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 From the Executive Director |
 Sometimes it feels like our valleys are full. A roaring real estate market has consumed more than 10,000 acres of ranches this year in the Roaring Fork Valley. Oil and gas fervor in western Garfield County brings intense energy development and thousands of workers in the industry. Oil shale hovers on the sidelines with the potential of the bringing the most intense industrial development known in this part of the country.
In the midst of this frenzy of market activities, many people are quietly contemplating the future of their communities, their families and the lands that have been their home, sometimes for generations. These people are not making headlines for earning millions in land sales or energy production; they are making a difference in the lives of those around them by choosing to conserve their land - forever. The year 2005 was a record year for Aspen Valley Land Trust and all indications are that 2006 will set another record for the number of acres conserved.
Today private landowners and far-sighted government programs such as those in Pitkin County and Aspen have helped AVLT conserve more than 15,000 acres in the Roaring Fork and Colorado River valleys. As a growing population creates demand for ever-expanding urban areas, we can take comfort in knowing that important pieces of land from Independence Pass to Battlement Mesa will remain open forever. Thank you to the generous landowners who have given this gift to all of us.
Sincerely,
Martha Cochran |
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| Connie Creates a Legacy: Harvey Ranch Conserved |
 The high mountain meadows of the Harvey Ranch run to the border of the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness Area, encompassing stands of aspen, mountain streams and some of the most beautiful land in the Roaring Fork Valley. In March, with the help of Pitkin County, Great Outdoors Colorado and AVLT, Connie Harvey completed the conservation of her 1,800-acre ranch, assuring its future for ranching and wildlife habitat.
Connie, along with her friends Joy Caudill and Dottie Fox, is often known as a “Maroon Belle” for her work in the wilderness designation of the Maroon Bells and Snowmass area and for starting the Wilderness Workshop, a non-profit that works to protect public lands. The group celebrated its 40th anniversary last year and was featured in a film titled “Wild for Good.”
 Connie reserved five clustered homesites on the ranch for her children, and will maintain the ranch headquarters for her cattle operations. No other development will be permitted on the property.
In a lifetime devoted to fighting to protect our public lands, Connie has made a personal contribution to protect her private land that will be treasured forever.
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| AVLT Hosts Statewide Conference |
More than 100 land trust professionals gathered at the Hotel Colorado in Glenwood Springs in February for the Colorado Coalition of Land Trusts' winter conference. The two-day event focused on conservation issues surrounding water and oil and gas development. A special dinner was held at the Glenwood Caverns featuring a slide show by renowned Colorado nature photographer John Fielder.
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Celebrating Open Spaces With Art |
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Sculpture by Greg Tonozzi |
Treasured Spaces: An Earth Day Celebration, an art show featuring more than 30 local artists, was held over Earth Day weekend, April 21-23 in Glenwood Springs. The show showcased landscape paintings and other media using natural materials and benefited Aspen Valley Land Trust with fifty-percent of all sales. A very special thank you to artist Mary Noone for organizing and inspiring the event, and to the artists: Stephen Bershenyi, Dean Bowlby, Martha Cochran, Oleta Corry, Joan Engler, Chris Erikson, Marcia Fusaro, Walter Gallacher, Fred Haberlein, Sharill Hawkins, Jim Hawkins, Andrea Kemp, Leo Johnson, EdKosmicki, Jane Lee, Amy Marsh, Tracy Martin, Shannon Muse, Mary Noone, Jon Rietfors, Annette Roberts-Gray, Andrew Roberts-Gray, Ron Sorter, Melissa Sumera, Greg Tonozzi, Bobbie VanMeter and Dan Young.
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| The Nuts and Bolts of Conservation |
Attorneys, accountants, realtors, appraisers and landowners gathered May 18 for the fourth annual Conservation Easement Seminar hosted by Aspen Valley Land Trust. The all-day workshop was sponsored by Land Title Guarantee Company and held at the Inn at Aspen. Attorney Jessica Jay, Appraiser Ann Wilkinson and Attorney and CPA Ken Ransford discussed the legal, financial and tax implications of conservation easement donations. Thank you to all who attended and to Land Title for sponsoring the workshop!
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| Colorado Legislature Strengthens Conservation Program for 2007 |
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Blackman Ranch near Roan Cliffs |
Colorado residents are fortunate to have one of the strongest conservation incentive programs in the nation and, during the 2005 session, the legislature made it even better. In order to qualify for these benefits, a Colorado conservation easement must be perpetual, provide significant public benefit and contain significant conservation qualities for open space, including ranching, recreation, wildlife habitat or historic preservation. Beginning in 2007, landowners who donate qualified easements will receive a state tax credit equal to one-half of the value of the easement, up to a maximum of $375,000. The tax credit can be either sold or used by the landowner over 20 years. There are several restrictions and more detailed information is available on the AVLT website, www.avlt.org. |
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| Board News |
 Susan Hassol recently departed from the AVLT Board after five years of dedicated involvement to continue her nationwide work of communicating the impacts of global warming. Susan's passion for the environment and wildlife contributed to many important conservation projects. She is a researcher and science writer focusing on global environmental change and energy issues. She recently co-authored a report to Congress on the impacts of climate change on the United States and a book on alternative energy strategies to address global warming. She also was the screenwriter for the critically acclaimed HBO Special, Too Hot Not to Handle, a look at the impacts of and options to global warming. We'll miss you, Susan, and wish you well in the important work you are doing.
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| Save the Date! |
 You won't want to miss AVLT's 3rd Annual Save the Land Dance, coming up September 9 at the Strang Ranch in Missouri Heights. Tickets are $75 per person 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 Melissa at 963-8440.
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| 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
Dawn Reeder
844 Grand Avenue, Grand Junction 81501
970.241.1762
jim@rareearthscience.com
dawn@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
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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
402 Park Dr., Glenwood Springs, CO 81601
970.945.0832
tgmalloy@sopris.net
Land use planning, site design, conservation planning, public process
DESIGN WORKSHOP
120 E. Main Street, Aspen, CO 81611
970-925-8354
www.designworkshop.com
Landscape architecture, land planning, strategic services, conservation and green development solutions
Legal & Financial Services
BALCOMB & GREEN, P.C.
Scott Balcomb & Larry Green, Attorneys
Drawer 790, Glenwood Springs, CO 81602
970.945.6546
larry@balcombgreen.com
scott@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
www.bluetent.com
Web sites, e-mail marketing, and search engine strategies.
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320 Main Street, Suite 204
Carbondale, CO 81623
970.963.8440
avlt@avlt.org . www.avlt.org
2006 Board of Directors
David Bellack, President
Wally Obermeyer, Vice President
Louis Meyer, Secretary
Cathy Porter, Treasurer
Jim Cardamone
Lee Ann
Eustis
Sandy Jackson
Chuck Johnson
David Parker
Sue Anschutz
Rodgers
Steve Smith
Lathrop Strang
Staff support is provided by:
Martha Cochran,
Executive Director
Shannon Meyer,
Associate Director
Suzanne Fusaro,
Project Specialist
Melissa Sumera,
Office Manager
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