Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas News

Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas Completes Three Conservation Easements

Upper Arkansas Valley – June 22, 2011 – The Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas announces the completion of three conservation easements totaling 343 acres. Each conservation easement represents months of work on behalf of the Land Trust and the corresponding landowner. In another first for us, we completed a conservation easement in each of three counties: Lake, Chaffee, and Fremont. Each conservation easement has “public benefit” by permanently protecting wildlife habitat, working agricultural land, and scenic vistas. Hayden Mellsop, Chair of the Land Trust Board, stated “These three conservation easements are another significant step forward for the Land Trust and will help keep our ranching tradition and protect key wetlands and wildlife habitat”.

A conservation easement is a legal agreement that a landowner voluntarily enters into with a land trust that permanently limits the use of the land in order to protect certain conservation values. All three conservation easements were donated by the landowners making each donation eligible for certain Federal and State tax benefits. However, all the property remains in private ownership and the owners continue to pay property tax.

The Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas is certified by the State of Colorado to hold conservation easements. The Land Trust also has certain criteria that must be met before the organization will accept a conservation easement on a property. Not all properties qualify, only those that have certain conservation values, such as important wildlife habitat or working agricultural lands. It is also the responsibility of the Land Trust to monitor and enforce the conservation easement in perpetuity. This is a major responsibility and takes a significant amount of time and resources. Any landowner interested in finding out more about conservation easements should contact the Land Trust Executive Director, Andrew Mackie at 719-539-7700 or andrewjmackie@ltua.org.

The first conservation easement is southeast of Leadville in Lake County. This 160 acre ranch is set among the Mosquito Mountains. Overall the property is situated from 10,670 feet to 10,890 feet. Bisecting the property is Empire Gulch. This creek meanders through a series of beaver dams creating a mosaic of wetlands important to many species of wildlife. In addition, several kettle ponds are found on the property. A total of 32% of the Ranch is in wetlands and is now protected. Much of the remaining property is in lodgepole pine and aspen. Surrounding the ranch on three sides are lands open to the public, composed of Paddock State Wildlife Area and San Isabel National Forest.

This ranch is routinely used by a herd of 300 elk. Also, black bear, mountain lion, bighorn sheep, mountain goat, mule deer, lynx, and an occasional moose use the property. The wetlands are key habitats for breeding songbirds and amphibians. A section of the property has been retained for cattle grazing and another small area is reserved for local food production.

The second conservation easement is in Chaffee County surrounded by San Isabel National Forest near Raspberry Gulch. This 108 acre easement helps to reduce development potential within San Isabel National Forest. The property is mostly mixed conifer forest with areas of ponderosa pine and aspen. An intermittent stream runs along the boundary providing additional plant diversity and wildlife habitat. Grasses and forbs provide food for elk and mule deer.

Another interesting element of this conservation easement is the protection of a historic miner’s cabin on the property. This structure and some other foundations provide a glimpse back into the past. Cattle grazing will also continue as a use on the property.

The third conservation easement is a 75 acre parcel in Howard, Colorado. This property is used for summer cattle and horse pasture and has associated water rights that are now tied with the land. Most of the property is in pasture with scattered piñon pines and Rocky Mountain juniper. On side of the property contains a small canyon that wildlife uses for movement between the Arkansas River and Sangre de Cristo Mountain Range. These areas often have a number of unique plants associated with them. In addition to livestock, elk and mule deer use the pasture. Also, a part of the conservation easement abuts Bureau of Land Management property.

The Land Trust wishes to thank all three land owners for their vision and dedication to completing these conservation easements. Their commitment to seeking long-term protection for important agricultural and natural resources on the properties is inspiring.

LTUA and City of Salida protect land in the Arkansas Hills

On February 10, 2010 the City of Salida completed a purchase of 26.8 acres of vacant land from the Everett Land and Cattle Company. Following the purchase, the Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas placed a conservation easement on the parcel to forever protect the land from further development. The City of Salida and the Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas had worked on protecting this land for over a year so that it could be added to the existing City of Salida Open Space. The purchase was made possible with funds from Great Outdoors Colorado.

This purchase and the conservation easement will help ensure access to surrounding land owned by the City of Salida and the Bureau of Land Management. It will also protect the scenic backdrop of downtown Salida.

