Local Motion: Preserving the Land, One Easement at a Time: How Colorado Families Are Protecting Open Space for the Future

Listen to the full KVNF broadcast here. 

KVNF April, 15, 2025– As open land across Colorado’s Western Slope disappears at a record pace, a growing number of landowners are turning to a legal tool to keep their property intact: the conservation easement. While the term may sound like bureaucratic jargon, the concept is remarkably simple—and profoundly impactful.

In a recent episode of Local Motion from KVNF, host Brody Wilson explores what conservation easements are, how they work, and why families across ...

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Land trust plan punctuates a year of water angst

Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, September 29, 2024- A shrinking water supply is always a concern in western Colorado.

The Colorado River District’s annual water seminar — a gathering of water managers, agricultural producers and elected officials — acts as group therapy. Everyone articulates their worst fears. But it drives urgency ...

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Land trust looks to step up role addressing water issues

Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, September 28, 2024-  The Colorado West Land Trust is looking to play a larger, more focused role in helping address the water challenges that face western Colorado.

The nonprofit has developed a water protection plan that aims to help strengthen agricultural water supplies, preserve ...

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Dry Creek Farms conservation agreement aimed at preserving ag legacy

Montrose Daily Press, May 28, 2024-

The Anderson family of Olathe, with Colorado West Land Trust, announce the successful conservation of Dry Creek Farms, a pivotal step in preserving the rich agricultural heritage and vital water resources of the Uncompahgre Valley.

The Anderson family are fourth-generation Uncompahgre Valley farmers and owners of Dry Creek Farms, which encompasses 345 acres ...

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Two Mesa County restoration projects receive $83K

Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, December 11, 2023-

Mesa County was awarded $83,550 from Great Outdoors Colorado for restoration projects.

The two restoration projects where the funds will go are at Palisade’s Riverbend Park along the Colorado River and Pinyon Mesa just south of Grand Junction.

The grants are part of GOCO’s Conservation Service Corps program. GOCO partners with Colorado Youth Corps Association (CYCA) to employ conservation service corps crews across the state on outdoor recreation and stewardship projects. CYCA represents a ...

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Land Trust program building resilience on Glade Park

Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, November 27, 2023-

On Glade Park, just a few miles west of Grand Junction and above the Colorado National Monument, the Colorado West Land Trust is helping landowners manage their properties for drought and wildfire, while developing a conservation management program that can be implemented across western Colorado.

This year was the first year of a three year grant funded program on Glade Park and Pinon Mesa that aims to show how to successfully improve a landscape’s resiliency, ...

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Fields in Mack preserved to protect wildlife, water

KKCO, March 1, 2023 – The Colorado West Land Trust has added just over 300 acres of land in Mack to the tens of thousands it already protects in Mesa County.

Landowner Jim McCurter says the wildlife habitat and water rights are worth conserving for future generations.

Conservation easements, or land agreements, are set up and monitored by non-profits like Colorado West Land Trust, and specifically state no subdividing or development of certain land can ever be done once the land trust ...

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