Colorado Open Lands
South Platte CCA Projects
2008
Hawkins Ranch, Weld and Morgan Counties, 300 acres
Partners: Joe & Gail Hawkins; Centennial Land Trust
Conservation Values: The Hawkins Ranch straddles two counties near the Town of Orchard, within the Golden Triangle area of the South Platte Corridor, an area rich in biodiversity surrounded by three large reservoirs – Empire, Riverside, and Jackson Lake.
The Hawkins Ranch provides habitat for many species of migratory birds and waterfowl that live, breed, and forage in the area. The property also provides scenic views of rural open space to members of the public driving to and from Jackson Lake State Park along Highway 144 and several adjacent county roads.
The Weld parcel is used for cattle grazing, and the Morgan parcel is used for irrigated crop production; thus the easement will preserve the Ranch as a productive agricultural property and contributor to the local economy of the region, in addition to protecting its natural resources. Moreover, the Hawkins Ranch easement adds to an impressive existing total of over 5,000 acres of private land already protected by conservation easements in the Orchard area.
Orchard Ranch, Morgan County, 3,000 acres
Partners: Orchard Ranch LLC; Centennial Land Trust, Great Outdoors Colorado
Conservation Values: This summer, Colorado Open Lands accepted the transfer of an existing conservation easement held by the Centennial Land Trust on the Orchard Ranch. The ranch consists of two parcels – a 1,800-acre agricultural parcel that lies north of Orchard and west of Jackson Lake along County Road 2, and a 1,200-acre residential/agricultural parcel that lies east of Orchard on the south side of Highway 144. The easement, which has been in place since 1999, protects several miles of the South Platte River, which forms the southern boundary of the headquarters parcel.
The Orchard Ranch provides habitat for many species of migratory birds and waterfowl that migrate throughout the Golden Triangle area, in addition to big game species such as white-tailed and mule deer. Both parcels also provide scenic views of rural open space to motorists traveling along Highway 144 and adjacent county roads on their way to and from Jackson Lake State Park.
Swedlund Ranch II, Logan County, 954 acres (1,949 total acres preserved)
Partners: The Swedlund Family
Conservation Values: In the fall of 2008, we closed on the second phase of the Swedlund Ranch, a working cattle ranch that lies directly adjacent to the North Sterling Reservoir, approximately 15 miles northwest of the City of Sterling in western Logan County. This completes Colorado Open Lands’ first easement in Logan County!
This second phase ensures protection of the eastern half of the ranch, including a portion of the Darby Arm of the Reservoir and some unique rock outcroppings overlooking the shoreline. The Reservoir is a designated State Park and a popular destination for various recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and camping.
In addition to protecting critical wildlife habitat for various species of waterfowl, shorebirds and raptors, preservation of the Swedlund Ranch will continue to provide an opportunity for the general public to appreciate the scenic and open space values of agricultural properties as they travel to and from the state park.
2007
Swedlund Ranch, Logan County, 996 acres
Partners: The Swedlund Family
Conservation Values: The Swedlund Ranch is a working cattle ranch that lies directly adjacent to the North Sterling Reservoir, approximately 15 miles northwest of the City of Sterling in western Logan County. It represents Colorado Open Lands’ first easement in Logan County!
The North Sterling Reservoir is a designated State Park and a popular destination for residents of Logan County as well as the Front Range for various recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and camping. In addition to its outstanding scenic and open space values, the ranch contains critical wildlife habitat for various species of waterfowl, shorebirds and raptors. And perhaps most unusually, the Swedlund Ranch contains an historical homestead stone cabin near the center of the property and several Native American teepee rings on one of the southern bluffs overlooking the reservoir.
2006 Projects
Clark Ranch II, Morgan County, 410 acres (1,090 total acres preserved)
Partners: David Clark and Centennial Land Trust
Conservation Values: The Clark Ranch is a working agricultural ranch near the town of Orchard in western Morgan County. The ranch lies a few miles north of the South Platte River and a few miles southwest of Jackson Lake.
Jackson Lake is a designated State Park and a popular destination for residents of Morgan County as well as the Front Range for various recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and camping. Preservation of the Clark Ranch will continue to provide an opportunity for the general public to appreciate the scenic and open space values of agricultural properties as they travel to and from the lake.
Jackson Lake is also a designated State Wildlife Area, and the private properties around the lake (including the Clark Ranch) contain critical wildlife habitat for various species of waterfowl, shorebirds and raptors, including pelicans and bald eagles.
DPG Farms, Morgan County, 413 acres
Partners: DPG Farms LLC and Centennial Land Trust
Conservation Values: Located near the town of Orchard in western Morgan County, DPG Farms is both a working agricultural ranch as well as a pristine hunting area for waterfowl. The ranch lies directly adjacent to the Clark Ranch, a few miles north of the South Platte River and a few miles southwest of Jackson Lake.
Preservation of DPG Farms will continue to provide an opportunity for the general public to appreciate the scenic and open space values of agricultural properties as they travel to and from Jackson Lake.
Twamore Farms, Morgan County, 310 acres
Partners: Twamore Farms Trust and City of Fort Morgan, funded by Great Outdoors Colorado and NAWCA
Conservation Values: Twamore Farms is Colorado Open Lands’ first conservation easement near the City of Fort Morgan in central Morgan County. The City asked Colorado Open Lands to assist them with acquiring the land and adding it to an existing park that lies adjacent to the property on its south side. The City will continue to lease DPG Farms for agricultural purposes, but plans to add a recreational walking/jogging trail complete with informational kiosks in the future.
