Eigsti Sandra Ewald Barbara Garrett Lisa and Tim Glenn Melissa and Bruce Goforth Gayle Davis and Bill Goosmann Cynthia and Brett Gray Katy and Bob Grether Linda and Samual Haltom Gloria and Phil Helfrich Cynthia and David Hearn Anne Marie Holen Roberta Nell Hoy and Robert Postle Nancy Hyde Sandee and Sigurd Jaastad Andrea Jones and Douglas Busch Dianne and Jim Keil Suzy and Bryce Kelly Judith and Ed Kinzie Jani and Dave Kuker Anonymous – 3 Richardson Family Trust Gregory Achenbach Tiania and Charlie Adams Deborah Bass Mo and Butch Butler Laura and Keith Chapman Katie and Roger Coit Leilia Coveney and Daniel Smith Margaret and Claude Dean George DeRoos Tom Eve Greer Farris Laurie and Tom Ferber Linda and Michael Forman Mary Beth and Roger France Brenda and Scott Geisler Ann and John Graham Carol Greenlee JoAnn and Karsten Grundyson Pixie and Isaac Gunderson Delores and Ronald Harbeck Jane Harelson Dr. and Mrs. David Hearn Jackie Rawlings and Tom Hittle Ellen and Donald Hopkins Susan and Richard Jesuroga Christa and James Johnston Jane and Martin Jolley Christina and Joseph Jordan Gail Kahan Bonnie and Jim Konowitz MaryAnn and John Longwell Chris and Drew Ludwig Janet and Jeffrey Mancuso Louise Olsen and Ernie Marquez Linda Mulka and Robert Sander Nancy and Steve Oswald Individual/Family Donors Angel of Shavano Anonymous – 1 Royal Gorge Nancy and Richard Adkerson Nancy Stead and William Pincus Doris and Cliff Wurster Mount Massive Anonymous – 1 Nancy and Tony Accetta Denny Arter and Tim Martin Patricia and Boyd Clark James V. Culbertson Donald Dubin Jane Fredman Sara and Paul Gregg Kate and Dan Larkin Pamela and Peter Mackie John McGowan Elise Backinger and Kent Strickland Molly and James Walker Family Phillip Periman Julie Richardson and John Russell Vickie and Frosty Roe Wendy Rombold Wayne Sawyer Susan Scheufele Bruce Scott Roberta Smith Patricia and Larry Smith Laura Barton and Chris Vely Laurie Walters and Joel Schaler Frances Black and Forrest Whitman Jeanne Younghaus and Lyndon Berry Individual Anonymous - 1 Sheryl and Al Archuleta Sharon and Fred Balmos Mary Ann Bavaria Kate Bell Marsha Brown Claudia Campbell Doug Chapman Betty Cole Rob Dubin Ann Dukett Karen Elliott Linda Erickson Floyd Freeman Bill Gardiner Judy Haines Joyce Hanagan Flora Harrison Rebecca Hinds Teresa Hoffman Doann Houghton-Alico Licia and Wayne Iverson Merna Kerss Joseph Lyford Scarlett Massine James McGannon Peter Mossman Thomas Mountfort Steve O’Neill Dan Osborn Ethel and Cheri Post Alison and Eric Ramsey Barbara and Jim Rees Lisa and Gordon Riegel Pat Riley Elizabeth Ritchie Philip Roe Molly and Randy Schwitzer Jon Sirkis Shelley Stein Christine Sturgeon Dave Taliaferro Nancy Tatge Martha and Tom Thomas Lucy Waldo Maria Weber Robert White Bonnie Wiesel Business/Corporate Donors Independence Central Colorado Title & Escrow Pinon Real Estate Powell & Murphy, PC Virtuosity Gallery/Joshua Been Trout Creek Allan C. Beezley Hayden Brady’s West Garden Center Collegiate Peaks Bank Colorado East Bank & Trust F Street Five & Dime High Country Bank Insight Database Design Cottonwood BG Financial Advisors Central Colorado Ear, Nose, and Throat Jess Campbell Family Corporation Moonlight Pizza Wag-n-Tails Common Cents for Conservation Partners The Adventure Company Amicas Pizza Arkansas River Rods Arlie Dale’s Jug Liquors BeadSong Benson’s Tavern & Beer Garden Dvorak Expeditions Fattees In the Current Imports Laughing Ladies Lifestream Water Systems Kym and Hayden Mellsop Monarch Mountain Royal Gorge Anglers Salida Mountain Sports San Isabel Bed and Breakfast Snowy Peaks RV Park Susan Dunn, Grand Slam Design Sweetie’s Sandwich Shop The Book Haven The Maverick Potter The Palace Hotel NatureNature-a-thon 2015 Anonymous – 1 Gregory Achenbach Denny Arter and Tim Martin Patricia and Boyd Clark James Culbertson Ann Dukett Linda Erickson Sandra Ewald Laurie and Thomas Ferber Julie and David Hendricks Susan and Richard Jesuroga Bill Kaempfer Dianne and James Keil