KREX, November 10, 2025-
On Monday, Pioneers Preserve, a nearly 200-acre property located near the southwestern edge of the Town of Ridgway, was permanently conserved, according to an announcement from Colorado West Land Trust (CWLT).
“Protecting Pioneers Preserve not only maintains Ridgway’s stunning viewshed but also safeguards critical winter range and migration corridors for wildlife,” said CWLT Conservation Specialist Nick Jacobson. “This project is a great example of how conservation can support community goals while ensuring that wildlife and working lands continue to thrive side by side.”
“We have been trying to find a way to protect this parcel for decades, so it’s with huge gratitude that we celebrate the news that Dana Ivers and the Colorado West Land Trust have finally gotten the project over the finish line. It meets several of the community’s long-term goals, such as protecting our southern viewshed, preventing sprawl, and, of course, preventing the development of a number of 35-acre parcels, directly adjacent to our southern boundary. Many thanks again to Dana and the Land Trust,” stated Ridgway Mayor John Clark.
Pioneers Preserve, owned by Dana Ivers, borders Ridgway’s southern boundary and can be seen from nearby county roads and the federally designated San Juan Scenic Byway on U.S. Highway 550 and Colorado Highway 62. The property comprises around 42 acres of irrigated hayfields and pasture for sheep and horses to seasonally graze, while its senior water rights support the agricultural productivity.
In addition to agriculture, the land provides a sanctuary for multiple different species of wildlife, including pinyon-juniper woodland, irrigated meadows, elk, black bears and bald eagles. Lying within the Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s map for mule deer, both within the summer and winter seasons, the land serves as a critical winter habitat for the species.
In addition to agriculture, the land provides a sanctuary for multiple different species of wildlife, including pinyon-juniper woodland, irrigated meadows, elk, black bears and bald eagles. Lying within the Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s map for mule deer, both within the summer and winter seasons, the land serves as a critical winter habitat for the species.
“I’ve always loved seeing the diversity of wildlife that use this land—everything from badgers and foxes to elk, deer, and even trout in the ponds,” said Ivers. “There are deep draws and quiet places where bears and mountain lions still have room to live. Protecting those areas feels really important to me.”
NOV
2025