Carbondale's East Mesa viewed from White Hill Road (County Road 101). East Mesa rises above Carbondale and includes 3,000 acres of working ranchlands and wildlife habitat that connect to the public lands at the base of Mount Sopris.

Landmark Deal Preserves John Nieslanik Ranch

The John Nieslanik Ranch perches on the East Mesa above the town of Carbondale - an island of agricultural productivity nestled above the spreading municipalities of the valley floor. It is easily visible from Highway 82 and provides the scenic backdrop to Carbondale.  The 177-acre Nieslanik Ranch is a working family cattle ranch surrounded by other ranches totaling over 2,500 acres that acts as a buffer and wildlife corridor to the “Crown”, an 8,000 acre block of BLM land that connects with thousands more acres of National Forest and wilderness at the base on Mt. Sopris. 

While the East Mesa is divided into multiple ownerships, the fate of the Mesa must be addressed as a whole.  If one property were to be developed, the agricultural viability of the remaining properties would be seriously jeopardized and a “domino effect” of development would most likely follow across the whole East Mesa.

The purchase of a conservation easement from the John Nieslanik family on December 20, 2005 is the first easement AVLT has ever purchased and culminates five years of hard work by the Trust and the family.  The easement preserves 166 acres of the ranch for agriculture and open space.

John Nieslanik (center) and sons Mike, Mark, Matt & Marty

Funding for the project was raised through contributions by the Nieslanik family and from the US Department of Agriculture’s Farm and Ranchland Protection Program, Great Outdoors Colorado, the Colorado Conservation Trust, the Environment Foundation of the Aspen Skiing Company, and private donations from community members including a large donation from the  River Valley Ranch Home Owners' Association. Additional funding was made possible through Pitkin County’s purchase of a conservation easement on Independence Pass from AVLT last year. Read Aspen Times article...

While the first phase of conservation is complete, there is more work ahead. The Town of Carbondale and many of its citizens have expressed a desire to see other family ranches on the mesa preserved. AVLT has pledged to work with interested landowners to continue the preservation of this unique and beautiful area.  Anyone interested in contributing to this effort is encouraged to contact Shannon at 963-8440 or send a tax-deductible donation to AVLT c/o East Mesa Campaign at 320 Main Street, Suite 204, Carbondale, CO 81623. Thank you!