Wolf Mountain Ranch in the Yampa River Valley
August 31, 2005
The Nature Conservancy’s Carpenter Ranch in Colorado
© Mark Godfrey/TNC
In June, The Nature Conservancy in Colorado was completing the first of two important conservation easements in the Yampa Valley when the chapter received word from the Board of Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) that it had just been awarded another $750,000 in lottery funds to work toward completion of the second easement in this ecologically significant area.
The Yampa Valley has been identified by the Conservancy and outside scientists as a biologically rich landscape. The Yampa River is one of the last relatively free-flowing river systems in the Colorado River Basin, supporting an extensive riparian system of cottonwood forests, willow lined oxbows and cattail marshes. The land is also home to a high number of breeding bald eagles and provides a staging area of statewide significance for hundreds of Sandhill cranes each spring and fall. The sage and oak covered hills rolling away from the river support the only remaining population of Columbian sharp-tailed grouse in Colorado, as well as wintering habitat for the second largest elk herd in the state.
The Conservancy worked closely with the landowner and partners to complete protection of 1,280 acres of important ranchland and high quality wildlife habitat by placing a conservation easement on a portion of the Wolf Mountain Ranch. The easement protects a unique midchannel island, known as Elk Island, and a scenic sagebrush ridge across the Yampa River from the Conservancy’s historic Carpenter Ranch. These lands are located on the upstream end of the Morgan Bottoms reach of the Yampa River, where a total of 3,100 acres of privately owned riverside lands have been conserved since 1985.
“These lands not only maintain a dynamic river and rich wildlife habitat, but also support a way of life for people.”
Ann Oliver
Yampa River project
The Nature Conservancy
“The commitment to conserve this 1,280-acre portion of Wolf Mountain Ranch through a conservation easement leaves a wonderful legacy for the Yampa Valley,” said Ann Oliver, Yampa River project director for The Nature Conservancy. “These lands not only maintain a dynamic river and rich wildlife habitat, but also support a way of life for people. This conservation agreement compliments our community’s land conservation successes over the last 15 years.”
The protection of this portion of Wolf Mountain Ranch was only possible through the collaboration of numerous partners and the leveraging of funds from many sources. In addition to GOCO, the Routt County Purchase of Development Rights Program generously contributed $250,000 in funding on the public side. The Colorado Conservation Trust, as well as many members of the Yampa Valley community contributed crucial private funding, all of which helped match and leverage the landowner’s contribution and commitment to the protection of these lands.
“The conservation of this vital landscape would not have been possible without the vision and dedication of community members and partners who recognized the urgency of protecting these lands for future generations,” said Charles Bedford, Colorado state director.
For More Information:
- The Nature Conservancy in Colorado
With its partners, The Nature Conservancy has protected more than 600,000 acres of critical natural area in Colorado.
- Places We Protect: Yampa River Preserve
The Yampa is one of the few rivers remaining in the West that can support an extensive riparian (streamside) ecosystem.
- Places We Protect: Carpenter Ranch
With many ranches but few small private holdings, the Yampa River valley is a great place for The Nature Conservancy to pursue landscape-scale conservation efforts.
- How We Work: Conservation Easements
Conservation easements are one of the most powerful, effective tools available for the permanent conservation of private lands in the United States. The use of conservation easements has successfully protected millions of acres of wildlife habitat and open space, keeping land in private hands and generating significant public benefits.
- Our Partner: Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO)
The mission of Great Outdoors Colorado is to help preserve, protect, enhance, and manage the state's wildlife, park, river, trail, and open space heritage.
- Archive of our Saves of the Week and Success Stories
Read more about The Nature Conservancy's work to save the last great places on Earth.
