Fall 2021 Newsletter

Posted on January 13, 2022

Saving the Land with Voluntary Conservation Agreements in 2021

Flying J Ranch – In October, MALT completed a Conservation Easement on the original homestead of Flying J Ranch in Jefferson County. This property is located within MALT’s Red Rocks to Kenosha Pass Priority Area. It has a variety of natural habitats including land and water along North Turkey Creek, open hay meadows, natural springs and a forested hillside. Elk, black bear, deer and other wildlife are frequently spotted throughout the property. Learn more about the history of the Flying J Ranch.

Rugby Meets Conservation in Boulder County – MALT is partnering with landowners in Boulder County on a unique voluntary land agreement. The currently vacant property will become the home of two rugby fields, a community garden and over 25 acres of protected habitat. The landowners are partnering with the Boulder County Humane Society to manage the property as ideal habitat for prairie dogs that have been relocated from nearby development projects. The Conservation Easement will also protect scenic views from nearby public lands and the highly-travelled Arapahoe Road.

Limiting Development in Sunshine Canyon – MALT is partnering with two landowners on Sunshine Canyon Road in Boulder to place Conservation Easements on their properties. Each of the voluntary land agreements will permanently prevent future development on currently vacant parcels. This part of Sunshine Canyon is an especially scenic area that Boulder County has identified as the Bighorn Mountain Natural Landmark Area.

Sacramento Creek Community Conservation Phase 2 – MALT has partnered with two additional landowners in the Sacramento Creek Valley of Park County to place Conservation Easements on their properties. Recently, Keep It Colorado, the nonprofit coalition of Colorado conservation organizations, awarded MALT a Transaction Cost Assistance Grant to complete these Conservation Easements in 2022. Dylan Sondermann, MALT Land and Water Conservation Director says, “Since MALT acquired Sacramento Creek Ranch in 2019, the local community has rallied in support of conservation. This grant, and the associated Conservation Easements, will provide further protection of the critical wildlife habitat in the beautiful Sacramento Creek Valley.”

In related news, MALT is close to completing a Conservation Easement on a 22.5 acre property just a few miles south of the Sacramento Creek Valley. Located in the center of the Foxtail Pines subdivision, this property could have been developed with several houses. Instead, the Conservation Easement will provide valuable open space, protect critical wetland habitats and maintain the rural character of the neighborhood. It is expected to be completed before the end of 2021.

High Altitude Research Center Partnership with Regis University

In August of 2021 MALT entered in a Memorandum of Understanding with Regis University, embarking on a collaborative effort to transform MALT’s Sacramento Creek Ranch (SCR) into a high altitude research center. Not only will this partnership provide MALT the resources and funds it needs to make SCR sustainable, it will ensure that the 45+ years of continuous high altitude scientific research in this region will continue by providing researchers, students and professors much needed living, lab and classroom facilities.

MALT’s partnership with Regis University to help fill these needs will elevate SCR as one of the country’s leading high altitude research stations – a positive and exciting opportunity that will further promote MALT’s reputation in conservation excellence and as a convener of the scientific community!

Stay tuned for more details!

Give Where You Live on Colorado Gives Day!

It’s that time of year again! The time when we start thinking about turkey, family gatherings, holidays and all the things that make us grateful. At MALT, we are grateful for you, and the opportunity to help conserve Colorado’s beautiful natural areas, historic ranches and wildlife habitat.

Did you ever drive by a lovely open meadow or admire a stunning snowy peak and think to yourself, “Wow, I am so lucky to live here!” We are truly lucky to live, work, visit and play in these amazing places. Join MALT’s efforts and please make your most generous year end gift today to protect our streams, meadows, mountains ranches and historic lands, as a legacy for future generations!

Colorado Gives Day is Tuesday, December 7th!

Give Where You Live and schedule your gift for conservation today!

How to schedule a gift to MALT for Colorado Gives Day:
You can schedule your donation today in 3 easy steps!

Click to go to Mountain Area Land Trust’s page on ColoradoGives.org
Make your donation – thank you!
Celebrate your support of land and water in our mountain community!

Summer Projects at Sacramento Creek Ranch

It was an active summer on MALT’s Sacramento Creek Ranch (SCR)! Over the course of two weekends in July and August 2021, MALT partnered with Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) to complete the second phase of a trail building project on SCR that was undertaken by VOC last year, adding a new loop trail, bridge crossing and an additional mile of public hiking trails.

In July MALT hosted young adults from the Southwest Conservation Corps (SCC) and a Womens+ Chainsaw crew who lived and worked on SCR for two weeks. While serving with SCC, crews receive training on job skills, conflict resolution, leadership, teamwork and environmental stewardship.

Sacramento Creek Ranch in Fairplay serves as an important base of operations and an outreach center for MALT’s land and water conservation efforts in Park County.

1992 – 2022 Celebrating 30 Years of Conservation!

In 2022, MALT will be celebrating 30 years of conservation work! MALT started with a small group of inspired community members who recognized the cherished landscape, with its unique mountain character and popular Evergreen elk herds, was at risk.

Early efforts concentrated on protecting critical habitat with the preservation of Noble Meadow followed by Beaver Brook Watershed and the establishment of the Bergen Park Elementary School Nature Trail. Since those early days, MALT quickly expanded conservation efforts to include six Colorado counties (Boulder, Clear Creek, Gilpin, Jefferson, Park and Teller).

MALT has grown into a professionally accredited organization that has worked with hundreds of landowners and conservation partners to protect nearly 24,000 acres of public and private land. MALT is now a valued regional land trust and trusted community institution.

MALT has a number of land and water conservation projects in the works and will be sharing details as the next year progresses. Throughout 2022 we will also share stories that highlight the people, partnerships and places that have made our work possible.

Do you have a MALT memory to share? Please email MALT Communications Director Linda Besler at LindaB@savetheland.org.