Breckenridge, Forest Service finalize land swap

Posted on March 7, 2012 by Bob Berwyn

A Forest Service vicinity map shows the location of the Wedge and Claimjumper parcels, near Breckenridge, Colorado.

Claimjumper and Wedge parcels will go from the Forest Service to Breckenridge in exchange for 407 acres in the San Juans

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — Public national forest acreage in Summit County will shrink by about 53 acres, as White River National Forest supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams last week approved a swap that will see the 36-acre Claimjumper parcel and the 17-acre Cucumber Gulch Wedge parcel — both in the Breckenridge area — be transferred from the Forest Service to local ownership.

In exchange, the Forest Service will pick up a total of 407 environmentally valuable acres in La Plata and Dolores counties in the southwestern part of the state.

The San Juan parcels were previously acquired by the Trust for Public Land, a nonprofit land conservation group that often buys private land for eventual conveyance to the U.S. Forest Service. The way the swap is set up, Breckenridge buys the San Juan parcels in order to be able to trade them for the two tracts near the town. (more…)

Filed under: Colorado, public lands, Summit County Colorado, Summit County news, US Forest Service, White River National Forest | Tagged: , , , , | 1 Comment »

Urban wildlife refuge planned near Albuquerque, New Mexico

Posted on October 2, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

A planned new urban wildlife refuge near Albuquerque, New Mexico will provide habitat for species like the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher. PHOTO COURTESY USGS.

Feds say new site will boost economy, help urban residents connect with nature

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Working closely with local partners, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has the go-ahead to establish a new 570-acre wildlife refuge on the site of a former dairy farm just a few miles south of New Mexico’s largest metropolitan area

“With the support of Bernalillo County, the Trust for Public Land, New Mexico’s Congressional delegation, and many partners, New Mexico will gain its first urban national wildlife refuge,”  Said Interior Secretary Ken Salazar. “Once complete, this refuge, which is within a half hour drive of nearly half of New Mexico’s population, will be a place for people to connect with and learn about the natural world and will provide valuable habitat for wildlife, including the endangered the southwestern willow flycatcher.”

Joined by U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman, Congressman Martin Heinrich, and Bernalillo County Commissioner Art De La Cruz, Salazar said a refuge in this location would fulfill the goals of President Obama’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative to work with community partners to establish a 21st century conservation ethic and reconnect people, especially young people, to the natural world. (more…)

Filed under: biodiversity, endangered species, Environment, federal government, wildlife | Tagged: , , , , , | 4 Comments »

Breckenridge: USFS parcels back in play for land swap

Posted on May 19, 2011 by Bob Berwyn

Vicinity maps for the proposed Breckenridge land exchange.

Town would acquire Claimjumper and Wedge tracts in exchange for inholdings in the San Juan National Forest

By Bob Berwyn

SUMMIT COUNTY — Two parcels of national forest land in the Breckenridge could come into town ownership as part of a land trade that would convey some private inholdings in the San Juan National Forest into public ownership. The town and the Forest Service signed a formal agreement to initiate on April 4.

Part of the 36-acre Claimjumper parcel would be developed for affordable housing, as an extension of the Pinewood Village complex. The rest is to be managed as open space. The entire 16-acre Wedge parcel would also be managed as open space in the environmentally sensitive Cucumber Gulch area. All the documents are online at the White River NF website. (more…)

Filed under: affordable housing, Breckenridge, Colorado, Dillon Ranger District, real estate, Summit County Colorado, Summit County news, US Forest Service, White River National Forest | Tagged: , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

Crested Butte completes huge open space deal

Posted on July 3, 2010 by Bob Berwyn

This aerial photo shows the vicinity of the new Kochevar open space property, located along Gothic Road in the lower right corner.

GOCO helps fund major purchase between town and resort along Gothic Road


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By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — Along with Independence Day festivities, residents of the Crested Butte area will be celebrating one of the biggest land preservation deals the town’s history, with the Trust for Public Land closing on the purchase of a historic 313-acre property north of Gothic Road on the way to Mount Crested Butte.

“The Kochevar property adds to the more than 1,000 acres the Crested Butte Land Trust has protected in the Slate River Valley. It will provide important amenities to our community including hiking, skiing and biking trails,” said trust director Ann Johnston. “We sincerely appreciate the enthusiasm of the Kochevar family to preserve their family’s legacy.”

“This property serves as the ultimate conservation puzzle piece by connecting four existing open space parcels, buffering national forest, and providing recreational access to the backcountry,” said Justin Spring, project manager for the Trust for Public Land. “We’re thankful for the support from Great Outdoors Colorado, and the strong partnership with the town and the Crested Butte Land Trust.” (more…)

Filed under: Summit County Colorado | Tagged: , , , , , , | Leave a Comment »

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