Fall 2010 - Colorado Open Lands

Our Land
O u r Wa t e r
Our Future
C OL O RA D O OP E N L A N D S C A P E S
A NEWSLETTER OF COLORADO OPEN LANDS
Rich soils in the floodplain of the North Fork of the Gunnison River
support the production of valuable fruit and vegetable crops.
What’s Inside
Protecting North Fork Valley Specialty Agriculture
President’s Letter
C O L O R A D O
O P E N
L A N D S
Fall
Boutique and Chic
Arguably Colorado’s most unique mix of cultural, socioeconomic, and ecological
diversity (sorry Boulder), the North Fork Valley of the Gunnison serves as a haven
for salt-of-the earth ranchers and iconoclasts alike. People descend upon the region
for its unique and unexpected climate, both biophysically and socio-politically,
enraptured with the aura that envelops the region. Precious few places capture
the seemingly diametric lifestyles of the New West and Old West so vividly as the
North Fork Valley.
It is a fitting home for High Country News—the influential media outlet that serves
an independent-minded national readership from Paonia, Colorado—a newspaper
founded by Tom Bell, an individual at once a rancher and environmentalist.
The Setting
The North Fork Valley possesses some of the most scenic vistas and awe-inspiring
landscapes in the west. The Valley includes the river bottoms and adjacent mesas
(Garvin, Pitkin, Sunshine, Hansen, Powell, Lamborn, Stewart, and Bone) from
Minnesota Creek north of Paonia to the Town of Hotchkiss, about 15 river miles
to the south.
The Valley offers views of numerous mountains and ranges including the
Uncompahgres, West Elks, the Raggeds, and San Juans. To its north, the Valley
rises to the top of Grand Mesa, one of the world’s largest flat top mountains.
Public lands administered by the Bureau of Land Management, the U.S.
Forest Service and the National Park Service surround the private lands in the
intermontane valleys.
Continued on pg.2
Page 3
A Family Affair
Page 5 For the Todds and Klaseens,
conserving their land is a family affair.
In the Limelight—Rod Slifer
Page 6 Colorado Open Lands salutes
Rod Slifer, a long-time Board member
committed to getting things done.
2010 Cranmer Recipient to be Honored
Join us in honoring this year’s recipient,
Michael P. Dowling, at the Grant-Humphreys Mansion on November 29th!
Toiling to Take Out Tamarisk
Mile High Youth Corps volunteers tackle
tricky Tamarisk!
F a l l 2010
Volume 11, Number 2
Boutique and Chic
Continued
Collectively, the numerous and diverse ecosystems of the North Fork Valley and the
species they support have elevated the Valley and its conservation significance for a
number of organizations, including Colorado Open Lands.
Sunrise Canyon Ranch on the Smith Fork of the Gunnison River, Delta County. Photo by John Fielder
Watercourses collect on the high mesas and cut through
steep canyons to the high-gradient North Fork of the Gunnison
River. This progression provides an unusually diverse biota for
a high-desert environment. Vegetation is lush due to numerous
springs in the canyon walls, and the resulting wildlife habitat
hosts numerous resident and migrant species that are naturally
uncommon and have relatively restricted ranges.
The numerous farms and ranches that continue to survive
atop the mesas provide habitat connectivity for more wideranging game species. The greatest diversity of raptor species
in the state thrive in the North Fork Valley’s numerous habitats.
Pastel-hued “adobe” badlands characterize higher elevations
while lower valleys host unique soils and globally rare plants.
Mesas and ridges along the North Rim of the Black Canyon are
home to the imperiled Gunnison sage grouse.
Collectively, the numerous and diverse ecosystems of the
North Fork Valley and the species they support have elevated
the Valley and its conservation significance for a number of
organizations, including Colorado Open Lands. In 2008, a
partnership of five conservation organizations formed the
Colorado Conservation Partnership and identified priority
landscapes within the state, including the North Fork Valley.
These priority landscapes have been identified as those
areas of Colorado that define the state’s natural and cultural
heritage and suffer the highest threat, while offering the most
opportunity for conservation.
Unique Nature of Agricultural Operations in the North Fork Valley
Often touted as the Banana Belt of Colorado, this region is
dominated by specialty agricultural operations including
orchards and vineyards, and boasts some 20 wineries,
second only to the Grand Valley, its neighbor to the north.
This community of artists and artisans has undoubtedly
spurred the growth of organic agriculture in the North
Fork Valley. In fact, Delta County alone accounts for
58 of Colorado’s 420 plus organic operations, the most
operations of any single county in the state.
While peaches, apples, cherries, pears and grapes thrive
in the intense sunshine near Hotchkiss and Paonia, in other
parts of the Valley, such as on Scenic and Fruitland Mesas
and in the Muddy Creek drainage, ranching is the primary
agricultural pursuit. Many family ranches were established
between 1870 and 1910, and are owned by descendents
of these original settlers. Most ranches are cow-calf and
native grass-hay operations with some alfalfa and oat crops.
The climate is so beneficial that two, and sometimes three,
cuttings of hay are common.
While some might argue whether a 40-acre farm could
be a profitable venture, North Fork landowners are making
it happen. They’re going boutique—feeding into the markets
of Telluride, Aspen, Vail, and even Boulder. Not only is
agriculture in the Valley surviving, it’s thriving. The same
Continued on pg.4
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Fa l l 2 0 1 0 | C o l o r a d o O p e n L a n d s . o r g
A Unique Collaboration
President’s Letter
Tom Kaesemeyer, the former Executive Director of the Gates Family Foundation,
used to complain that they received so many good land conservation proposals that it was a real challenge to
determine the best places to put their money. I would assure him he could do no better than Colorado Open
Lands, but he always seemed to want more justification. Foundation directors can be picky that way.
But Tom raised a valid point—Colorado is a fertile place for conservation, and there are a number of strong land
trusts that put together very worthy land conservation projects. With limited resources, it is important to know what
the priorities should be. Although agencies, trusts and funders have all become more strategic in their approach to the
business, no true set of statewide land conservation priorities existed.
Indeed, while different interests can identify different priorities—critical habitat,
important agricultural lands, community separators, etc.—virtually nowhere have
the land conservation interests compared notes about collective priorities. That has
changed in Colorado.
