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JULY NEWS FROM CHLT
  • CHLT July Spotlight
  • Colorado Headwaters Nature Project 2021
  • Community News
  • Upcoming Events
CHLT June Spotlight

Meet CHLT Landowners: Deb and Mike Culig
1. Why/how did you start working with CHLT?
We became aware of the CHLT and the work that they were doing in Grand County when we purchased a 40-acre property in Tabernash seven years ago. We were told that the land behind that property was in a conservation easement and we were assured that there would not be development there in the future. That was one of the main reasons we bought our original property. Then several years later, our neighbors came to us and asked if we wanted to own those 108 acres. That land is contiguous to our property, so it made a lot of sense to purchase it, but we also wanted our ranch to always look just like it did when we first saw it. So we took the plunge and became CHLT land owners!

2. Was there a desire or need that you were hoping to fulfill? 
It is a pretty selfish thing to say, but our “desire” was to be able to sit on our patio or look out our window and see the mountains, trees, wildlife and fields…forever and always. Being from Nebraska, I need lots of space and trees around me. When we first met, Mike is a geophysical engineer who just finished a job where he lived and worked on a seismic ship collecting data in the Gulf of Mexico and off the shore of St John’s Newfoundland. He could not wait to return to the Colorado mountains. 
Those two facts prompted us to buy a “ski cabin” in Fraser . We were second home owners up here for 12 years before we found our “forever” property. We knew from the beginning that the Fraser Valley is where we both belong. We also know that we can’t keep this area small forever. We love it, so others who see it will certainly want to live here, too; but we saw the land trust as a way to keep at least “our part of the universe” beautiful and untouched.

3. What is the most significant difference CHLT is making for you today?
Previously, when we first bought our original 40 acres, we had some issues with neighbors that were trying to develop their property for multiple commercial interests. We felt so strongly about keeping this area free of commercialization, we fought to make sure it would not happen. Because the property behind this proposed commercial site was in a conservation easement, I think if we would have needed to take things to court, it would be easier to prove that agricultural/rural/forestry was the original intent for that area and the property owners who purchased land there.

4. How would you describe CHLT to someone else?
We have talked about CHLT to many of our friends and neighbors. All have been interested and so many have questions. One misconception we hear a lot is, “Doesn’t that make your property worth less when you sell?" I find that amusing. We looked at it the other way. Since we knew that the property behind our home was in a land trust and could never be developed, we were willing to pay MORE! Now we own that property, we have never regretted the sacrifices we had to make to purchase it!

5. In your opinion, what is the single greatest benefit CHLT provides?
Since we are in a “resort area”, it would be so easy for this land to be gobbled up by people looking to make money on what we hold so dear…our views…our wildlife…our wide open spaces. CHLT is a great resource for helping to make sure that doesn’t happen to Grand County, the way it did in other, over-developed mountain resort communities.

6. What do you wish you had known at the beginning/when you started?
I had heard of land trusts previously, but didn’t understand how flexible these agreements could be between the land owner and organization. We use our property for producing hay in the summer, we do pasture lease agreements for livestock grazing, we snowmobile, snowshoe and cross-country ski on it in the winter, etc. We are even allowed to hunt that land, if we choose. The restrictions are minimal and aligned with our values and wishes. CHLT works with land owners to make sure it’s a win-win situation for both parties. I truly don’t know why anyone who plans to leave their property to the next generation wouldn’t consider working with CHLT to secure their investment and assure it remains much like it is today.
Colorado Headwaters Nature Project 2021

Grand County Bioblitz on iNaturalist
July 1 - 31
Colorado Headwaters Land Trust is proud to sponsor the 2nd annual Colorado Headwaters Nature Project 2021 on iNaturalist.org. With your help, we’ll discover and record all of the plant and animal species that we can find in Grand County from July 1 - 31. Thanks to Headwaters Trail Alliance for partnering with us! All Project participants will be entered into a weekly raffle to win prizes, and the person that contributes the most to the Project over the entire month will win a final prize! Register here to participate.

Community News
  • CSU Extension is conducting a survey to learn how they can better serve Colorado communities. Please take a moment to complete the survey here.
  • Grand County is in a Stage 2 - Severe Drought. The U.S Drought Monitor has 69% of Grand County in Severe Drought (D2). Learn more about current conditions and gain a historical context here.
  • Effective June 25, 2021, Grand County is under Stage 2 Fire Restrictions. Find out what activities and uses are prohibited here.
  • East Troublesome Fire Watershed Recovery Fact Sheet #5 announces project design progress, construction updates, seeding and mulching efforts, a self-service station, grant award and EWP project funding and allocation. View the fact sheet here.
  • Grand County seeks to contract with a qualified individual or company to act as the Watershed Recovery Coordinator for coordinating and administering watershed protection and recovery associated with the East Troublesome Fire and Williams Fork Fire. The Request for Proposals is available here.

