Colorado Open Lands

Gunnison Basin :

Preserving Ranching and Natural Landscapes

Gunnison Basin MapColorado Open Lands has been working with the Gunnison Ranchland Conservation Legacy (GRCL) and ranch families in the beautiful mountain valleys of the Gunnison Basin for the past seven years.

This partnership has protected numerous privately-owned working ranches in perpetuity through the placement of conservation easements, while also ensuring that the critical wildlife species in the area such as the Gunnison sage grouse (currently a candidate for listing on the federal endangered species list) have sufficient habitat available for forage, cover, breeding, and migration.

In addition, we have established a new partnership in Delta County with the Conservation Assistance Program (CAP), a joint effort sponsored by the Western Slope Environmental Resource Council and the Mountain Coal Company, Ltd.  The mission of CAP, under the direction of Susan Lohr, is to educate local landowners in the North Fork area about conservation easements and gauge their interest in donating easements on their properties.

In 2005, Colorado Open Lands completed 7 conservation easements protecting 1,267 acres of ranchland, natural wildlife habitat, and scenic open space.  In 2006, we are in the process of closing on an additional 7 conservation easements protecting 1,515 acres.

Significance

The Gunnison Valley is a high-elevation valley (approximately 7,700 feet) situated at the eastern edge of the Colorado Plateau in west-central Colorado.  Several streams and rivers converge in the area to form the Gunnison River.

Wet meadows, sagebrush steppe, and irrigated pasture/hay fields predominate the non-forested areas of the valley, and provide habitat for the Gunnison sage grouse as well as many species of shorebirds, waterfowl, and neo-tropical migratory birds.  The forested areas are mixed-conifer consisting primarily of Douglas fir, lodgepole pine, and aspen.

Some important facts about the Basin include:

  • Situated at the headwaters of the Colorado River drainage, the Upper Gunnison Basin is the only major watershed not tapped by metropolitan water concerns to the east.  As the water flows westward, it is impounded in several reservoirs including Blue Mesa Lake, the largest body of water in Colorado;
  • The Blue Mesa Dam is the first of three dams along the Gunnison River which provides water storage for downstream agricultural needs, flood control, electrical power, and recreational opportunities;
  • Several Forest Service wilderness areas and the Curecanti National Recreation Area afford protection to the diverse terrain of the Basin;
  • Provides critical habitat for numerous bird species including Gunnison sage grouse, western grebes, American white pelicans, northern harriers, sandhill cranes, snowy plovers, American avocets, and long-billed curlews; and
  • Supports a strong agricultural and ranching community.

Threats and Impacts

Presently, recreation and tourism are a prevalent land use in the Gunnison Basin, and the recreational opportunities provided by areas such as Blue Mesa Lake and the Crested Butte ski resort are causing an increase in the number of residential developments (including second home construction).

As a result of the ongoing development pressure in the area, significant changes are occurring, including:

  • Conversion of agricultural and ranch lands to other uses;
  • Loss of wildlife habitat;
  • Fragmentation of open spaces; and
  • Degradation of the rural character of the area.

What Colorado Open Lands is Doing

As a result of the combined efforts of conservation organizations and government agencies in the area, many landowners are learning more about conservation easements and the Colorado tax credit program, and expressing sincere interest in protecting their properties in perpetuity.

Colorado Open Lands is continuing to work with GRCL and CAP to educate and engage local landowners in Gunnison and Delta Counties who are interested in selling or donating conservation easements on their properties.

Partners

Our partners in the Gunnison Basin include:

How You Can Help

Your support is critical to our ongoing success in helping willing Colorado landowners preserve and protect the great natural, cultural, and working landscapes of Colorado.  You can help support this project and Colorado Open Lands’ ongoing efforts by:

  • Making an online donation
  • Sending your donation to:
    • Colorado Open Lands
      274 Union Boulevard, Suite 320
      Lakewood, CO 80228
      303.988.2373
  • Funding or donating items listed on our Wish List!  To accomplish our mission of land preservation, it is necessary to have the right tools.  By donating either the item or the money necessary to purchase any of the items, you help ensure our ongoing effectiveness and efficiency.
  • Consider putting a conservation easement on your land.

Project Descriptions

Colorado Open Lands has protected 10,482 acres of land in the Gunnison Basin to date through the placement of 23 conservation easements.

Click here to view completed projects list.

Ninety-nine percent of our revenue goes directly to our land conservation programs.