Durango Herald, December 25, 2017 Land will be protected from future development A 10-acre mining claim in the Weminuche Wilderness will now be protected as open space. According to Amy Schwarzbach, executive director of La Plata Open Space Conservancy, members of the Alder family, formerly of Durango, inherited the patented mining claim from their grandfather. When
Durango Herald, December 24, 2017 Donation part of agreement with state to offset oil and gas impacts BP American Production Company has donated nearly 200 acres near Bayfield to be preserved as open space, said Amy Schwarzbach, executive director of La Plata Open Space Conservancy. The land, now placed in a conservation easement, encompasses about 187
Durango Herald- November 17, 2017 Conservancy gathers support for 30 acres in Falls Creek La Plata Open Space Conservancy will take the lead once again to gather community support for the preservation of 30 acres in Falls Creek, also known as Hidden Valley. “Twenty five years ago we protected Hidden Valley,” said Amy Schwarzbach, executive
Durango Herald – November 1, 2017 Photo by Durango Herald Zink family, tired of trespassers, plans to sell 30 acres in Hidden Valley Have you ever enjoyed the serene view from atop Falls Creek Falls, sitting beside the cascading waterfall, looking out on the lush, pastoral Animas Valley? If you answered “yes,” whether knowingly
A 2017 Colorado State University study on the economic benefits of land conservation in Colorado shows that residents of Colorado have received an estimated $5.5-$13.7 billion (US$2017) of economic benefits from land conserved by conservation easements while the State has invested roughly $1.1 billion (US$2017)– through approximately $280 million from GOCO and $772 million from the
Durango Telegraph, 02/02/2017 La Plata Open Space celebrates legacy of land-protection superstars. There’s a big difference between wanting to protect the land and being able to make it happen. The litany of legal lingo and financial mine-fields littering the path to land protection can be daunting, if not downright impossible to overcome. The key to
Durango Herald – January 28, 2017 La Plata Open Space celebrates 25 years of land conservancy, 30,000 preserved acres in seven counties La Plata Open Space Conservancy turns 25 in March. Because of it, more than 30,000 acres of land in seven counties are to remain untouched by development. The land trust manages about 20,100 acres
Durango Herald, Janurary 19, 2017 Hesperus ranch placed on historic register Helen Ruth Aspaas lives in a white house a mile south of the Old Fort campus in Hesperus. The old coal-burning stoves are gone, and additions have been built, but the structure’s original design and layout – military officers’ quarters in the 1800s –
Durango Herald, December 27, 2016 Year-end brings gift of land protection, agriculture, wildlife, recreational values Reading a bit like a birth announcement, La Plata County Open Space Conservancy’s website boasts, “Newly Saved Land!” As it should. The 472 acres of land, which will be protected with conservation easements as announced last week, is part of the
Durango Herald, 12/22/2016 View to Turtle Lake and Animas Mountain from the new Sauer Conservation Easement.Properties in Turtle Lake and on Dryside to remain pastoral. Two properties totaling nearly 475 acres have been placed under conservancy easements, ensuring limited development in areas around Turtle Lake and the La Plata River. According to La Plata Open