Based on the prodding from the Gates Family Foundation, much of the conservation
community has come together behind a set of statewide conservation priorities. In 2007,
the Gates Family Foundation and the Dowling Foundation made grants to Colorado Open
Lands and The Nature Conservancy to begin a process to identify conservation priorities.
COL and TNC quickly recruited The Conservation Fund, the Trust for Public Land, and
the Colorado Conservation Trust to join the effort. Together the organizations adopted a
name—the Colorado Conservation Partnership—and developed a course of action.
First, we identified what conservation resources were important for protection. This
brought about general consensus behind several conservation resources—wildlife habitat,
prime viable agricultural land, recreational lands, threatened and endangered species
habitat, scenic lands, community separators, and historically significant lands. Next, we
set out to collect the information, mostly in a GIS format, of where these resources were
located. We found there was actually an abundance of information already identified,
although it had not been collected in one database.
Christine Strickland
Once collected, we laid the findings out in a series of maps covering the state. What
the information revealed was that much of these conservation resources were on the same lands—mostly the State’s
primary river corridors. However, we felt it would be critical to “field verify” the information. So, at that point, the
organizations undertook nine regional workshops around the State. We invited local land trusts, local, state and
federal agencies, landowners, and other stakeholders to review the maps
and tell us what they thought. We asked if the maps of the respective
resources looked accurate, and what they would prioritize as important
land conservation areas.
With this information in hand, the group gathered to review the
findings. In the first cut, 100 priority areas were identified. These were
refined to 50 areas. Finally, the group identified 25 landscapes they felt
were important statewide priorities for protection. Armed with a second
Gates Family Foundation grant, the Colorado Conservation Partnership (CCP) recruited local partners and set out to
create strategies for protecting these priority landscapes.
This effort—where leading conservation organizations have come together to identify top statewide priorities for
protection—is virtually unique. National conservation leaders have praised the effort, and sought advice on adopting
the approach to other states.
The benefits of the collaboration are many.
…virtually nowhere have the land
conservation interests compared
notes about collective priorities.
That has changed in Colorado.
• First, in the last eighteen months alone, the CCP and its partners have protected 60,000 acres and raised $35
million in public and private funding in the targeted landscapes.
• Second, these priorities have been adopted by numerous funders, including the Gates Family Foundation,
Great Outdoors Colorado, and the Colorado Division of Wildlife, as part of their State Wildlife Action Plan.
• Third, the organizations involved have collaborated in these protection efforts, bringing the expertise of each
to the challenges at hand, thereby greatly leveraging their respective skills and resources.
• Finally, this strategic alliance of conservation partners, along with identification of priority landscapes, has
allowed CCP to present a compelling case for Colorado to potential federal partners and funders.
Colorado has long been at the forefront of land conservation efforts. The Colorado Conservation
Partnership furthers that pattern, and sets forth both a conservation vision and implementation
strategy for the future.
Daniel E. Pike, President
Colorado Open Lands | 303.988.2373
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Boutique and Chic
Continued
Not only is agriculture in the Valley surviving, it’s
thriving. The same independent spirit that characterizes
the artistic community inspires the independent ambition
of those who work the land.
The agricultural landscape is as eclectic as the
individuals who choose to live there. In the North Fork
Valley, you’ll find operations as diversified as elk and bison
ranching to organic fruit farming and wine making. These
agricultural entrepreneurs certainly aren’t following the
model of giant agribusiness. Instead, artisan farmers and
ranchers are utilizing local packing facilities, marketing
cooperatives, small farm stores, and even “truck-farms”
that give consumers direct-access to farm and ranch
products along local roadways.
program in the North Fork Valley that accommodates the
local landowners’ needs.
The Conservation Assistance Program (CAP) has
emerged as an incredibly efficient and effective partner
in the North Fork Valley and has assisted Colorado Open
Lands in securing numerous conservation easements in
this unique region. Since its inception in 2005, CAP has
been jointly funded by Mountain Coal Company, LLC
and the Western Slope Environmental Resource Council
in a partnership whose purpose is to provide conservation
easement information and assistance to private landowners.
CAP, along with its land trust partners, has assisted
more than 70 landowners in placing conservation
easements on their property. They also have a no-interest
loan program funded by Mountain Coal Company that
A Growing Population
provides financial assistance in meeting some of the costs
The unique beauty of the region has attracted new landowners of placing an easement. Since 2005, the revolving fund has
seeking an alternative to Colorado’s Front Range and mountain turned an initial contribution from the mine of $50,000
resorts.
Annual
growth
into loans to 30 families
rates ranging from 2% to
worth $125,000. CAP
3% in Delta and Montrose
also serves as a landowner
counties over the last decade
advocate throughout the
reflect the region’s growing
conservation
easement
popularity. This population
process, allowing Colorado
influx places an obvious
Open Lands to do more
strain on land resources, most
conservation work while
of which occurs on the large
utilizing less of our own
ranchlands seemingly primed
staff resources.
for development.
According
to
CAP
The absence of any landDirector Susan Lohr, Every
use code in Delta County
family I’ve worked with has
furthers the ease with which
a sincere desire to protect the
the working landscapes can
land they love in its current
be subdivided and developed. The 2010 CAP Committee— (l to r) Kathy Welt, Steve Wolcott, Hal Brill, Nomi
condition. What’s nice for them
Gray, Wendell Koontz, Susan Lohr, Rob Peters and Kelley Harper.
Subdivision of productive
is that significant changes to
agricultural land threatens The Conservation Assistance Program (CAP) has state and federal tax laws have
the viability of the remaining
really increased the benefits for
producers. Water taken for emerged as an incredibly efficient and effective many landowners. Even the
municipal use is no longer partner in the North Fork Valley and has assisted specter of an IRS audit hasn’t
available for irrigation, with
deterred landowners, because
devastating effects on the Colorado Open Lands in securing numerous they are determined to use the
remaining irrigators. This conservation easements in this unique region.
very highest standards for their
is because many farms and
own easement process.
ranches are sub-irrigated seasonally with other landowners’
CAP completed a North Fork Valley Resource Inventory
water diversions. Also, with fewer irrigators, the burden of in 2007. This inventory consists of a series of large-format
managing the ditch companies and maintaining the ditches maps that evaluate different conservation values in the
themselves becomes greater to those who remain.
