Colorado Open Lands
Peak to Prairie :
Peak to Prairie Planning Grant Finalized
Colorado Open Lands and The Nature Conservancy are proud to present the results of the Peak to Prairie Planning Grant, funded by the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund Board. The results of the Planning Grant are documented in the Peak to Prairie Conservation Plan which describes the planning process, partners, and resources, along with implementation strategies.
The Conservation Plan is available to anyone interested in learning more about this exciting project. Please click here to view an electronic version of the report (the PDF file is rather large (13mb) - please be patient while it downloads.)
The Peak to Prairie Planning Project was the first instrumental step in prioritizing critical resources, solidifying stakeholders’ interest, and identifying potential funding sources. With the completion of the Conservation Plan, our goal now is to protect 50,000+ acres in El Paso and Pueblo Counties over the next 5-10 years. With that goal in mind, we are now working to protect key properties within the project area through partnerships with state and local funding agencies.
While the long-term vision of the Peak to Prairie Project seeks to preserve a variety of critical resources, including agricultural, recreational and biological resources, there is significant attention being paid to the Fountain Creek corridor. The challenges and opportunities associated with the preservation of the Fountain Creek are the focus of current discussions between the cities, counties, state agencies, and federal agencies.
The message throughout these discussions is clear from all sides: collaborative action to turn Fountain Creek into an amenity and a source of pride for the Southern Front Range is being demanded by citizens groups, politicians from both sides of the aisle, conservation groups, and municipalities.
While implementation of the Peak to Prairie Plan encompasses a landscape much larger than the Fountain Creek Corridor, the Creek and its challenges dominate this landscape. We are truly excited about the possibilities for achieving our conservation goals and beyond in this rapidly changing part of the state.
(This article may also be found in our 2006 Fall Newsletter.)
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Click here to view the completed Peak to Prairie projects list