Conservation Easements
A conservation agreement is a voluntary legal agreement between a landowner and a land trust or government agency that permanently limits the use of the land in order to protect its conservation values.
Conservation easements place permanent restrictions on division of land. The land covered by the easement will forever be a single parcel. Landowners retain all other aspects of property ownership. Natural and agricultural resources remain intact.
Landowners can donate or sell conservation easements. They can also be considered for use in estate planning.
Recent Projects
Aspen Leaf Ranch
The Moore and Pfifer families protected the 984-acre Aspen Leaf Ranch in 2024. Located in the Upper Muddy region of northern Gunnison County between Kebler Pass and McClure Pass, the easement protects agricultural production and sensitive wildlife habitat forever. The easement was partially funded by grant from the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Gunnison Valley Land Preservation Fund. Colorado Open Lands holds the easement.
Troupe Land & Cattle
The Troupe family conserved 1,277 acres in the Upper Ohio Creek Valley of Gunnison County in late 2023. The easement protects agricultural production and wildlife habitat. The easement, held by Colorado Open Lands, was a donation by the landowners with transaction expense support from the Gunnison Valley Land Preservation Fund.
McDermand Property
Lynn McDermand completed a 527-acre conservation easement in 2023 protecting agricultural production and wildlife habitat along Ohio Creek in Gunnison County. The easement, held by Colorado Open Lands, was a donation by the landowner with transaction expense support from the Gunnison Valley Land Preservation Fund.
Clerkin Property
The Clerkin family completed a 160-acre conservation easement in late 2022 protecting agricultural production and wildlife, including Gunnison sage-grouse habitat. The property, near Parlin in Gunnison County, is surrounded by public lands. The project was a donation by the Clerkins with transaction expense support from the Gunnison Valley Land Preservation Fund. Colorado Open Lands holds the easement.
C Brands Land & Cattle
The Paul and Sharon Taramarcaz family conserved their lands along Tomichi Creek east of Gunnison. The easement protects agricultural use and wildlife habitat with grants from the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Gunnison Valley Land Preservation Fund. The remainder was a donation by the family.
Flying W Land & Cattle
The Woodcock family conserved 1,545 acres in the Powderhorn area in 2022. This adds to 2,433 acres of previous conservation completed in 2002.The easement protects agriculture and wildlife habitat with grants from the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Gunnison Valley Land Preservation Fund. The remainder was a donation by the landowners. Colorado Open Lands holds the easement.
Wegert Property
Bill and Anne Wegert completed the conservation of their 122-acre property along Antelope Creek west of the City of Gunnison in 2022. The easement, which protects agriculture and wildlife habitat including sensitive Gunnison sage-grouse habitat, was partially funded by grants from the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Gunnison Valley Land Preservation Fund. The remainder was a donation by the landowners. Colorado Open Lands holds the easement.
Bar IV Ranch
Steve and Eliza Crittendon completed the conservation of their 240-acre Powderhorn ranch in late 2021. The conservation easement protects agriculture and important wildlife and Gunnison sage-grouse habitat. The project was partially funded by the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Gunnison Valley Land Preservation Fund. The remainder was a donation by the landowners. Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust holds the easement.
Crittendon Property
Colten Crittendon completed the conservation of his 120-acre Powderhorn ranch in late 2021. The conservation easement was partially funded by grants from the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Gunnison Valley Land Preservation Fund and protects agricultural use and important big game and Gunnison sage-grouse habitat. The remainder was a donation by the landowner. Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust holds the easement.
Weidler Property
The Weidler family completed the conservation of their family's 173-acre ranch in the Doyleville area of Gunnison County in 2021. The conservation easement was partially funded by grants from the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Gunnison Valley Land Preservation Fund. The remainder was a donation by the Weidler family. Colorado Open Lands holds the easement.
Ocate Property
The Schaefer family conserved 160 acres along Cebolla Creek in the Powderhorn area of Gunnison County in 2021. The easement protects agricultural use, wildlife habitat and more than a mile of stream corridor. The project was partially funded with grants from the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Gunnison Valley Land Preservation Fund. The remainder was a donation by the family. Colorado Open Lands holds the easement.
Robbins Ranch III
The Bob Robbins family conserved 440 acres of irrigated meadow and sagebrush rangelands north of Blue Mesa in the Steuben Creek drainage of Gunnison County in 2020. The property contains critical Gunnison sage-grouse habitat and agricultural resources for hay production and livestock grazing. The easement was partially funded by grants from the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Gunnison Valley Land Preservation Fund. Colorado Open Lands holds the easement.
Mill Creek Ranch
Sandy and Burt Guerrieri completed the conservation of their high country rangelands in the Mill Creek area of the Upper Ohio Creek Valley in Gunnison County in 2020. The project was partially funded by grants from the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Gunnison Valley Land Preservation Fund. The remainder was a donation by the landowners. Colorado Open Lands holds the easement.
Krueger Ranch
The Krueger family conserved 198 acres on Cochetopa Creek in southern Gunnison County in 2020. The property consists of irrigated hay meadows and sagebrush scrublands in critical Gunnison sage-grouse habitat. The project was partially funded by grants from the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Gunnison Valley Land Preservation Fund. The remainder was a donation by the family. Colorado Open Lands holds the easement.