region, and also portray currently protected lands. Experts
at Colorado Open Lands provided professional assistance for
Colorado Open Lands’ Role
the resource inventory with a grant provided by Mountain
For the past decade, Colorado Open Lands has actively Coal. This inventory, which is updated each year, is the
served the landowners of the North Fork Valley. To date, basis for accurate evaluation of meaningful conservation
we have secured 29 conservation easements protecting efforts, and is available for other organizations to use in their
more than 5,300 acres thanks to the many generous and decision-making as well.
dedicated landowners in the region. Although the average
Colorado Open Lands and its partners in the Valley
acreage per North Fork Valley easement is roughly 172 remain committed to protecting family farms and ranches
acres, versus our statewide average of 410 acres (excluding to preserve the critical connection between the food they
the Trinchera Ranch), these figures speak to the unique produce and the land upon which it depends. It is an
approach to conservation that the region requires and the exciting, unique region in which to work, and one that
direction Colorado Open Lands has taken in developing a continues to hold great conservation potential. n
4 | Fa l l 2 0 1 0 | C o l o r a d o O p e n L a n d s . o r g
A Family Affair
Photo by Michelle Klaseen
The Klaseen and Todd families have donated conservation easements protecting 1,070 acres, and they are working to add 1,065 more acres in 2010.
I
f you find yourself traveling along
The Klaseens and Todds
the labyrinth of roads that skirt the
maintain a few traditions that would
mesas and valleys south of Paonia
seem to belong to the mythical Old
and Hotchkiss, you may happen upon
West. They manage pasture for
something seemingly out-of-place. It’s
wealthier landowners, whose large
the unmistakable shape of a vehicle
conservation easement-encumbered
that has recently contended with the
ranches are second homes, harking
SUV in capturing the desire of the
back to the days when cowboys rode
American consumer—a Toyota Prius.
the range for the absentee grandees
In a landscape riddled with tractors, Photo by Roger Church
from the East.
dualies and pickup trucks of every Fording the North Fork of the Gunnison River.
They also drive about 80
variety, a Prius is quite unexpected.
pregnant cows overland in February
The Prius’ owner, Charlie Klaseen, also breaks the mold. on a 30-mile cattle drive. Starting from near Needlerock
Shaped as much by his appreciation for the beauty of the in Crawford, they travel down Cottonwood Creek, across
landscape as by years of toiling with the land to produce Grandview and Scenic Mesas, along the Smith Fork River to
bountiful crop yields and livestock forage, Charlie readily defies its confluence with the Gunnison River as it rages out of the
stereotypes. He is a 3rd generation rancher in the North Fork mouth of the Black Canyon, and then fording the North Fork
Valley where he and his wife, Betty, actively manage a hay and of the Gunnison. They end up a few miles farther in Payne
livestock operation.
Siding, where they calve—if they haven’t along the way!
Their children have also defied the norm. While the
They return with the cows and their young calves
American story of small agriculture is that of the aging farmer in May, just before the spring runoff peaks and makes
whose children have found jobs in the city, two of the four the Gunnison River fording too difficult. They do this
Klaseen children and their spouses currently live in the Valley because it is cheaper than renting trucks, and because all
and generate agricultural products from their land.
of the ranches along the way—many with conservation
Family businesses are a complicated affair and all too easements—provide safe passage for the cattle. Helpers for
often, family ranches are subdivided when members can’t the drive are young high school girls from 4-H and Future
agree on a vision for a property. This is not the case for the Farmers of America, and a few mature neighbor women
extended Klaseen family. Not only have Charlie and Betty who still like to get in some saddle time.
donated a conservation easement, but their son Ron and
Altogether, these families have donated conservation
his wife Michelle, and their daughter Monita Todd and her easements protecting 1070 acres, and they are working to add
husband Danny have also donated conservation easements. 1065 more acres in 2010. The Klaseens and Todds have shown
Not to be left out, Danny’s brother Monty and his wife Karen the huge impact that a family can make when they decide to
have also protected their property and Charlie’s cousins, Pete protect their lands and livelihoods. They have left an indelible
and Sharon Klaseen, are currently in the process of donating legacy on the North Fork Valley and beyond. Our sincerest
an easement as well.
gratitude to them for their generosity and support!
O u r L a n d , O u r W a t e r , O u r Fu t u r e | C o l o r a d o O p e n L a n d s | 5
Board Spotlight Rod Slifer
R
od Slifer gets things done.
From the day he moved
to Vail in 1962, Rod has
founded or energized a dazzling
array of community mainstays in
this ever-popular mountain town.
He is best known for starting what
today is the Vail Valley’s largest and
most prolific real estate brokerage
company. As a one-man operation
in the corner of the lobby of the
Lodge at Vail, Rod’s business
venture has grown over the past
48 years to one with more than
100 brokers and 20 offices valley
wide, now called Slifer Smith &
Frampton. Not too bad for Vail’s
first realtor.
Born in Brighton, Rod is a third
generation Coloradan. So it’s no Rod Slifer
surprise that he quickly went from
ski instructor and realtor, to serving his community, beginning
with County and Town local planning commissions, then on
to Vail’s Town Council, and even serving as Vail’s Mayor for 11
years. He has also spent time on the Governor’s Metropolitan
Round Table, addressing Denver water problems, served on
Vail’s Recreation District, founded the Eagle River Scholarship
Fund and the Jerry Ford Invitational Golf Tournament, which
benefits a number of local charities, and served on the Vail
Valley Foundation. And this is just a partial list.
As a good friend of Bill Vollbracht
and Larry Hauserman, Board
members of Colorado Open Lands,
Rod was invited—and agreed—
to serve on the Board with them
beginning in 1995. Having always
been in real estate, Rod says, I enjoy
being on the other side. The ability to
preserve some of the natural assets we
have—urban as well as rural—is very
important. He has helped shape
Colorado Open Lands from a nonprofit that was initially created to
address some specific purposes and
concerns, to a mature conservation
organization that works in step with
a diversity of partners and has a
much broader, statewide perspective.
One of the most notable
changes Rod told us he’s seen
over his lifetime is the creation of
zoning and growth guidelines. When I was growing up, there
was hardly any growth, and hardly any zoning. Setting zoning
and sensible growth guidelines in place was one of the first
priorities for him as Vail’s mayor. Rod has managed to strike
a unique balance in his life: set much of the structure—
library, recreational facilities, zoning—for what Vail is today,
and be an integral part of permanently protecting some of
Colorado’s most treasured places. Thank you, Rod, for all
you are doing for Colorado and its citizens!
