Private landowners and The Colorado West Land Trust built a coalition to protect a mile of the Uncompahgre River and 214 acres of adjacent habitat.
Collaboration
The Colorado West Land Trust collaborated with private landowners, Great Outdoors Colorado, and Forever Our Rivers Foundation to conserve 214 acres on a working farm. Over a mile of the Uncompahgre River runs through the property, located south of Olathe in Montrose County, Colorado. Wetlands, large cottonwood galleries and a diverse assemblage of vegetation create a mosaic of wildlife habitat types across the landscape, providing food and refuge for resident species and those that move through the area.
Bald eagles, Canadian geese, and Gambel’s quail frequent the property, and this stretch of the Uncompahgre River supports Brook trout. Since wild animals don’t respect property boundaries, they move freely between public and private lands, particularly during migration events. Islands of habitat across our mixed-used landscapes helps them find safe harbor along their journey. This one is now protected in perpetuity.
Private Landowners for Public Benefit
Preserving healthy ecosystems on private lands provides public benefit beyond supporting robust wildlife populations, as outlined by the Land Trust Alliance and the US Fish and Wildlife Service in their report Investing In Nature, The Economic Benefits of Protecting Our Lands and Waters.
For example, healthy riverside bottomlands filter rainwater as it travels downhill, allowing sediment and pollutants to settle out before each drop of rain joins the downstream current. The river then delivers that clean water to the rest of the watershed. This same process slows the flow of water during extreme weather events, mitigating flooding impacts. And all that gorgeous foliage pulls carbon out of the air and captures it in the soil and in the plants themselves.
It’s remarkable that intact natural landscapes do so much work for us free of charge. Thanks to the community spirit of the farm’s owners, this one will keep doing so for a long time yet.
Partnering for Land Protection
By partnering with a number of organizations to preserve this farmland, the Colorado West Land Trust helped ensure the project’s longterm success. Collaborative projects create a network of resources to draw from and foster a culture of collaboration where each organization roots for the others to succeed. Forever Our Rivers Foundation is certainly rooting for this project and for the groups involved.
Mary Hughes, Development Director for the Colorado West Land Trust, is routing for the foundation. “I just think it’s wonderful that people have the vision to create a funding mechanism for rivers and the habitats along them,” Hughes says.
“The generous support of Forever Our Rivers Foundation helped preserve this beautiful farm along the Uncompahgre River,” she continues. “We are really proud and pleased to be chosen for our work. And to be one of the first groups to receive funding, that was really special.”
About Colorado West Land Trust — The Colorado West Land Trust works to protect and conserve agriculture land, its rural heritage, wildlife habitat, recreational areas and scenic lands in western Colorado. The organization’s goal is to enrich lives by enabling outdoor recreation opportunities and to make space for people to connect to the land for generations. More information about the conservation of this property will be available in the Colorado West Land Trust’s annual report.