06-17-2008, 11:10 AM
A partnership between the Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW), the Colorado Open Lands Trust, Great Outdoors Colorado, and a private landowner has resulted in a conservation easement on 13,920 acres of important wildlife habitat and scenic open space.
<br>The owners of Beatty Canyon Ranch, also known as the Purgatoire Ranch in the DOW's Ranching for Wildlife program, entered into a conservation easement to preserve the land and its wildlife habitat.<br>
<br>"This project ensures the survival of this ranch for future generations," said owner, Steve Wooten. "It is a great example of diverse groups working together to achieve a common goal of conservation."<br>
<br>The price for the easement was approximately $1.7 million. The DOW portion was $500,000 with additional funding from Great Outdoors Colorado and private donations.<br>
<br>"We are very pleased we were able to be a part of the cooperative effort to protect this important wildlife habitat," said DOW Southeast Regional Manager Dan Prenzlow. "The Wooten Family's desire to protect the land, the wildlife resource, and to continue with their land stewardship and ranching heritage was key to getting this project done."<br>
<br>Beatty Canyon Ranch is a large property located in the canyon country of the Purgatoire River in eastern Las Animas County. The property has diverse wildlife populations including bighorn sheep, deer, pronghorn, turkey, mountain lion, black bear and an abundant variety of non-game wildlife.<br>
<br>The topography is comprised of mesa tops bisected by numerous steep, rough canyons. The Beatty Canyon Ranch has a wide variety of vegetation types. Cottonwood, boxelder, and willow, grow near the streams. The mesas are covered with a variety of shortgrass prairie species, pinion, and juniper.<br>
<br>"Beatty Canyon Ranch is a spectacular property," said Daniel Pike, President of Colorado Open Lands. "It exemplifies the type of lands protected through the Colorado Conservation Partnership's 'Keep It Colorado' campaign."<br>
<br>DOW HABITAT STAMP PROGRAM<br>
<br>Habitat loss is a primary cause for the decline of many wildlife species in Colorado. The Colorado Habitat Stamp was created primarily to address the loss of critical big game winter range and migration corridors.<br>
<br>When pristine land is developed or converted to other uses, wildlife habitat is degraded, destroyed, and fragmented. The inability of wildlife to survive on an altered landscape diminishes the abundance and variety of wildlife and reduces opportunities for hunting, fishing, hiking, and wildlife observation.<br>
<br>Since its inception two years ago, The DOW Habitat Stamp Program has been instrumental in protecting more than 30,000 acres. Some of those acres were purchased by the DOW, but most of the land was preserved through acquisition of permanent conservation easements both by the DOW itself and through partnerships.<br>
<br>The primary focus is protecting important winter range and migration corridors for deer and elk, but acquisitions and easements have also protected critical habitats for sage grouse, opened up fishing access for anglers, and provided hunting access.<br>
<br>Colorado's Wildlife Habitat Protection Program accepts applications from landowners, local government open space programs, land trusts, or other conservation organizations. Applications will be accepted until June 16, 2008, at which time the application period for this year will close.<br>
<br>Up to $15 million is available for the best applications received. The DOW is interested in protecting big game winter range, habitat for sage-dependent or grassland-dependent species; land that is home to species on the Threatened and Endangered Species list, wetlands, and riparian corridors can receive special consideration.<br>
<br>Public access is not required, but extra consideration is given to projects that also provide public access as well as those with matching funds from partners.<br>
<br>For more information, call (303) 291-7217. Additional information on the Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp Program timeline for the 2008 enrollment period and a copy of the application is available at: http://wildlife.state.co.us/LandWater/Pr...onProgram/
<br>The owners of Beatty Canyon Ranch, also known as the Purgatoire Ranch in the DOW's Ranching for Wildlife program, entered into a conservation easement to preserve the land and its wildlife habitat.<br>
<br>"This project ensures the survival of this ranch for future generations," said owner, Steve Wooten. "It is a great example of diverse groups working together to achieve a common goal of conservation."<br>
<br>The price for the easement was approximately $1.7 million. The DOW portion was $500,000 with additional funding from Great Outdoors Colorado and private donations.<br>
<br>"We are very pleased we were able to be a part of the cooperative effort to protect this important wildlife habitat," said DOW Southeast Regional Manager Dan Prenzlow. "The Wooten Family's desire to protect the land, the wildlife resource, and to continue with their land stewardship and ranching heritage was key to getting this project done."<br>
<br>Beatty Canyon Ranch is a large property located in the canyon country of the Purgatoire River in eastern Las Animas County. The property has diverse wildlife populations including bighorn sheep, deer, pronghorn, turkey, mountain lion, black bear and an abundant variety of non-game wildlife.<br>
<br>The topography is comprised of mesa tops bisected by numerous steep, rough canyons. The Beatty Canyon Ranch has a wide variety of vegetation types. Cottonwood, boxelder, and willow, grow near the streams. The mesas are covered with a variety of shortgrass prairie species, pinion, and juniper.<br>
<br>"Beatty Canyon Ranch is a spectacular property," said Daniel Pike, President of Colorado Open Lands. "It exemplifies the type of lands protected through the Colorado Conservation Partnership's 'Keep It Colorado' campaign."<br>
<br>DOW HABITAT STAMP PROGRAM<br>
<br>Habitat loss is a primary cause for the decline of many wildlife species in Colorado. The Colorado Habitat Stamp was created primarily to address the loss of critical big game winter range and migration corridors.<br>
<br>When pristine land is developed or converted to other uses, wildlife habitat is degraded, destroyed, and fragmented. The inability of wildlife to survive on an altered landscape diminishes the abundance and variety of wildlife and reduces opportunities for hunting, fishing, hiking, and wildlife observation.<br>
<br>Since its inception two years ago, The DOW Habitat Stamp Program has been instrumental in protecting more than 30,000 acres. Some of those acres were purchased by the DOW, but most of the land was preserved through acquisition of permanent conservation easements both by the DOW itself and through partnerships.<br>
<br>The primary focus is protecting important winter range and migration corridors for deer and elk, but acquisitions and easements have also protected critical habitats for sage grouse, opened up fishing access for anglers, and provided hunting access.<br>
<br>Colorado's Wildlife Habitat Protection Program accepts applications from landowners, local government open space programs, land trusts, or other conservation organizations. Applications will be accepted until June 16, 2008, at which time the application period for this year will close.<br>
<br>Up to $15 million is available for the best applications received. The DOW is interested in protecting big game winter range, habitat for sage-dependent or grassland-dependent species; land that is home to species on the Threatened and Endangered Species list, wetlands, and riparian corridors can receive special consideration.<br>
<br>Public access is not required, but extra consideration is given to projects that also provide public access as well as those with matching funds from partners.<br>
<br>For more information, call (303) 291-7217. Additional information on the Colorado Wildlife Habitat Stamp Program timeline for the 2008 enrollment period and a copy of the application is available at: http://wildlife.state.co.us/LandWater/Pr...onProgram/