Changes to the Conservation Easement Tax Credit
D
uring the last session of the Colorado legislature,
changes were made to the highly successful
conservation easement tax credit program. The
credit, which has been in place in some form since 2000,
has resulted in the protection of an estimated $400 million
worth of Colorado’s unique conservation lands.
HB10-1197 passed the General Assembly and was signed
into law this year by Governor Ritter. Beginning in 2011,
the measure places a cap on the tax credit of $26 million/
year, or $78 million for the three year duration of the cap.
The Colorado Division of Real Estate and the Department
of Revenue will administer the cap. The Division of Real
Estate will issue tax credit certificates in the order in which
applications for completed easement donations are received.
If, and when, $26 million in certificates are issued for 2011,
the Division will begin issuing certificates for 2012.
The Land Trust community agreed to the cap after
lengthy negotiations with both the Administration and the
Legislature, which were seeking ways to resolve a severe
budget shortfall. The Land Trust community generally felt
that the entire program could have been lost had some
negotiated resolution failed. The program cap is due to
sunset after 2013.
While the impact of the cap is difficult to predict,
landowners wishing to consider conservation easements
would be advised to start the process early. It is easy to
imagine that current year certificates may be gone by the
time a particular easement is recorded and an application
submitted to the State, in which case the credit would not
be effective until the following year.
C o l o r a d o O p e n L a n d s c a p e s | Fa l l 2 0 1 0 | 6
Sightings on the Landscape
W
e love our landowners who care so much about
their land that they protect it with a conservation
easement. But it is particularly special when they
get an award from another land trust for their service. In
September, Reeves and Betsy Brown received The Friends
of Open Space Award, one of the several 2010 Southern
Colorado Conservation Awards, given by Palmer Land Trust.
According to PLT, using innovative ranching techniques
coupled with constant monitoring of rangeland health, the
Browns have turned the 3R Ranch into a model for Holistic
Range Management. To ensure the future of their property
as a ranch, the Browns put a conservation easement on their
property with Colorado Open Lands and became advocates of
this opportunity for other ranchers. They helped to establish
and/or direct the work of several lands trusts across the
State. Their own ranch has also become an environmental
education site for students from Beulah, Rye, and Pueblo
who come to learn about ranching, local food production,
and conservation. Congratulations to the Browns!
Mark Your Calendar! The Colorado Coalition of
Land Trusts will hold its Annual Brews, Boots and Bucks
fundraiser on Thursday, November 4th at the usual location
(no politics here), the Wynkoop Brewery in LoDo. While
hanging out with the good folks that come to support
CCLT, meet their new intern, Stephanie O’Barr. Stephanie
just completed her Master of Laws in Environmental and
Natural Resources Law and Policy degree at the University
of Denver, Sturm College of Law.
Kudos to Kathy Roser and the La Plata Open Space
Conservancy for receiving their ‘seal of approval’ from
the Land Trust Accreditation Commission this summer.
LPOSC joins 11 other Colorado land trusts who have
been accredited: Aspen Valley Land Trust, Black Canyon
Land Trust, Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust,
Colorado Open Lands, Eagle Valley Land Trust, Estes
Valley Land Trust, Mesa Land Trust, Montezuma Land
Conservancy, Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust, San
Isabel Land Protection Trust, and Wilderness Land Trust.
After 13 years at the helm, C. Thomas (Tom) Kaesemeyer
retired this last July from the Gates Family Foundation.
Colorado Open Lands has benefitted over the years from
Tom’s wisdom and advice. Many thanks to Tom for his
service to the community!
Fortunately the Foundation’s staffers don’t have to worry
about forgetting the name of their new boss, because Thomas
(Tom) A. Gougeon took the Foundation helm in August. Even
a short list of this Tom’s accomplishments is too long to go
into here. Of interest to land conservationists is his tenure on
the board of The Nature Conservancy (CO), Volunteers for
Outdoor Colorado, and the Denver Water Board. Welcome
aboard, Mr. Gougeon. We’ll be by to solicit your thoughts too.
Congratulations to Isaacson Rosenbaum P.C. on receiving
a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED)
certification from the United States Green Building Council
in the commercial interiors category! Their new Denver
offices on the 18th floor of 1001 17th Street—planned and
created over the past two years by their own attorneys and
staff—have been built in a sustainable and efficient manner. Their new space has consolidated three floors into one,
eliminated nearly 10,000 square feet of unneeded space and
given the firm a new way of relating to the environment, as
well as their own attorneys. Stop by sometime—they’d love
to give you a tour!
A big welcome to Suzanne Ewy, the new Executive
Director of the Orient Land Trust. A fourth generation
Coloradoan, Suzanne used her environmental law degree in
both the public and private sectors in Colorado and Alaska.
You can reach her at 719-256-4315 or [email protected].
Barbara Hawke, former Executive Director of the Black
Canyon Land Trust, has taken a position with The Wilderness
Society as the Dolores River Basin Wildlands Coordinator.
“This will be a great new adventure where I get to work on
My Colorado is a new, engaging website designed to support Coloradans’
desire to create a better community. One of the ways in which My
Colorado members do this is through Giving Circles—groups of friends
or families interested in pooling their resources to make a greater impact
in their community.
When you create a Giving Circle, you get to determine the objective of
the fund, set the goals, choose the beneficiaries of the money you raise,
and then recruit friends and family members to join the Circle, add their
donations to yours, and increase the impact to your cause of choice!
To learn more or give it a try, go to www.mycoloradoproject.org, and
start a Giving Circle for Colorado Open Lands! It’s a wonderful way to
make any gift have a big impact.
issues analysis, advocacy, and lots of collaboration work. I
love the landscape where I’ll be working—southwest and
western Colorado. And my office will stay in Montrose.”
You can reach her at [email protected].
Holding the fort at BCLT will be Interim Executive
Director and Land Protection Specialist (and land trust
veteran), Steve Ryder. He has over ten years of experience
working with The Nature Conservancy in Montana, as
the executive director of Legacy Land Trust in northern
Colorado, and administering a transfer of development
rights program in Larimer County. Prior to this work, Steve
was a partner in a small farm, an instructor with the National
Outdoor Leadership School, and has taught environmental
science and policy at the college level.