According to Dara MacDonald, Salida Community Development Director, “Many members of the community, recreation organizations, local government, and the Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas contributed to completion of this purchase”. Salida Mountain Trail members Kent and Mary Ann Davidson drafted the grant application to Great Outdoors Colorado; they were assisted by Donna Rhoads of Salida-area Parks, Open Space and Trails (SPOT) and City of Salida staff. Financial contributors included: Chaffee County, SPOT, Quiet Use Coalition, Salida Mountain Trails, Chaffee County Running Club, City of Salida, and Mary Roberts. The Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas contributed significant resources to the project by drafting the base line documentation for the conservation easement, reducing many of their fees to the City of Salida, and allocating staff resources to assist in the effort.

The property will be left in a natural state providing habitat for wildlife. According to the conservation easement public trails for non-motorized use can be constructed on the property. The Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas will work cooperatively with the City of Salida on the placement of trails and the long-term management of the property.

Chubb Park Ranch Protected

Chaffee County, CO, 8/11/2009 — The Trust for Public Land (TPL), working in partnership with the Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas (LTUA), lottery funded Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW), and Chaffee County, has succeeded in permanently protecting the Chubb Park Ranch, a high mountain meadow in beautiful central Colorado.

The 507-acre holding is part of the Cogan Ranch, and the Cogan family has been in ranching in Chaffee County since 1889. In recent years, the family has watched as Chaffee County, with its magnificent mountain scenery, world-renowned whitewater rafting, and welcoming community, has grown in popularity as a tourist destination and location for second homes. Although property prices have stabilized, the boom years have left long-term residents like the Cogans facing land and inheritance taxes that their ranching operations cannot support.

“Our land would be taxed unfairly for an incredible amount as if it would be subdivided. How do you pay taxes on that?” says Joe Cogan. “It would break my children. They’d have to sell at least half the ranch.”

But selling could jeopardize production on the rest of Cogan’s land. It would also threaten public access to the property’s prime hunting grounds – something Cogan has granted year after year. So the Cogans found another solution: conservation easements. Working with DOW, GOCO, LTUA and TPL the family mapped out the details of a conservation easement that not only puts the land under permanent protection, it also gives them the financial resources they need to help ensure that their children and grandchildren will be able to continue to work the ranch.

“Working with Joe to keep his land in the family and in ranching has been very rewarding,” says The Trust for Public Land Project Manager, Wade Shelton. “And now with this signature project complete, TPL hopes to expand our work in Chaffee County.”

TPL secured funding to purchase the conservation easement from Chaffee County, DOW and GOCO and managed the transaction to make sure that the final outcome would meet the needs of everyone involved – particularly the Cogan Family. The DOW also acquired a perpetual hunting access easement from the Cogans, ensuring that the property will be available for hunting for future generations. Most conservation easement projects do not include public access, which illustrates the extent of the Cogans’ generosity. The conservation easement will be co-held by LTUA and DOW, who will work together as long-term stewards of the easement, with DOW managing public hunting access to the land, making it a historic partnership between DOW and a local land trust.

“One of the great things about this project is that not only does it preserve the dramatic views off Trout Creek Pass and provide hunting opportunities for big game hunters, but that all of the funding came from Habitat Stamp Fees and Lottery Ticket sales,” says Frosty Roe, President of the Land Trust of the Upper Arkansas. “We’re very fortunate that we live in a state where you can complete projects like this without relying on taxpayer dollars.”

Landowners like Cogan open up local conservation opportunities, as residents are more likely to consider an easement if a neighbor had a good experience. And every easement strengthens the region’s rural character.

“The Cogan property is exactly the type of land we love protecting,” says Andrew Mackie, executive director of the LTUA, the local organization that will manage the conservation easement. “We’re excited to have this crucial property protected.”

“The valley is breathtaking, but it hasn’t become a resort community,” continues Shelton. “These projects help maintain balance. People can still live here without being incredibly wealthy.” Cogan’s view is simpler still. “Now I don’t have to look at a damn subdivision at the foot of Buffalo Peaks.”

The Trust for Public Land (TPL) is a national nonprofit land conservation organization that conserves land for people to enjoy as parks, gardens, and natural areas, ensuring livable communities for generations to come