CCT Programs & Accomplishments
CCT Initiatives

North San Juan Mountains
Defined by dramatic peaks and breathtaking scenery along the San Juan Skyway, this region in southwest Colorado is home to some of the state’s – and the country’s - most picturesque landscapes.  It is also home to some of Colorado’s most threatened lands, including important wildlife habitat and critical riparian areas. 

Over half of the land is publicly owned, placing intense development pressure on remaining open spaces.  The accelerating rate of residential development has resulted in high land costs, which is in turn an incentive for additional development, leading to a fragmentation of wildlife habitat, the loss of productive agricultural lands, and the elimination of open spaces and view corridors.  CCT’s involvement includes:

• $70,000 toward increasing the local capacity to proactively pursue land conservation projects.
• $20,000 for public outreach and education related to open space acquisition and funding needs in Ouray County.  The Trust for Public Land and other local proponents believe that Ouray County is ripe for a future public funding initiative and that it can pass with an effective campaign.  To prepare for that possibility, a public outreach campaign and polling are the next steps necessary.
• $15,000 for the Ouray Cost of Community Services Study.  This study will analyze the different costs in services (road, sewer, schools, and other government provided services) of different development approaches.  Ouray County has indicated that this type of information would be invaluable as they move forward with a potential public funding initiative and public education about the benefits and costs of open space protection.

Additional High Priority Needs/Next Steps:

• Protecting important ranchlands along the San Juan Skyway and the gateway to Telluride, including the Dallas Divide.
• Protecting important riparian habitat in the region, including high country mining claims.
• Creation of a private funding source to stimulate matching grants and fund high-priority land projects.

View the San Juan Mountains Assessment (7/04).

Click map for larger view.

CCT Initiatives

• Yampa Valley / Routt County
• Front Range Mountain Backdrop
• Wet Mountain Valley / Custer County
• Mesa Area
• North San Juan Mountains
• Roaring Fork Valley
• Vail / Eagle Valley / I-70 Corridor
• Gunnison Valley
• Program Criteria

• Increasing Funding for Conservation
• Promoting Statewide Coordination and Leadership
• Implementing New Tools to Preserve Colorado
  • Regional Assessments
  • Colorado Conservation Easement Tax Credit Program
• Leadership and Education

CCT Programs & Accomplishments Links

• Successes
• State Map
• CCT Initiatives