Joining Steve at BCLT is Olivia Bartlett (who hails from
New Hampshire) as Land Steward and Laurie Messano (a
genuine New Yorker who moved to Delta County—wise
move—9 years ago) as administrative assistant.
And on a joyous note, weddings were certainly in the
air at Colorado Open Lands this spring. Cheryl Wagner
married Felipe Cufre on May 7th and promptly zipped
off to Hawaii for her honeymoon. Her ‘new’ email address
is [email protected]. Brian Ocepek married
Stephanie Neumann on June 12, just four days before
he left COL to join the Colorado Division of State Parks,
replacing the well-respected Greg Monroe as Real Estate
Manager. We’ll miss Brian, of course, but think the State of
Colorado is lucky to have such an excellent replacement.
Colorado Open Lands | 303.988.2373
|
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COLprojects
Completed Projects 2010
Take Note! The Cranmer Award Reception is in a new location this year. Join us at the Grant-Humphreys Mansion
on 770 Pennsylvania Street to congratulate Michael. See you there!
Our Wish List!
As a community-based nonprofit, we are committed to operating as efficiently as possible and making the best use of any contributions
we receive. Colorado Open Lands has saved thousands of conservation dollars through the donation of items on our Wish List by our
generous donors.
2010 Cranmer Awardee Announced!
Every year since 1992, Colorado Open
Coalition of Land Trusts.
Lands has awarded the George E. Cranmer
Additionally, Michael has served
Award to someone who has distinguished
on the Colorado Climate Action
themselves in open space preservation.
Panel of the Rocky Mountain Climate
Award recipients are individuals who
Organization, worked on growth
have gone above and beyond what
management policy and legislation with
others have done and often get things
The Colorado Forum, and served as a
completed through determination and
pro bono consultant for the Director of
force of personality. They leave behind a
the Colorado State Land Board.
legacy that will be valued and enjoyed for
He has held executive and
generations to come. This year’s winner is
professional positions with Bio-Logical
just such a person.
Capital, Western Ranchland Investors,
Michael P. Dowling has spent his
General Atlantic Resources, and
professional life at the intersection
McKinsey & Company. Mr. Dowling
of natural resource business, policy,
has a BS degree (with highest honors)
conservation, and finance. A successful
in Geology and Geophysics from Yale
executive, entrepreneur, private equity
College, an MFS degree from the Yale
manager, philanthropist, and consultant,
School of Forestry and Environmental
Michael’s passion for the natural and built
Studies, and an MPPM degree from the
environments has produced a diverse,
Yale School of Management.
values-driven career with experience
Michael is happily married and
2010 Cranmer Awardee Michael P. Dowling & Family
in land conservation and limited
has three young children. He is an
development, conventional and alternative energy resources, active outdoorsman, a former river guide, and a trustee of the
corporate and project finance, and organizational strategy.
Colorado Symphony Orchestra
Michael is vice chairman of the Colorado Oil & Gas
Michael is a unique combination of both out-spoken advocate
Conservation Commission, where he played a lead role and a persuasive behind-the-scenes force for conservation, said
in producing the nation’s most advanced environmental Dan Pike, President of Colorado Open Lands, and has been an
protections for oil and natural gas drilling and production; invaluable asset to the many conservation efforts he has served.
co-founder, long-time chairman, and trustee of the Colorado
Colorado Open Lands is proud to present this year’s George
Conservation Trust; founder and president of The Dowling E. Cranmer Award to Michael P. Dowling. Join us at the GrantFoundation; board member and strategy chair of the national Humphreys Mansion (770 Pennsylvania Street) on November
Land Trust Alliance; former chairman of the Colorado Wildlife 29th from 5:30-7:30 pm and enjoy hors d’oeuvres and drinks
Federation, and a former board member of the Colorado while we toast Michael’s accomplishments.
Denver Metro Area
Your support, whether financial or with the donation of the actual item, helps us keep our budget focused on our conservation projects.
Gunnison Basin
Please contact us if you would like to help acquire any of the following:
Northern Front Range
Field GPS Unit We are in need of a new GPS unit (a compact, lightweight, fully-integrated field computer) for our stewardship team’s
use in mapping conservation easement sites, riparian areas, and other important aspects of a property being preserved. The unit
comes bundled with software both for the unit and the desktop interface. Estimated cost is about $1,000.
North Fork Valley
Conference Room Chairs (12) As both our office staff and Board of Directors have grown in numbers, the current conference room
chairs no longer fit our needs. We need to be able to fit 12 chairs in the same space where we currently have 8. Smaller chairs
will allow us to accommodate the new size and replace the existing well-worn chairs. Estimated cost is about $210 per chair for
a total of $2,520.
Peak to Prairie
South Park Basin
Laptop Computer The majority of our staff works from the field these days. The ability to work on documents away from the office
is now a priority, especially for handling our in-the-field work such as mapping and monitoring of our easements, as well as donor
driven presentations. Estimated cost is about $1,500.
South Platte River Corridor
Southern Sangre de Cristo
Ceiling Projector Screen We have a small office conference room that barely has room for the 8-12 bodies we typically host. A
ceiling projector screen would free up floor space and allow people to concentrate on our message, rather than the elbow in their
side. Estimated cost is $500.
Wet Mountain Open Space
Individual Landowners
The Frost Ranch conservation easement protects more than 1,500 acres of native shortgrass prairie.
Wet
Wet Mountain
Mountain Open
Open Space
Space Coalition
Coalition
While most of our projects are completed in the last three months of the year, some get done early on. In
addition to the 5 we have completed to date, we are working on closing an additional 16 projects by year-end.
We are extremely grateful to all the wonderful landowners with whom we work and hope you will join us in
congratulating them on helping to protect Colorado’s unique heritage!
Colorado Open Lands Loses Three Long-time Friends
In March, Robert Schulein,
long-time
donor
and
friend of Colorado Open
Lands, died after a brief
illness. He graduated from
Columbia Grammar School
and Syracuse University,
interrupted by service in the
Army during World War II.
Encouraged by his boyhood
friend, Sam Gary, he moved
to Denver in 1957 to go into
the oil business—he loved
the adventure and challenge
Robert Schulein
of wildcatting. Living in the
West was the perfect fit for Bob, as he was the consummate
sportsman—bird hunter, dry fly fisherman, skier, cyclist, tennis
and squash player, and bird dog trainer.
