|
Nancy's
Path Dedication June 5
 Friends,
family and neighbors are invited to a gathering to dedicate Nancy's
Path, a new Pitkin County Open Space and Trails route from Happy
Day Ranch in Emma to the Crown at the base of Mt. Sopris. The trail
meanders through a conserved property that was recently placed
under conservation easement with AVLT by Ginny Parker.
The land
is part of the historic family ranch and the trail will be dedicated
in honor of her daughter Nancy Parker West who died of breast cancer.
The trail is open to hikers, horses and wildlife. There is a small
parking area at the base of Nancy's Path.
The dedication
will be Sunday, June 5 at 1:30 p.m. and will include stories, songs,
and refreshments. Thank you, Ginny!
|
 Save
the Date! |
 AVLT's
second annual Save the Land Dance will be
held on Saturday, September 10 at the Strang
Ranch in Missouri Heights. Tickets are $65pp and include dinner,
dancing and music. Silent and live auctions will benefit AVLT
and help us save the best to last! We are currently seeking
auction item donations - if you would like to contribute,
please call Shannon at 963-8440.
|
|
| Independence Land Swap the Best of 2004 |
 The
U. S. Forest Service recognized the 2004 Lake Creek land swap,
which included the historic townsite of Independence, as the
best example of a public-private property exchange in the
country. The Forest Service rated acquisition of Independence
as its highest priority and AVLT's involvement was critical
to completing the complex swap of land in Eagle and Pitkin
counties.
The award was given to the Eagle Valley Land Trust because
the largest acreages were in Eagle County. The historic townsite
and approximately 150 surrounding acres were purchased in
2001 by AVLT, when the property was listed for sale. The entire
parcel, including buildings on the National Historic Register
and several mining claims, were transferred to U.S. Forest
Service. The Forest Service manages the townsite in cooperation
with the Aspen Historical Society.
|
|
| Ryan Land Swap Goes to Washington |
 A
long anticipated land exchange that would give the U.S. Forest
Service ownership of the Ryan property in Ashcroft is now
before the U.S. Senate. The complicated transaction would
put the Ryan parcel, a 35-acre meadow located on the ski trail
between Toklat and Pine Creek Cookhouse, into Forest Service
hands. In exchange, Pitkin County Open Space and Trails and
AVLT would receive parcels of like value in Pitkin County.
The legislation is the result of a five-year effort to preserve
the Ryan property and the scenic and recreational amenities
of the Castle Creek Valley.
|
|
| Artists
for Open Space |
 On
Earth Day 2005, 29 area artists staged an art show and
sale to benefit Aspen Valley Land Trust. The week-long
show, titled Open Places: An Earth Day Celebration was
organized by Glenwood Springs artist Mary Noone and held
at the new 701 Grand office building in downtown Glenwood
Springs. A large opening night crowd came to support
open space and AVLT.
Thank you to artists Berard, Stephen
Bershenyi, Bernie Boetcher, Dean Bowlby, Martha Cochran,
Oleta Corry, Erik Erickson, Marcia Fusaro, Dottie Fox,
Walter Gallacher, Fred Haberlain, Doug Harr, Michael
Kinsley, Arlene Law, Amy Marsh, Mary Noone, Jon Reitfors,
Andrew Roberts-Gray, Annette Roberts-Gray, Dan Sprick,
Greg Tonozzi and Dan Young. The art work celebrated the
region's land and open spaces!
|
|
| Congress Looks at Land Conservation |
Land
conservation tax law and charities in general are under
the Congressional microscope this session in response
to a Joint Committee on Taxation proposal for changing
tax benefits for charitable donations. Among the proposed
changes is the elimination or severe reduction of the
tax deduction allowed for all charitable donations
other than cash and stocks. The changes, if implemented,
would have wide impacts on land conservation, museums,
and other charities whose mission is to preserve property
and other articles of historic or cultural value.