Allen Home Place Ranch
The Allen Family protected 592 acres north of Gunnison in 2020. The conservation easement protects agricultural uses and Gunnison sage-grouse habits. The property is the historic "home ranch" for the Allens and provide year-round resources for the family's commercial cow/calf operation. The project was partially funded by grants from the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Gunnison Valley Land Preservation Fund. The remainder was a donation by the landowners. Colorado Open Lands holds the easement.
Caloger Property
Peter Caloger protected 320 acres in northern Saguache County in November of 2019. The conservation easement protects agricultural uses and critical Gunnison sage-grouse habitat. The property borders public lands and is leased for seasonal grazing by a local family ranch. The project was partially funded by grants from the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The remainder was a donation by the landowner. Colorado Open Lands holds the easement.
Dykes Property
The John Dykes family conserved 191 acres of sagebrush rangelands in southern Gunnison County in October 2019. The property contains critical habitat for Gunnison sage-grouse and provides seasonal grazing for cattle. The project was made possible by grants from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and the Gunnison Valley Land Preservation Fund. Colorado Open Lands holds the easement.
Mill Creek Ranch
Burt and Sandy Guerrieri continued the conservation of their high country rangelands in the Mill Creek area of the upper Ohio Creek Valley in Gunnison County in September 2019. The easement protects 380 acres and contains stretches of Ohio Creek and Mill Creek. The project was partially funded with grants from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and the Gunnison Valley Land Preservation Fund. The remainder was a donation by Burt and Sandy Guerrieri. Colorado Open Lands holds the easement.
Roaring Judy Ranch
Mary Frame and Nick Lypps conserved the Roaring Judy Ranch, a 455-acre property consisting of irrigated hay meadows and sagebrush shrublands in a hub of mid-altitude agricultural lands in the Jack's Cabin area of Gunnison County. The project, closed in September 2019, was partially funded with grants from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and the Gunnison Valley Land Preservation Fund. The remainder was a donation by the landowners. Colorado Open Lands holds the easement.
Star Mountain Ranch
Star Mountain Ranch donated a conservation easement in the upper Ohio Creek Valley in October 2019. The 413-acre property consists of meadow, forest, and riparian habitat along Carbon Creek. The property provides seasonal grazing for cattle and important wildlife habitat. Colorado Open Lands holds the easement.
Hollenbeck Ranch
The Hollenbeck Ranch conserved 1,320 acres in northern Saguache County in December 2018. The property contains native rangelands, montane meadows and riparian habitat along Lick Creek and is an important seasonal grazing resource for the family's cow/calf operation. The project was partially funded with grants from the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. The easement is held by Colorado Open Lands.
Klaseen Ranch
Ronald and Michelle Klaseen conserved 359 acres in Delta County as part of a partnership to protect agricultural lands in critical Gunnison sage-grouse habitat. The ranch consists of pasture and rangeland in the Fruitlands Mesa area. The project closed in December 2018 and was partially funded with grants from the Natural Resources Conservation Service and Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Colorado Open Lands holds the easement.
Allen Jack's Cabin
Allen Ranches conserved 921 acres of hay meadows and sagebrush scrublands in the Jack's Cabin area of Gunnison County in December 2018. The property is part of a historic ranch started in 1886 now operated with the help of the fifth generation of the Allen family. The project was partially funded with grants from the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and the Gunnison Valley Land Preservation Fund. Colorado Open Lands holds the easement.
Cox Ranch
Lee and Jennifer Cox donated a conservation easement on 693 acres of rangelands and timber in the Alpine Plateau area of Gunnison County in December 2018. The property protects important wildlife habitat and supports seasonal grazing for the family's bison herd. Colorado Open Lands holds the easement and transaction expense support was provided by a grant from the Gunnison Valley Land Preservation Fund.
Hansen Ranch
Dick and Susan Hansen donated a conservation easement in western Gunnison and eastern Delta counties in December 2018. The 907-acre high country ranch has been managed for grazing for more than 100 years and includes stretches of Clear Fork Creek and Cow Creek. Colorado Open Lands holds the easement and transaction expense support was provided by the Gunnison Valley Land Preservation Fund.
Hotchkiss Ranch
Dick and Janice Hotchkiss finished protecting the entirety of their property near Kebler Pass in northwestern Gunnison County in July 2018. The 595 acres of this conservation easement is in addition to 478 acres already under easement. The Hotchkiss family has relied on these lands for summer grazing in order to produce hay from irrigated meadows in lower elevation rangelands on the home ranch. The easement was a donation by the Hotchkiss family and was supported by a grant from the Gunnison Valley Land Preservation Fund.
Cranor Ranch
The Cranor family protected 632 acres north of Gunnison in April 2018. Cranor Ranch has been part of the Cranor family for three generations and they wished to see it protected for future generations. The conservation easement protects agricultural uses and Gunnison Sage-grouse habitat bordering public lands. Gunnison Legacy is grateful to the Cranor family for choosing conservation and for our partners at Great Outdoors Colorado, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, the Gunnison Valley Land Preservation Fund, and Colorado Open Lands.
Trampe Ranch
The Trampe family completed the last of three conservation easements in April 2018. Trampe Ranch, family-owned for more than 100 years, is comprised of lands extending from Gothic to Gunnison that are now fully protected. The three easements, held by The Nature Conservancy, total 4,348 acres. This project, managed by The Trust for Public Land, was made possible by the generosity of the Trampe family, Great Outdoors Colorado, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, Rocky Mountain Biological Lab, the Town of Crested Butte, Gunnison Valley Land Preservation Fund, the Town of Mt. Crested Butte, 1% for Open Space, Crested Butte Land Trust and many private donors.