The northern half of the property consists of dry cropland, and the southern half abuts the South Platte River for several miles and contains critical riparian areas. The property is clearly visible from Highway 52, a heavily-used road that runs north out of the City.
The property contains approximately 36 acres of wetlands and 62 acres of riparian forest that serve as critical habitat for a variety of wildlife species including mule and white-tailed deer, bobwhite quail, ring-neck pheasant, and wild turkey.
2005 Projects
Barker Ranch, Morgan County, 87 acres (147 total acres preserved)
Partners: Centennial Land Trust
Conservation Values: The Barker Ranch, a working agricultural ranch, lies directly adjacent to the south side of Jackson Lake in western Morgan County. The western 60 acres of the ranch is already protected by a conservation easement held by the Centennial Land Trust, and together these 147 acres serve as a critical buffer area of open space between the lake and encroaching residential development from the nearby towns of Orchard, Goodrich and Weldona.
Jackson Lake is a designated State Park and a popular destination for residents of Morgan County as well as the Front Range for various recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and camping. Preservation of the Barker Ranch will continue to provide an opportunity for the general public to appreciate the scenic and open space values of agricultural properties as they travel to and from the lake.
Jackson Lake is also a designated State Wildlife Area, and the private property around the lake (including the Barker Ranch) contain critical wildlife habitat for various species of waterfowl, shorebirds and raptors, including pelicans and bald eagles.
Cary Ranch II, Morgan County, 290 acres (610 total acres preserved)
Partners: Landowners
Conservation Values: The Cary Ranch is a working agricultural ranch that lies directly adjacent to the northwest side of Jackson Lake in western Morgan County. Colorado Open Lands protected the eastern 320 acres of the ranch in 2004 with a conservation easement. Together, these 610 acres serve as a critical buffer area of open space between the lake and encroaching residential development from the nearby towns of Orchard, Goodrich and Weldona.
Jackson Lake is a designated State Park and a popular destination for residents of Morgan County as well as the Front Range for various recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and camping. Preservation of the Cary Ranch will continue to provide an opportunity for the general public to appreciate the scenic and open space values of agricultural properties as they travel to and from the lake.
Jackson Lake is also a designated State Wildlife Area, and the private property around the lake (including the Cary Ranch) contain critical wildlife habitat for various species of waterfowl, shorebirds and raptors, including pelicans and bald eagles.
Clark Ranch I, Morgan County, 680 acres
Partners: Centennial Land Trust
Conservation Values: The Clark Ranch is a working agricultural ranch near the town of Orchard in western Morgan County. The ranch lies a few miles north of the South Platte River and a few miles southwest of Jackson Lake.
Jackson Lake is a designated State Park and a popular destination for residents of Morgan County as well as the Front Range for various recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and camping. Preservation of the Clark Ranch will continue to provide an opportunity for the general public to appreciate the scenic and open space values of agricultural properties as they travel to and from the lake.
Jackson Lake is also a designated State Wildlife Area, and the private property around the lake (including the Clark Ranch) contain critical wildlife habitat for various species of waterfowl, shorebirds and raptors, including pelicans and bald eagles.
Thompson Ranch I, Morgan County, 180 acres
Partners: Centennial Land Trust
Conservation Values: The Thompson Ranch is a working agricultural ranch located a few miles south of Jackson Lake in western Morgan County.
Jackson Lake is a designated State Park and a popular destination for residents of Morgan County as well as the Front Range for various recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and camping. Preservation of the Thompson Ranch will continue to provide an opportunity for the general public to appreciate the scenic and open space values of agricultural properties as they travel to and from the lake.
Jackson Lake is also a designated State Wildlife Area, and the private property around the lake (including the Thompson Ranch) contain critical wildlife habitat for various species of waterfowl, shorebirds and raptors, including pelicans and bald eagles.
2004 Projects
Cary Ranch I, Morgan County, 320 acres
Partners: Landowners
Conservation Values: The Cary Ranch is a working agricultural ranch that lies directly adjacent to the northwest side of Jackson Lake in western Morgan County. Colorado Open Lands protected the eastern 320 acres of the ranch with a conservation easement. The property serves as a critical buffer area of open space between the lake and encroaching residential development from the nearby towns of Orchard, Goodrich and Weldona.
Jackson Lake is a designated State Park and a popular destination for residents of Morgan County as well as the Front Range for various recreational activities such as fishing, boating, and camping. Preservation of the Cary Ranch will continue to provide an opportunity for the general public to appreciate the scenic and open space values of agricultural properties as they travel to and from the lake.
Jackson Lake is also a designated State Wildlife Area, and the private property around the lake (including the Cary Ranch) contain critical wildlife habitat for various species of waterfowl, shorebirds and raptors, including pelicans and bald eagles.
Lundock Ranch, Morgan County, 141 acres
Partners: Centennial Land Trust
Conservation Values: The property contains ponds, wetlands, riparian areas, and shortgrass prairie that provide food, shelter, and migration corridors for several wildlife species. The property adds to the scenic character of the local rural landscape in which it lies, and the current agricultural use of the property is compatible with other land use in the vicinity. Most of the property is visible to the general public from County Roads 5 and AA, which are actively used by the residents of the towns of Orchard, Goodrich, and Weldona.
Preservation of the Lundock Ranch provides an opportunity for the general public to enjoy its open space and wildlife values and prevent the degradation of the scenic and natural character of the surrounding Jackson Lake area. The Lundock Ranch is the first property protected by Colorado Open Lands in the South Platte River Corridor, our newest Community Conservation Area.
