Montezuma Land Conservancy is completing a 640-acre conservation easement in central Dolores County within the Groundhog Glade area.

The Groundhog Glade Program Area is one of six areas defined in land conservancy's Strategic Conservation Plan. The area is a relatively unfragmented landscape primarily composed of large tracts of private land that are almost surrounded by public lands. San Juan National Forest surrounds the region on three sides, and Lone Cone State Wildlife Area and McKenna Peak Wilderness Study Area lie to the north. The Groundhog Glade Program Area consists of 85,000 private acres, and MLC has partnered with landowners to protect 15,000 of the acres.

This conservation easement will assure that 640 acres of meadows, groves of aspen, wetlands and a mile of perennial streams will remain open space and productive ranch land. The property lies within the migration route of the Disappointment elk herd as mapped by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Black bear, mountain lion, coyotes and mule deer also inhabit the area. It's also mapped by Colorado Parks and Wildlife as Canadian lynx habitat, a threatened species.

"Like almost all of our conservation easements, this easement strikes that wonderful balance between conserving scenic open space and wildlife habitat while also preserving a working ranch and a quality of life for the landowners," said Jon Leibowitz, Montezuma Land Conservancy executive director. "It's a fantastic example of the important work we achieve in our region in partnership with local landowners."

The property shares 2 miles of boundary with an existing easement and is a buffer to Lone Cone State Wildlife Area.

Recent subdivisions in the area have created a potential hurdle to the movement of the Disappointment elk herd. Protecting this piece will go a long way toward preserving this migration corridor. MLC hopes to continue working in the area, with a long-term goal of conserving as much of the migration route as possible in partnership with local landowners.

This project also marks the first time that MLC and a landowner went through the new Preliminary Advisory Opinion (PAO) process with the State of Colorado. Obtaining a PAO involves the Division of Real Estate reviewing critical pieces of the transaction and issuing an opinion on the proposed easement and appraisal before closing. A favorable opinion affords a landowner the assurance that they will receive their tax credits before signing the easement. The new process is optional for the landowner and is part of the new laws that were put into place earlier this year.

This project was made possible by the New Venture Fund and our local Montelores Habitat Partnership Program.

Montezuma Land Conservancy is a private nonprofit organization located in Cortez. Since 1998, the Conservancy has partnered with local landowners to complete 76 conservation easements protecting over 37,552 acres in Montezuma, Dolores, and San Miguel counties.

More information: www.montezumaland.org or 970-565-1664.