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CCT Programs & Accomplishments
CCT Initiatives
 Gunnison Valley
For the past decade in Gunnison County, real estate sales have boomed. The mountain valley and river corridors are largely privately owned and provide the lands necessary to sustain agriculture, provide crucial wildlife corridors, water resources, lush alpine meadows, and scenic views. Fortunately, many of these properties are still in agricultural ownership and have not been subdivided and there is still an opportunity to protect both agriculture and wildlife.
However, if the development trend continues, agriculture becomes less and less viable, and selling the family ranch becomes more attractive. There is still a window of opportunity to help protect many of these properties. CCT helped boost conservation efforts through the following support:
- $275,000 for an innovative conservation easement transaction to protect valuable open space. CCT’s funds contributed to a 230-acre conservation easement purchase on two parcels identified as high priority by the Gunnison Ranchland Conservation Legacy Fund, the Crested Butte Land Trust, and the Trust for Public Land. These parcels are located adjacent to federal lands along the East River.
- $10,000 towards fundraising assistance for the Gunnison Ranchland Conservation Legacy Fund. These funds are building the capacity of this group, enabling it to attract new funding sources to protect a resource of statewide significance.
- $33,000 to support the development and implementation of a new model for stewardship of wildlife habitat with landowners. Local partners are developing language for conservation easements and stewardship projects that will protect wildlife and keep ranches in operation
- $22,000 towards devising alternative development scenarios for Gunnison County. In conjunction with the County and the Sonoran Institute, we are developing new, innovative ways to protect agricultural lands and open space, and estimating the various costs of community services associated with those scenarios.
- $10,000 for an economic analysis of the benefits of agricultural land and open space to the Gunnison County economy. This analysis will help land trusts describe the specific benefits of open space to potential donors and assist the courts in reviewing development alternatives.
Additional High Priority Needs/Next Steps:
- Twenty-three local ranching families are ready to protect another 15,900 acres of open land; yet another $35 million is needed to accomplish this goal.
View the Gunnison Valley Assessment.
Click map for larger view.
CCT Initiatives
CCT Programs & Accomplishments Links
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