Regarded by those close to him as a great man with a
marvelous sense of humor, a loving husband, a fabulous father,
a wonderful grandfather, a caring brother, a true friend, a man
of his word, he enriched the lives of those he touched and will
be deeply missed.
In May, Hamlet “Chips”
Barry died in an accident
on his farm in Hawaii. He
was the manager of Denver
Water for 19 years and
had planned to retire this
summer. Barry was widely
credited with revitalizing
the utility and changing
its approach after federal
regulators rejected its plan
to build the massive Two
Forks dam and reservoir in
1990.
Hamlet “Chips” Barry
Chips
Barry
was
involved in natural resources and water issues since 1969, as
either a practicing attorney or as a state or city official. Prior to
becoming Manager of the Denver Water Department, he was in
Governor Romer’s cabinet as Executive Director of the Colorado
Department of Natural Resources.
Chips was a grader for the Colorado Bar examination,
and a member of the Board of Governors for the Colorado
Bar Association. He was a member of the Colorado Water
Conservation Board, the Colorado Mined Land Reclamation
Board, and the Energy Impact Advisory Board, and was a
Trustee of the Colorado Chapter of the Nature Conservancy.
Additionally, he was a member of the Inter-Basin Compact
Committee, Treasurer and Board Member for Water for People,
Secretary of the American Metropolitan Water Association, a
member of the Water Utility Council of the American Water
Works Association, and Treasurer of the Western Urban Water
Coalition. In 2007, Colorado Open Lands honored Chips with
the George E. Cranmer Award.
Most of all, Chips was known for his great sense of humor
and cooperative style for getting things done. He will be sorely
missed by all.
In August, Joy Rushmore Hilliard passed peacefully in her
sleep. Joy admired the great outdoors and regularly enjoyed
hiking, climbing, skiing, tennis, and her most favorite, flyfishing. Joy further
adored traveling home
and abroad. Joy was
part of the 1963 Everest
Expedition and trekked
from Katmandu to the
base camp of Everest.
She climbed all 54 of
Colorado’s
14,000foot peaks long before
it became a popular
Colorado pastime.
Joy Rushmore Hilliard
Joy
was
a
philanthropist who donated to many causes related to
population control and the environment. Joy participated
as a board member on several organizations including as
President of Rocky Mountain Planned Parenthood, President
of Outward Bound, Trout Unlimited, Silver Trout Foundation,
and Colorado Open Lands.
Joy has received several recognitions for her work such as a
Lifetime Achievement Award from the Colorado Environmental
Coalition, the George E. Cranmer Award from Colorado
Open Lands, and the Margaret Sanger Award from Planned
Parenthood. Joy helped establish the conservation wing of the
Denver Public Library and a Tenth Mountain Division Hut in
memory of her late husband, Ed, a partner of the Redfield gun
sight company.
A tiny lady who was aptly named and larger than life, Joy
was an inspiration to us all.
We extend our deepest sympathies to the families of these three
remarkable people. They will be missed.
Owl Canyon VI
The Hanna Ranch conservation easement constitutes nearly a decade of planning
and negotiation.
Frost Ranch East
Community First Foundation is sponsoring Colorado Gives Day on December
8th. Each donation made during the 24 hr period—starting at 12 a.m. —on
December 8th will automatically be increased through an Incentive Fund. This
Incentive Fund, initiated with $250,000 from FirstBank, will be proportionally
allocated across all donations received on that day, increasing the value of each
gift. It does not matter what time of day donations are made.
All you need to do is make an on-line donation at www.givingfirst.org anytime
on December 8th, starting at 12 a.m. or set it up ahead of time. Your donation
to Colorado Open Lands is guaranteed to be automatically increased, thanks to
this Incentive Fund!
In Memoriam
Through a landowner initiated effort, Colorado Open Lands has
protected 14,904 acres through 40 conservation easements to date.
The Elaine T. Valente Open Space will feature hiking trails, wildlife viewing areas, and public access to the South Platte River Trail
If there was ever a time to increase the impact of your charitable donations, this is it! The great news is that we
have not one, but two, new ways to effortlessly multiply your donation.
See box on page 7 for idea #2!
Denver-Metro
Denver
Metro Area
Northern Front Range
Protecting open space in a quickly growing urban area is always
a challenge. To date, we have protected 11,002 acres through 39
projects in Denver and the surrounding six counties. We anticipate
closing 2 additional projects by the end of 2010.
Ironically, it is the counties with the richest agricultural soils
that are experiencing the greatest growth pressures. To date, we
have protected 2,112 acres through 17 projects in this rapidly
developing part of Colorado.
Elaine T. Valente
Adams County, 13 acres (137 total)
Partners: Adams County, Trust for Public Land and Great Outdoors
Colorado
Conservation Values: Adams County purchased the 124-acre
Bromley property in 2002 with grant funding from Great
Outdoors Colorado (GOCO). After Adams County donated
a GOCO-required conservation easement to the Trust for
Public Land, TPL amended and restated the easement and
transferred it to Colorado Open Lands.
In December 2008, the County had the good fortune
to purchase the Miller Farm, a 13-acre private inholding
surrounded by the Bromley easement property. GOCO
grant funds were again used, and another conservation
easement was placed on the new land. The original
Bromley conservation easement has now had these 13
acres added to it, significantly adding to the integrity of
the original conservation easement, and the conservation
values on the land.
These conservation values—now encompassed on a
total of 137 acres—are natural habitat, scenic, and public
education and recreation. The property has three lakes, which
provide fishing opportunities, riparian habitat, and flood
management. Grange Hall Creek flows across the middle of
the property and into the South Platte River, which lies on
the east side of the property. Hiking trails, wildlife viewing
areas, and public access to the South Platte River Trail will be
available once the management plan is implemented.
The Bromley and Miller properties are now called The
Elaine T. Valente Open Space.
Gunnison Basin
This area contains some of Colorado’s quintessentially beautiful
mountain valleys, and Colorado Open Lands and its partners
have proudly protected 13,356 acres of privately owned working
ranches through 40 projects to date. We anticipate closing 2 more
projects by the end of 2010.
