Grand Junction Daily Sentinel July 14, 2025- Bieser Ranch, a 614-acre family-owned property in Plateau Valley, will be protected in perpetuity thanks to a conservation easement the family placed on the land.

Colorado West Land Trust announced the conservation of the property, which will ensure the land will remain undeveloped, according to a news release.

“Conserving the Bieser Ranch ensures that this land will continue to serve both people and wildlife for generations to come,” said CWLT Conservation Specialist Nick Jacobson in a release. “It protects essential habitat, honors a family’s deep-rooted connection to the land, and preserves the rural character that makes the Plateau Valley so special.”

The ranch is on the northern slopes of Grand Mesa, three miles southwest of the town of Mesa, and is visible from Powderhorn Ski Resort, according to the release. The property includes rolling shrublands, aspen stands, pinyon-juniper woodlands and a 1.3-mile stretch of Willow Creek, prime habitat for wildlife like elk, mule deer, moose, black bear, mountain lion, and several bird and amphibian species.

The Bieser Ranch received a Centennial Ranch designation from History Colorado in 2018, recognizing more than 100 years of continuous family ownership, according to the release. It continues to be used for seasonal grazing for a cow/calf herd. Tom Bieser’s interest in protecting the property stems from his own life experiences growing up on the ranch.

“When my dad asked what I wanted out of the ranch, I told him, ‘I want dirt.’ I didn’t want money — I wanted the land,” Bieser stated. “This was my backyard growing up. It was my playground, my livelihood, and a place where I built roads, ran cows and sheep, rebuilt fences, and raised my kids. I want my grandkids and great-grandkids to be able to play here just like I did.”

Bieser also said he wanted to protect the land from future development after seeing new homes being built around the ranch property, according to the release.

Bieser Ranch borders Bureau of Land Management lands and is near the Grand Mesa National Forest, making it a critical piece of property for wildlife crossing between public lands.

“The deer, elk, bears, and mountain lions cross through here all the time,” Bieser stated. “We’ve cleared areas to help grass grow back, built ponds, and taken care of springs, and it’s turned into a haven for wildlife.”

Bieser Ranch joins more than 11,000 conserved acres in the Plateau Valley with Colorado West Land Trust. The conservation of this property was made possible by the support of Great Outdoors Colorado through the Keep it Colorado Transaction Assistance Program and Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Habitat Partnership Program, according to the release.