The
Senate Finance Committee has scheduled a hearing for
June 8 to discuss land conservation easements. Senator
Ken Salazar and Representative John Salazar have expressed
their strong support for conservation, as has most
of the Colorado delegation. Please take the time to
let all Colorado senators and representatives know
that conservation is important to you and our communities. |
|
| Carter
and Louise Jackson honored |
 The
preservation of their 300-acre ranch on the Roaring Fork
River near Glenwood is just one of a lifetime
of generous acts that earned Carter and Louise
Jackson the honor of Glenwood Springs 2005 Citizens
of the Year. "Doc Jackson" is a
retired veterinarian who served on the AVLT board
and many other boards over the years. Louise
is known for her work on behalf of many non-profits
but is most famous for her work with the Girl
Scouts and for hosting the annual camping jamboree
at their ranch. Congratulations Carter and Louise!
|
|
|
2005
Conserved Lands: Shield-O Mesa |
 Sheild-O-Mesa
The Rocky Mountain Institute, working with the St. Benedict's
Monastery, purchased and placed a conservation easement on
a 35-acre lot in Shield-O Mesa in the Snowmass Creek Valley.
The site sits on a visible ridge overlooking the monastery's
Capitol Creek Valley retreat. It's preservation will protect
the area's scenic vistas along with the privacy of the monastery
and excellent wildlife habitat.
|
| Avalanche
Creek |
 Frank
and Cynthia Goldsmith have preserved a ten-acre mining
claim up Avalanche Creek in the Crystal River Valley.
Wildlife officials call the property "ground zero"
for the bighorn sheep herd which winters there. The
donation will protect the critical sheep habitat and
help assure the health of one of the few local herds.
|
| Hole
in the Wall |
The
Crawford family of El Jebel donated their third easement
this year -- this one on 20 acres at the top
of the Hole in the Wall valley, contiguous to
116 acres of ranchland and wetlands previously
preserved by the family. The area's lakes
and wetlands are a haven for birds and other
wildlife in the Roaring Fork Valley. |
|
| Cozy
Point South |
 The
entrance to the Brush Creek Valley will remain in meadows
and native vegetation thanks to conservation
efforts by Pitkin County, the City of Aspen and
AVLT. In 2003 the city gave AVLT an easement
on the 168-acre Cozy Point Ranch, assuring that
it will remain a working ranch. This year, Pitkin
County Open Space and Trails purchased the 129-acre
Cozy Point South on the south side of Brush Creek
Road.
The land had been owned by Aspen Country
Day School, and had been slated for building.
AVLT was granted a conservation easement on this
important elk migration corridor, which adjoins
other open space along Brush Creek protected
by Pitkin County. The project was funded in part
by a grant from Great Outdoors Colorado.
|
|
| Our
Business Supporters |
This
AVLT Report is made possible with support from the following
conservation professionals. Please help support these
businesses:
Appraisal Services
APPRAISAL ASSOCIATES
Pam Sant
128 North Sixth Street, Grand Junction, CO 81502
970.256.7019 / 970.248.9843 fax
pamsant@frontier.net
General and conservation appraisals for agricultural, residential and commercial property
APPRAISAL OFFICE - ASPEN LTD.
Dave Ritter
406 P ABC, Aspen, CO 81611
970.920.1002 / 970.925.3603 fax
appoff@sopris.net
Real estate appraisals, conservation easements, feasibility studies and consultation services
Environmental Assessment Services
BIO-LOGIC ENVIRONMENTAL
Steve Boyle
635 East Main Street, Ste. 100, Montrose, CO 81401
970.240.4374
sboyle@bio-geo.com
Baseline studies, mineral assessments, environmental assessments and consulting throughout Western Colorado
NEWLAND PROJECT RESOURCES, INC.
Tom Newland
417 Original Road, Basalt, CO 81621
970.927.4645
tomn@sopris.net
Baseline studies, environmental audits and assessments, land planning and public process/ issue analysis
RARE EARTH SCIENCE, LLC
James Armstrong
844 Grand Avenue, Grand Junction 81501
970.241.1762
jim@rareearthscience.com
Baseline studies and monitoring; mineral assessments; environmental assessments, design and consulting services for the Western Slope
ROCKY MOUNTAIN ECOLOGICAL SERVICES, INC.
