A 2,000-acre model for conservation in Colorado
The preservation of land around 9,714-foot Mount Tom in Jefferson County, Colo., is being described as a “modern model” for conservation in the state.
The preservation of land around 9,714-foot Mount Tom in Jefferson County, Colo., is being described as a “modern model” for conservation in the state.
A joint news release issued by Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Jefferson County Open Space and Great Outdoors Colorado announced the effort to protect approximately 2,000 acres within the Mount Tom Conservation Corridor area, just northwest of Denver. The organizations joined with three private landowners — including the accredited Mountain Area Land Trust — and The Conservation Fund (accredited) to get the project done.
“It’s really a spectacular place,” said Tom Hoby, the 13-year director of parks and open space for Jefferson County, to the Colorado Sun. “And it’s a terrific example of how these kinds of partnerships with all these different organizations can really extend our reach to do incredible things. I mean, to protect 2,000 acres of contiguous land adjacent to about 20,000 acres of other public land in Jefferson County and so close to the metro Denver population is just incredible. I do hope this is the future of how we get conservation done.”
“This project has been several years in the making and highlights the role various organizations and partnerships can play in making a large-scale project happen for the benefit of all Coloradans,” Jeanne Beaudry, executive director at Mountain Area Land Trust, said on the organization’s website.
The landowners, the Baughman and Cappello families, were committed to conservation and the project received support from the Mountain Area Land Trust, which holds a 404-acre conservation easement at the top of Mount Tom. The effort will have a positive impact on the region’s wildlife, as the Mount Tom Conservation Area is surrounded by more than 20,000 acres of other protected land, and some of Colorado’s most iconic wildlife species call the landscape home, including moose, elk, mule deer, black bear and mountain lions. Plus, the top of Mount Tom is known to be a breeding area for lady bugs. The protected lands also protect a critical watershed. The acquired land has no roads and very few trails.
“Rarely do we see opportunities to secure landscape connectivity at this scale, especially so close to a growing metro region like Denver,” said Justin Spring, Colorado state director and southwest regional director at The Conservation Fund, in a written statement. “We and our partners knew that we would not get this chance again, and the dedication and investments made from Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Jefferson County Open Space and Great Outdoors Colorado demonstrate just how critical these lands are for wildlife, people and our larger efforts to mitigate climate change impacts.”
The next step will be determining recreational access on the conserved land for hiking, biking, etc. — especially in a state with a rapidly growing population — but the parties involved intend to take their time to thoroughly study the area’s wildlife corridors and other natural values.
“We are going to need at least a couple seasons to really understand the wildlife and their movements and patterns on the property before we do much there,” Kara Van Hoose, a spokeswoman with Colorado Parks and Wildlife, told the Sun. “We are going to take a while to really study what goes on on this property.”