UPCOMING CHLT EVENTS
Wildflower Walk
July 18 (Sunday) at 11:00am
Get outside with CHLT as Western Herbalist and Natural Resources Supervisor for the Town of Winter Park, Jill Jacobsen, leads us on a discovery walk.
Learn to identify wild plants and learn about their therapeutic and nutritional uses. The program is free, but donations to CHLT are accepted. Help us continue to offer quality programs such as this. Sign up here.
Meet at the Fraser Valley Library.
CHLT Third Thursdays
July 22 (Thursday) at 6pm
Join us for the CHLT Third Thursday Series. On July 22, ED Jeremy Krones will be speaking to the Town of Hot Sulphur Springs. Learn about our newest easement, conservation easements in general, land trusts, and join the community conversation. Hot Sulphur Springs Town Hall.
Stargazing on an Easement
August 13 (Friday) at 7:30pm
Join CHLT for a stargazing evening on the Daisy Meadows Conservation Easement outside of Fraser (Moose Run) as part of the Fraser-Winter Park Chamber's Starry Nights (July 23 - August 21). See how conservation easements are essential in maintaining dark skies. Participants are encouraged to bring their own telescopes, although some will be available to share. Sign up here by August 11.
Plein Air at Altitude: Painting Planet Earth
September 7 - 12
Plein Air returns to the Fraser Valley and Grand County! Artists from across the region will be visiting and painting the scenic landscapes of Grand County, with emphasis on the private easements of the Colorado Land Trust as well as showcasing Grand County natural and historical attractions. The works will be available for purchase with the proceeds benefiting the individual artists, the Colorado Headwaters Land Trust, and Fraser Valley Arts. Artists 18 or over are invited to apply.
(Application deadline is June 30 or when full.) Call for Entries
Grand County National Public Lands Day
September 25 (Saturday)
Recognized as one of the longest-running NPLDs in the country, Grand County's National Public Lands Day is a day full of enjoyment and dedication of our public lands. Grand County has a bounty of public lands, including a national park, national forests, wilderness areas, national recreation areas, and more. After a day of volunteering with Headwaters Trails Alliance come gather in Granby for a Picnic In the Park at Polhamous Park! Enjoy music, special guests, and a broad community as we celebrate our public lands.
Hats Off for Headwaters
October 3 - October 10
We're merging last year's Virtual Event Series & Silent Auction with an in-person Celebration of CHLT. Support the conservation work we do! Share in educational panels, engaging activities, and delicious local catering. This year's Hats Off for Headwaters will be one for the books! Stay tuned for more details.
July is Lakes Appreciation Month!
You work and play on them. You drink from them. But do you really appreciate them? Growing population, development, and invasive species stress our local lakes, ponds, and reservoirs. All life needs water; let’s not take it for granted! Learn more here.
Conservation Easement Tax Credit Program
The successful passage of HB1233 – Conservation Easement Enhancement and Rural Stimulus Act is a huge win for conservation and Colorado's farmers and ranchers. Specifically, this legislation:
 
  • Increases the tax credit incentive to up to 90% of the donated value of a landowner's easement.
  • Expands the list of eligible landowners who can access the tax credit program to include certain types of water entities, such as water conservancies and ditch and acequia organizations.
  • Eliminates the requirement that tax credit buyers and sellers file their returns at the same time.
 
We are grateful to the bill sponsors for their continued support of conservation and the conservation easement program.
 

Let's Get Social!
Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.
Here are a few of our posts from the last month. Find more on our pages.
June 23: Take part in #PollinatorWeek, June 21 - 27! Celebrate pollinators and spread the word about what we can do to protect declining pollinator populations.
- Enhance your garden or landscape to attract pollinators
- Look for and identify bees, butterflies, birds, bats and beetles
- Reduce or eliminate the impact of pesticides
- Support local bees and beekeepers
- Inform and inspire others
June 18: This week, CHLT ED, Jeremy Krones, had the pleasure of walking and talking with this group from Indiana representing @acreslandtrust. Acres ED, Jason Kissel, and the kids asked questions about water, wildlife and geography as they hiked on the Jones Creek Ranch Conservation Easement in Hot Sulphur Springs. Thanks for visiting! Happy trails!

June 14: "Flowers are the music of the earth."
- Marty Rubin
Summer is in bloom! These vibrant Phlox flowers (Phlox diffusa) vary from white to pink and purple and are hard to miss these days on our rocky, high elevation mountain slopes.
Shop Amazon Smile to Support CHLT!
CHLT Supporters can now use the Amazon Shopping app on their mobile phone to sign up for AmazonSmile and select "Colorado Headwaters Land Trust" as their favorite charity.
How it works:
1. Open the Amazon app on your phone
2. Select the main menu (=) & tap on "AmazonSmile" within Programs & Features
3. Select "Colorado Headwaters Land Trust" as your charity
4. Follow the on-screen instructions to activate AmazonSmile in the mobile app
A portion of your eligible purchases will be donated to CHLT at no cost to you!
Thank you!

Shop Our Conservation Partners!
Support local land conservation by shopping at CHLT's Conservation Partners. These partners believe in the mission of the Land Trust and know that open space enriches our quality of life, protects landscapes, and brings visitors and residents to Grand County. 
Protecting open space is an investment in our environment, our culture and our economy.
Are you interested in becoming a Conservation Partner with no cost to your business? Click here for more information!
Thank you for supporting Colorado Headwaters Land Trust.
YOUR help today allows us to protect the lands we love for generations to come!
P.O. Box 1938, Granby, CO 80446 (970) 887-1177