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Natural Resources

Blue Mountain Bison Ranch Conservation Easement

Submitted by vogljd on Tue, Aug 15 - 04:17 pm

Blue Mountain Bison Ranch Conservation Easement is currently used for grazing and raising bison as breeding stock. It is not open to the public. The ranch is primarily open foothills that will remain in a substantially undisturbed, natural state as a result of this conservation easement. This property possesses a combination of natural, scenic, open space, wildlife, aesthetic, ecological, and environmental values.

Sylvan Dale Conservation Easements

Submitted by vogljd on Tue, Aug 15 - 04:11 pm

Much of Sylvan Dale Guest Ranch is protected through a series of conservation easement partnerships that began in 1999. These easements preserve important wildlife habitat, minerals, and aesthetic values of the land near the mouth of the Big Thompson Canyon. The landowner continues to manage the property, consequently there is no general public access.

Kauffman Conservation Easement

Submitted by vogljd on Tue, Aug 15 - 04:01 pm

This 73.6-acre conservation easement donation is the largest financial donation the Open Lands Program has received to date. It includes a 16-acre pond and approximately 16 acres of wetlands. Typically, conservation easements are not open to the public, however the landowner, through a special arrangement, has graciously donated a trail easement, and trailhead. It is our vision that sometime in the future the public may have an opportunity to witness the incredible views on this site, as they hike on this future trail.

Block Conservation Easement

Submitted by vogljd on Tue, Aug 15 - 03:53 pm

A playground for deer, elk and other wildlife, the Block Conservation Easement includes approximately 35 acres of land near the mouth of the Big Thompson Canyon west of Loveland and is not open to the public. This property provides a buffer to the existing conservation easements held by Larimer County on the Sylvan Dale Ranch and is protected because of its wildlife, ecological, agricultural, and scenic values.

Ryan Gulch Conservation Easement

Submitted by vogljd on Tue, Aug 15 - 03:51 pm

Songbirds, foxes, and migratory water birds are among the assorted mix of animals that can be seen in this amazingly diverse habitat. This conservation easement however is not open to the public. It preserves a community separator between Loveland and Berthoud along with the protection of stunning viewsheds near Lonetree Reservoir State Wildlife Area. A trail easement and 50% of 3 shares of water is included in this acquisition.

Coyote Ridge Natural Area

Submitted by vogljd on Tue, Aug 15 - 10:02 am

Coyote Ridge Natural Area is open to the public and is an example of a transition zone between grasslands and montane forests sometimes called montane shrublands. This property is located between Loveland and Fort Collins approximately 1 mile south of the Larimer County Landfill on the west side of County Road 19 (Taft Hill Road from Fort Collins - Wilson Street from Loveland).

Land Acquisitions

The Board of County Commissioners and the Open Lands Advisory Board utilized extensive public input to identify priority areas for protection. It is not the intention of Larimer County to acquire all land within these priority areas. Acquisition depends on willing landowners and available funding, as well as identified priorities.