Core Fund Aids Nonprofits

The Daily Sentinel, December 18, 2021—Because of generous donors, 11 nonprofit organizations received a total of $50,900 in grants from the Western Colorado Community Foundation’s CORE Fund.

The fund identifies organizations and provides financial support for conservation, outdoor recreation, and environment projects.

Bird Conservancy of the Rockies; Colorado River Cutthroat Trout Habitat Restoration, $4,000
Colorado Canyons Association; Exploring Collaborative Stewardship Models, $1,000
Colorado Discover Ability; Young Adult Summer Camp, $5,400
Colorado Public Radio; Tapped Out: Drinking Water and Environmental Justice, $2,500
Colorado West Land Trust; Monument ...

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Area projects receive total of $132,930 in GOCO funding

The Daily Sentinel, December 11, 2021—Trail-building, watershed restoration and riverside improvements will occur locally thanks to a combined $132,930 in conservation service corps grants awarded to four projects in Mesa County.

The Great Outdoors Colorado board approved the grants Thursday, as part of more than $6 million in new funding to support 38 projects across the state focused on things such as land acquisition and stewardship, planning efforts and community access to the outdoors and planning efforts. The money comes from ...

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County cuts Christmas tree for a good cause

The Daily Sentinel, December 7, 2021—A collaborative effort between landowners and partnering agencies has given many the opportunity to cut a Christmas tree on private land in the Glade Park Area.

On Dec. 2, Mesa County cut its Christmas tree from the conserved Ladder Canyon Ranch. The county’s tree-cutting event was part of a larger, multi-year effort by Colorado West Land Trust and the owners of Ladder Canyon Ranch to reduce wildfire risk, improve wildlife habitat, connect kids to nature, and ...

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Wildlife, watershed benefit from land trust initiative

The Daily Sentinel, November 13, 2021–Wildlife and the watershed in the Glade Park/Piñon Mesa area will benefit from a new landscape restoration initiative being undertaken by the Colorado West Land Trust thanks to a grant of about $380,000.

The land trust hopes the project will help make some of the lands in the Little Dolores River watershed more resilient in the face of extended droughts and a warming and drying climate. It received the grant from the National Fish and Wildlife ...

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Remembering Doris Butler

We are sad to share that a founder of the Land Trust, Doris Butler, passed away on September 20, 2021 at the age of 90.

Doris’s loss is felt by all who were fortunate to know her. Along with her husband John, Harry and Bonnie Talbott, and a few others, Doris helped form Mesa County Land Conservancy in 1980.

Last August, we recorded a conversation between Doris, John, Harry, Bonnie, and Rob Bleiberg as part of an oral history project. Near the ...

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Monument Stewards volunteers support native vegetation along connector trail

The Daily Sentinel, September 9, 2021—When the Monument Connector Trail was completed in early 2020, there were plans to support the paved path from the riverfront to the Lunch Loops Trailhead with a group of volunteers. Then COVID-19 hit.

Libby Collins, Western Colorado Land Trust [sic] project manager, said at first they had to shut down volunteer programs, but the Monument Stewards, the group’s name, were able to figure out a way to get the plans back on track.

“The pandemic hit, ...

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Land Trust Adds to Conservation Department

The Business Times, June 15, 2021–David Varner and Alyssa Clarida have joined the Colorado West Land Trust to help staff and landowners with conversation efforts.

Based in Grand Junction, Varner works as a conservation specialist, helping staff and landowners design resource protection strategies that fit with existing uses while ensuring future viability.

Working out of Paonia, Clarida serves as a land steward, monitoring conserved properties and helping landowners improve natural resources.

“We are excited that Alyssa and David have joined the land trust ...

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A Big Win for Land Conservation in Colorado

In early June, Colorado legislature passed HB21-1233, the Conservation Easement Enhancement and Rural Stimulus Act, which encourages private land conservation by enhancing Colorado’s conservation tax credit program.

For years, Colorado has provided specialized tax credits to landowners who donate their conservation easements to ...

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Staff Anniversaries

Three staff members recently reached impressive milestones that deserve recognition.

Last August, Ilana Moir celebrated her 15th year with the organization. Over the years, Ilana has become an expert at establishing new conservation projects with landowners, a complex process that furthers the core mission of the organization while also satisfying the goals of landowners and a myriad of local, state, and national funding priorities. She also serves on the Colorado Scenic & Historic Byways Commission as a representative for land trusts ...

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Colorado West Land Trust receives GOCO grant

The Daily Sentinel, March 17, 2021–Colorado West Land Trust was the beneficiary of a large grant from Great Outdoors Colorado on Tuesday.

The GOCO board awarded a $133,700 grant to the land trust to support added staff capacity as the community and organization responds to the pandemic.

A recent merger expanded CWLT’s service area to six counties, including Delta, Gunnison, Mesa, Montrose, Ouray, and San Miguel, which required more staff to adequately support the area’s public and private conserved lands.

This grant is ...

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