North Fork Valley
Bisected by the North Fork of the Gunnison River, this valley
consists primarily of public land, with a mosaic of private lands in
small scale agriculture. Watercourses from high mesas cut through
steep canyons and combine with numerous springs to provide
lush vegetation and an unusually diverse biota for the high-desert
environment. To date, we have protected 5,331 acres through 35
projects. We anticipate closing 5 new projects this year.
wishlist
Colorado Open Lands
PeaktotoPrairie
Prairie
Peak
The vision of the Peak to Prairie project is to achieve landscapescale conservation by knitting together a series of public and
private protected lands to preserve one of the last remaining
stretches of unfragmented prairie along Colorado’s Front Range.
This regional effort will benefit the local economy, preserve
working ranches and critical habitats, and provide a critical link in
the Colorado Front Range Trail. To date, we have protected 5,860
acres through 21 projects.
Barr Farm
Pueblo County, 577 acres
Partners: Bob and Barbara Barr, with funding from City of Pueblo,
Pueblo County, and Great Outdoors Colorado
Conservation Values: The Barr Farm is located on Fountain
Creek north of the City of Pueblo, and is visible from both I-25
and Overton Road. The property contains riparian cottonwood
habitat, irrigated agricultural fields and floodplain. The Barr
Farm is currently managed for crop production and grazing,
and the landowners have made great progress in eradicating
non-native trees such as tamarisk and Russian Olive from the
Fountain Creek floodplain.
Preservation of the property secures important habitat for
species such as Bald Eagle and the Arkansas Darter and helps
maintain a land base for continued agricultural production in this
urbanizing region between Colorado Springs and Pueblo.
Hanna Ranch
El Paso County, 546 acres
Partners: Hanna Ranches Inc., with funding from Great Outdoors
Colorado, El Paso County, and NRCS Farm and Ranchlands
Protection Program
Conservation Values: The Hanna Ranch conservation easement
constitutes nearly a decade of planning and negotiation that
ultimately came to fruition with the closing of the conservation
easement this summer. Hanna Ranch is the third easement to
be conserved under the Great Outdoors Colorado Legacy Grant
funding awarded to Colorado Open Lands in 2007 for our Peak to
Prairie Conservation Initiative.
Located along Fountain Creek with 2.65 miles of stream
coursing through the property, Hanna Ranch protects important
floodplain and upland habitats containing important plant
communities and associated wildlife. With Interstate 25 to the east
and Hanover Road skirting the eastern boundary, Hanna Ranch
provides unhindered views of an historical agricultural operation
as well as a healthy riparian corridor just minutes from the
Colorado Springs metropolitan area.
El Paso County, 1,620 acres
Partners: Frost Livestock Co., with funding from Great Outdoors
Colorado, El Paso County, The Gates Family Foundation, and The
Nature Conservancy
Conservation Values: Colorado’s native shortgrass prairie habitat
has long been in decline; protecting what remains is of prime
importance for conservation. The Frost Ranch East conservation
easement is one such property with over 1,500 acres of native
grassland habitat. After the bargain sale of their first conservation
easement in 2007, the Frost Livestock Company again came
to the negotiating table this year with land that lies adjacent to
and southeast of their first easement, Frost Ranch. Part of the
property’s importance is the critical connectivity it provides from
floodplain to grassland habitats, and the buffer it adds to the
riparian corridor protected by the first easement.
Beyond wildlife and habitat values, Frost Ranch East is an
actively managed, working agricultural operation. The Frost
Livestock Company grazes cattle on the property, which helps
maintain the land in a native shortgrass prairie ecosystem. While
not directly adjacent to Interstate 25, Meridian Road skirts the
length of the property and offers unobstructed views of this
pastoral landscape.
2010 Pueblo County, 300 acres
Partners: Charles Hanson
Conservation Values: The 2010 Owl Canyon easement protects
300 scenic acres near the base of the Wet Mountains. Located in
the transition zone between the Southern Rocky Mountains and
the Central Shortgrass Prairie, the ranch provides outstanding
habitat for a variety of wildlife. Dr. Hanson hopes that one day
the ranch will serve as a learning center and guest camp for the
Mountain Park Environmental Center, a non-profit organization
dedicated to providing programming in order to create a citizenry
that understands, respects, enjoys and cares for themselves,
their families, their community, and the natural world. The
ranch’s location next to public and protected lands in a scenic
and biologically interesting area makes the property ideal for
environmental education.
4x4 Vehicle A lot of the land we preserve is only accessible through rough terrain and backcountry roads. With over 200 conservations
easements to monitor a year, having our own 4X4 capable of going anywhere would save a lot of money in rentals, as well as being
safer for our staff. If you are interested in helping us with this, please call or email our Stewardship Director, Cheryl Cufre (ccufre@
coloradoopenlands.org).
We would like to especially thank the following for their generous donation to Colorado Open Lands:
Office Liquidators gave us many furniture items as part of their anniversary give away to nonprofits. We really
appreciate this gesture, as it replaced several well-worn staff desk chairs, gave us a lot more storage for our
monitoring records, and replaced an outdated reception table!
A Huge Thank You to Bobby Deline and Brokenbar Productions (www.brokenbarproductions.com) for
producing our first landowner video! Check it out at www.coloradoopenlands.org.
And thank you to Kristi Keolakai and John Sellars for helping us purchase another Satellite personal tracker for
stewardship monitoring!
Did you know you could make a monthly donation toward any of our wish list
items? Call or email Cecelia Thomas at [email protected] to
coordinate the details!
South Park Basin
South Park is a 1,000-square mile grassland basin in the geographic
center of the Colorado that contains over 200 miles of stream and
riparian habitat and a globally rare grassland community. Colorado
Open Lands has protected a total of 26,648 acres, including nearly
30 miles of riparian stream corridor, through 48 projects to date
in this landscape of state and national significance. We anticipate
closing 1 more project by the end of 2010.
Volunteers
South
South Platte
Platte River
River Corridor
Corridor
Encompassing a six-county area in the northeast part of the state,
this area is comprised of a mosaic of cottonwood and willow
forests, irrigated and dryland agricultural areas, and shortgrass prairie. This area also supports an amazing abundance of
migratory bird species. We have protected 10,184 acres through
20 projects to date. We anticipate closing another project by the
end of 2010.