Summer 2015 Page 17 Joseph Lyford Louise Olsen and Ernie Marquez Ann and Gary Mason Scarlett Massine Cathy and Charles Olmsted Lisa and Gordon Riegel Christine Sturgeon Jane Templeton Lucy Waldo Stephanie and Mike White Leslie Champ and Mark Zander Conservation Easement Goal Anonymous – 6 Nancy and Tony Accetta Nancy and Richard Adkerson Denny Arter and Tim Martin Peter Bond Gloria and Irv Broudy Betty Cole Lelia Coveney and Daniel Smith Jim Culbertson Mary and Richard Cuyler Danielle DeForest Lisa and Tim Glenn Katherine and Bob Grether Linda and Samual Haltom Dr. and Mrs. C. David Hearn Jackie Rawlings and Tom Hittle Doann Houghton-Alico Judith and Ed Kinzie Kate and Dan Larkin Chris and Drew Ludwig Linda Mulka and Robert Sander Phillip Periman Jamie and Drew Peternell Fred Rasmussen Larry Rice Karen and Alan Robinson Wendy Rombold Bruce Scott Roberta Smith Elise Backinger and Kent Strickland Two Birds One Stone Wag-n-Tails Forrest Whitman Catherine and David Wood Annual Event Sponsors Central Colorado Title and Escrow Pinon Real Estate Group, LLC Powell & Murphy, PC Allan C. Beezley, PC Brady’s West Collegiate Peaks Bank Colorado East Band & Trust Eddyline Restaurant and Brewing Company F Street Five & Dime High Country Bank Kate and Dan Larkin Denny Arter and Tim Martin Mary and Dick Cuyler Bobbie Eagles and Larry Soukup First Street Flooring Janet Franz and David Moore Tim Glenn/Lewis and Glenn Funeral Home and Fairview Cemetery Ann and Gary Mason Michael Scott Pueblo Bank & Trust Roxy’s Bottle Shop Silent Auction Contributors Andrew Mackie Ann and Gary Mason ArkAnglers/Greg Felt Arteryx Beth Grimes Big Agnes Boathouse Distillery Breckenridge Distillery Carol DeStefanis Clear Creek Ranch/Hayden Mellsop Dana Richardson Deerhammer Distilling Company Denver Art Museum Denver Zoo Dvorak Rafting & Kayak Expeditions Echo Canyon River Expeditions Elisabeth Braun Fishpond Fred Rasmussen Georgetown Loop Railroad GoalZero High Country News Innerlight Healthworks Joyful Journey Keith Ladzinski LTUA Board of Directors Monarch Mountain Mount Princeton Hot Springs Resort Norman Vieira Osprey Oswald Cattle Company Patagonia Prana Rescue Essentials Royal Gorge Route Railroad Sally Waterhouse Subculture Cyclery The Beekeeper’s Honey Boutique The Pilates Studio/Steve O’Neill Zapata Ranch/Kate Matheson Government, Foundation, and Organization Grants Ark Valley High Rollers Chaffee County Collegiate Peaks Anglers Chapter of Trout Unlimited Intermountain West Joint Venture National Byway Program Patagonia, Inc. Salida-Area Parks, Open-Space and Trails State of Colorado Timberline Events Trust for Public Land Upper Arkansas Natural Resource Damage and Restoration Trustees Already a member of LTUA? Pass this form along to a friend! Individuals and Families: Business/Corporate: Individual ($25) Family ($50) Mount Antero ($100) Mount Massive ($500) Royal Gorge ($1,000) Angel of Shavano ($5,000) Other $ I would like to make an additional gift in the amount of $ Cottonwood Hayden Trout Creek ($100) ($250) ($500) Includes website link from LTUA page Independence ($1,000) Includes website link from LTUA page, press release about gift, and special invitations to LTUA events. Monarch ($5,000) Includes all benefits at Independence level, plus LTUA newsletter article about business. Other $ Name: Address: City: Telephone: State: Zip: Email: I wish to remain anonymous; please do not list my name in LTUA publications. I am interested in making a gift of securities or real estate; please send me more information. Please send me more information on estate planning and making a bequest to LTUA. I am interested in volunteering with LTUA; please contact me about volunteer opportunities. LTUA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All contributions are tax deductible as allowed by law. Make checks payable to LTUA. Return to: Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas, PO Box 942, Salida, CO 81201. For more information call 719-539-7700.