Eric Petterson
0222 Bobcat Lane, Redstone, CO 81623
970-963-2190
ericpetterson@msn.com
Baseline studies, environmental assessments and consulting, land management and natural resource planning
WEST ELKS CONSULTING
Dawn Barton Keating
2079 Crystal Springs Mountain Rd., Carbondale 81623
970.963.3023
westelks@sopris.net
Management and protection of mountain ecosystems through biological inventories, mapping, monitoring and conservation planning
Land Planning Services
LAMONT PLANNING SERVICES, LLC
Leslie Lamont
725 Melissa Lane, Carbondale, CO 81623
970.963.8434
llamont@sopris.net
General land planning and development review services
STAN CLAUSON ASSOCIATES, LLC.
Planners, Landscape Architects
Stan Clauson, AICP, ASLA, Principal
Suzanne Bott, AICP, Senior Planner
Devin Gardiner, Landscape Architect
Tanya Stevens, Staff Planner
200 E. Main Street
Aspen, Colorado 81611
970.925.2323/ Fax: 970.920.1628
info@scaplanning.com
www.scaplanning.com
Conservation-Oriented Planning, Permitting and Design Services for Communities
and Private-Sector Clients
|
Land Planning Services (Cont.)
THE LAND STUDIO, INC.
Douglas J. and Julie J. Pratte
Box 107, 1002 Lauren Lane, Basalt, CO 81621
970. 927.3690 / 927.4261 fax
landstudio2@comcast.net
Conservation-oriented land planning services
OTAK, INC.
36 North Fourth Street, Carbondale, CO 81623
970.963.1971
www.otak.com
Land use master planning, development entitlements, conservation planning, environmental design, landscape architecture & water resources engineering
TG MALLOY CONSULTING, LLC
Tim Malloy
402Park Drive, Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
970.945.0832
tgmalloy@sopris.net
Land use planning, site design, conservation planning, public process
Legal & Financial Services
BALCOMB & GREEN, P.C.
Larry Green, Attorney at Law
Drawer 790, Glenwood Springs, CO 81602
970.945.6546
larry@balcombgreen.com
Conservation easement, tax credit, real estate and land development law
KEN RANSFORD, ESQ., CPA
Ken Ransford, P.C.
132 Midland Avenue, Suite 3, Basalt, CO 81621
970.927.1200 / 970.927.1300 fax
kenransford@comcast.net
Legal and tax planning services for businesses and landowners in the Roaring Fork Valley
LEAVENWORTH & KARP, P.C.
Lee Leavenworth, Attorney at Law
P.O. Drawer 2030, Glenwood Springs, CO 18602
970.945.2661
lel@lklawfirm.com
Conservation easements, land use, real estate and water law
NOONE
LAW FIRM
Robert M. Noone, Attorney at Law
Noone Law Firm
1010 Grand Avenue, Glenwood Springs,
CO 81601
970.945.4500
rmn@noonelaw.com
Conservation easements, Colorado tax
credits, real estate law
New Media Marketing
Blue Tent Marketing
Peter Scott
PO Box 1063, Basalt, CO 81621
970.927.7081
peter@bluetent.com
Web sites, e-mail marketing, and search engine strategies.
|
|
|
|
|
|
320 Main Street, Suite 204
Carbondale, CO 81623
970.963.8440
avlt@avlt.org . www.avlt.org
AVLT
2005
Board of Directors
Jim Cardamone, President
Chuck Vidal, Vice President
Cathy Porter, Treasurer
David Bellack, Secretary
Susan Hassol
Sandy Jackson
Chuck Johnson
Louis Meyer
Wally Obermeyer
David Parker
Sue Rodgers
Steve Smith
Lathrop Strang
AVLT Staff
Martha Cochran,
Executive
Director
Shannon Meyer,
Associate Director
Suzanne Fusaro,
Project Specialist
Chrissy Sloan, Legal Fellow
|
Click
Here to Donate to the Aspen Valley Land Trust Today!
|
|