Southern
Southern Sangre
Sangre de
de Cristo
Cristo
This area provides critical winter range for elk and deer, as well
as year-round habitat for black bear, mountain lion, wild turkey,
and other wildlife. Colorado Open Lands has protected 84,353
acres through 19 projects in the area. We anticipate closing 3 more
projects this year.
Toiling to Take Out Tamarisk
The 2010 Owl Canyon easement protects 300 scenic acres
.
Individual Landowners
In addition to our Community Conservation Areas, Colorado
Open Lands responds to more than 100 inquiries each year from
landowners seeking information on conservation options for their
land around Colorado. Working with 46 landowners, conservation
easements have been placed on 64,064 acres across Colorado. We
anticipate closing two more projects by the end of 2010.
The Barr Farm on Fountain Creek near Pueblo contains riparian cottonwood habitat, irrigated agricultural fields and floodplain..
and streams in eastern Colorado. It is a hardy and
resistant plant that suffocates native vegetation
as it sweeps through stream corridors. It grows
and reproduces rapidly by wind-dispersed
seeds, making it difficult to control once it has
established. It is also a thirsty plant, with long
tap roots that easily deplete the water resources
of the streams and creeks it inhabits.
The Youth Corps crew worked ten long,
Where tamarisk (right) once stood, mature plants and wildlife will again flourish thanks to the
hot, nine-hour days, toiling to remove the
volunteer efforts of the Mile High Youth Corps.
tamarisk. The process of removing tamarisk is
It was the peak of summer and the middle of a hot dry spell. The labor intensive. Each of the trees must be cut with a chainsaw,
100 degree plus temperature was stifling and the sun relentless. pulled through the tangle of vegetation and piled. Just getting to
A work crew of 10 Mile High Youth Corps volunteers set up their the trees can be difficult because tamarisk grows in dense stands
camp underneath a small cluster of shade trees. Their camp was and in between other shrubs and trees. Wading through the thick
simple, just a small scattering of tents but the setting was serene. vegetation in 100 degree temperatures and yielding a chainsaw is
Wild turkey, deer, and red-tailed hawks were seen daily. There only for the hardy.
Once the trees have been cut, the stumps must be quickly
were stands of cottonwoods and tall prairie grasses in their midsummer cycle. Their camp’s namesake, Jimmy Camp Creek, was brushed with a chemical such as the commonly used herbicide
low and hidden by dense brush as it wound its way through the “Habitat.” A dye mixed into the chemical leaves a distinct blue
stain, making it easy to determine which trees have been treated.
willows towards its confluence with Fountain Creek
The serenity and remoteness of the place is deceiving. The 80- Cutting alone has proven to be unsuccessful in killing these
acre property, known as Jimmy Camp Creek and Adams Open resilient trees. Once cut, treated, and piled, the limbs are removed
Space, lies just outside the City of Fountain, adjacent to the public and later mulched. By the end of the ten days, the crew had
library. The property is open to the public for free. It is owned by removed and treated approximately eight acres of tamarisk.
Though tedious, the task is rewarding. The large piles and
the City of Fountain and protected by a conservation easement
gaps in the dense vegetation are a clear indication of progress.
held by Colorado Open Lands.
One of the most abundant plants along the Creek is a large Where tamarisk once stood, native willows, shrubs and grasses
shrubby tree with flowers that turn a light pink-white in the will once again provide cover, food, and water for the wildlife
late summer—tamarisk. Also known as saltcedar (Tamarix the Creek supports.
We sincerely thank the Mile High Youth Corp, the City of
ramosissima), this non-native weed was originally introduced
Fountain, and the USFWS Partners for Fish and Wildlife for
as an ornamental shrub and used to prevent soil erosion.
Tamarisk has rapidly taken over significant portions of creeks funding this project and providing the technical assistance.
Individually we make a difference today…Together we make a difference for the future!
COLORADO OPEN LANDS
board
274 Union Boulevard, Suite 320, Lakewood, CO 80228
www.ColoradoOpenLands.org
Charles Russell (Chairman)
C/A Russell Partners, Inc.
Russell B. Caldwell
NONPROFIT ORG.
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
ENGLEWOOD, CO
PERMIT NO. 422
Return Service Requested
D. A. Davidson & Co.
Robert H. Deline
B oard of D irectors
Monaghan Management Corp.
Rebecca Frank
Conservationist
Larry J. Hauserman
FirstBank
Scott McInnis
U.S. Congress (Ret.)
Tim Schultz
Boettcher Foundation
Wes Segelke
Wes Segelke & Co.
Rodney E. Slifer
Slifer, Smith & Frampton/Vail Associates
William B. Vollbracht
Land Title Guarantee
Ruth Wright
Attorney
“Landscapes” is published by Colorado Open Lands,
274 Union Boulevard, Suite 320, Lakewood, CO 80228
If you know someone who cares about Colorado’s agricultural and natural
heritage and should be on our mailing list, call us with their name and address
at 303.988.2373 or email us at [email protected].
Editor: Cheryl Fox, Assistant Editor: C/A Russell Partners, Design: G-man Graphics
Your Support
Your support of Colorado Open Lands has helped to protect over 237,000 acres of Colorado’s spectacular vistas
and rich agricultural heritage. For every $1,000 raised, Colorado Open Lands can protect $10,000 worth of land.
Donate Online: Your online gift will make a difference. With your support, we can continue to protect and preserve the
great scenic lands and natural heritage of Colorado!
Gifts of Cash or Securities: Colorado Open Lands accepts personal and corporate checks and gifts of stock. By giving
appreciated stock, you can avoid capital gains taxes and receive an income tax deduction.
Community Shares: Founded in 1986, Community Shares is a nonprofit federation that raises funds for over 100
Colorado charities through workplace giving. Colorado Open Lands’ Combined Federal Campaign (CFC) number
is 78031. Our Denver Employee Combined Campaign (DECC) number is 5021, and our Community Shares of
Colorado (CSC) number is 5016.
Employer Matching Gifts: Check with your employer to see if they will match your gift. This can often double
your contribution.
Leave a Legacy: By including Colorado Open Lands in your will, you will leave a legacy of open space for generations
to come—as well as receive potential tax benefits.
Gifts of Real Estate: Colorado Open Lands can take excess real estate and turn it into capital for protecting endangered
land around Colorado, while potentially giving the donor significant tax deductions.
www.ColoradoOpenLands.org | 303.988.2373