01-22-2009, 12:10 PM
DENVER, Colo. - The Colorado Division of Wildlife today named Duke and Janet Phillips recipients of the 2008 "Landowner of the Year" award. The Phillips received this award in recognition of their outstanding contributions to wildlife conservation, community service and innovative management of the Chico Basin Ranch, located in El Paso and Pueblo counties.
"The Phillips family and the staff at the Chico Basin Ranch exemplify the highest degree of land stewardship," said Ken Morgan, Division of Wildlife Private Lands Coordinator. "Their regard for the ecosystem, their appreciation and respect for wildlife and their desire to share these values with others makes them the perfect recipient for this award."
Duke and his wife Janet began managing the Chico Basin Ranch in 1999, under a 25-year lease agreement with the Colorado State Land Board. Since acquiring the property, the Phillips have developed the 87,000-acre cattle ranch into an environmentally friendly and diverse enterprise, one that offers a variety of educational, recreational and public outreach programs.
The Chico Basin Ranch attracts 1,500 to 2,500 visitors annually, including vacationers, K-12 and University students, youth organizations and non-profit groups. Guests may participate in a variety of recreational activities including fishing, hunting, canoeing, hiking and horseback riding. The Phillips have combined many of these activities with educational clinics, providing participants with an active, hands-on learning experience.
In addition, the Chico Basin also has become one of the most popular and well-known bird watching sights in Colorado. The ranch is home to over 300 bird species and is a featured destination on the Colorado Birding Trail.
The Phillips are active in monitoring the abundant wildlife resources on the ranch and have a history of allowing conservation agencies and organizations access to conduct wildlife surveys on their property. Since 2000, The Chico Basin has worked in partnership with the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory and the Division of Wildlife to operate a bird banding station, which for the past three seasons the Phillips have funded with capitol from the ranch. The Colorado Division of Wildlife also has conducted annual studies for the Arkansas darter and plains leopard frog on the property.
Janet and Duke will receive a trip to Denver where they will be recognized at the National Western Stock Show on January 22nd and at the Colorado RV, Sports, Boat and Travel Show in March.
Each year, the Colorado Wildlife Commission and the Colorado Agricultural Commission select a private landowner who has made outstanding contributions in providing beneficial habitat to Colorado's wildlife and/or providing public hunting and fishing access on private lands. This award is part of the Division of Wildlife's Landowner Recognition Program, which works to improve communication between landowners, sportsmen and the Division.
For further information about the Chico Basin Ranch, please visit: www.chicobasinranch.com
For information about the Division of Wildlife Landowner Recognition Program, please visit the Colorado Division of Wildlife's Web site at: http://wildlife.state.co.us/LandWater/Pr...itionPrgm/
For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.
"The Phillips family and the staff at the Chico Basin Ranch exemplify the highest degree of land stewardship," said Ken Morgan, Division of Wildlife Private Lands Coordinator. "Their regard for the ecosystem, their appreciation and respect for wildlife and their desire to share these values with others makes them the perfect recipient for this award."
Duke and his wife Janet began managing the Chico Basin Ranch in 1999, under a 25-year lease agreement with the Colorado State Land Board. Since acquiring the property, the Phillips have developed the 87,000-acre cattle ranch into an environmentally friendly and diverse enterprise, one that offers a variety of educational, recreational and public outreach programs.
The Chico Basin Ranch attracts 1,500 to 2,500 visitors annually, including vacationers, K-12 and University students, youth organizations and non-profit groups. Guests may participate in a variety of recreational activities including fishing, hunting, canoeing, hiking and horseback riding. The Phillips have combined many of these activities with educational clinics, providing participants with an active, hands-on learning experience.
In addition, the Chico Basin also has become one of the most popular and well-known bird watching sights in Colorado. The ranch is home to over 300 bird species and is a featured destination on the Colorado Birding Trail.
The Phillips are active in monitoring the abundant wildlife resources on the ranch and have a history of allowing conservation agencies and organizations access to conduct wildlife surveys on their property. Since 2000, The Chico Basin has worked in partnership with the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory and the Division of Wildlife to operate a bird banding station, which for the past three seasons the Phillips have funded with capitol from the ranch. The Colorado Division of Wildlife also has conducted annual studies for the Arkansas darter and plains leopard frog on the property.
Janet and Duke will receive a trip to Denver where they will be recognized at the National Western Stock Show on January 22nd and at the Colorado RV, Sports, Boat and Travel Show in March.
Each year, the Colorado Wildlife Commission and the Colorado Agricultural Commission select a private landowner who has made outstanding contributions in providing beneficial habitat to Colorado's wildlife and/or providing public hunting and fishing access on private lands. This award is part of the Division of Wildlife's Landowner Recognition Program, which works to improve communication between landowners, sportsmen and the Division.
For further information about the Chico Basin Ranch, please visit: www.chicobasinranch.com
For information about the Division of Wildlife Landowner Recognition Program, please visit the Colorado Division of Wildlife's Web site at: http://wildlife.state.co.us/LandWater/Pr...itionPrgm/
For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.