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A picture of the property on East Orchard Mesa set to be protected by Mesa Land Trust.
Critical farmland in the Grand Valley will be preserved thanks to $552,200 in lottery funds from Great Outdoors Colorado.
The money was given to Mesa Land Trust toward the purchase of conservation easements on three neighboring orchard/vineyard parcels located on East Orchard Mesa. The easement will protect more than 77 acres from development.
Portions of the Grand Valley's eastern end is home to unique soils, and a micro-climate that provides frost-free zones, said Ilana Moir, land trust protection specialist.
“We want to protect that part of the valley, to keep it a viable farming community,” Moir said.
The three landowners — who will be named later this year when the deal is closed — will be paid to allow conservation easements on their property. The owners will also donate a portion of the cost.
The property owners retain ownership, will continue to live and farm on the land, but give up future development rights with the conservation easement.
Mesa Land Trust has conserved 58,600 acres in Mesa County since 1980.
“A large portion of the easements are fully donated,” Moir said.
State tax credits, or outright easement purchases, help compensate landowners for relinquishing their rights to develop the land in the future for more money.
GOCO and other funding for easement purchases is available for limited locations, Moir said.
Other Mesa Land Trust funding partners include the Natural Resource Conservation Service and the Colorado Division of Wildlife.
Mesa County, plus Palisade and Fruita, also contribute to easement purchases via the community separator program to keep the various Grand Valley towns distinct from one another.
The East Orchard Mesa conservation easements are part of the Fruitlands Forever Initiative, an effort to protect a critical mass of Mesa County's exceptional agricultural land within the next five years.
Great Outdoors Colorado is the result of a 1992 citizen's initiative passed by 58 percent of voters. Using lottery proceeds, GOCO awards grants to local governments and land trusts, and invests in projects with the Colorado Division of Wildlife and Colorado State Parks. Mesa County has received about $23 million in GOCO grants since 1994.
The money was given to Mesa Land Trust toward the purchase of conservation easements on three neighboring orchard/vineyard parcels located on East Orchard Mesa. The easement will protect more than 77 acres from development.
Portions of the Grand Valley's eastern end is home to unique soils, and a micro-climate that provides frost-free zones, said Ilana Moir, land trust protection specialist.
“We want to protect that part of the valley, to keep it a viable farming community,” Moir said.
The three landowners — who will be named later this year when the deal is closed — will be paid to allow conservation easements on their property. The owners will also donate a portion of the cost.
The property owners retain ownership, will continue to live and farm on the land, but give up future development rights with the conservation easement.
Mesa Land Trust has conserved 58,600 acres in Mesa County since 1980.
“A large portion of the easements are fully donated,” Moir said.
State tax credits, or outright easement purchases, help compensate landowners for relinquishing their rights to develop the land in the future for more money.
GOCO and other funding for easement purchases is available for limited locations, Moir said.
Other Mesa Land Trust funding partners include the Natural Resource Conservation Service and the Colorado Division of Wildlife.
Mesa County, plus Palisade and Fruita, also contribute to easement purchases via the community separator program to keep the various Grand Valley towns distinct from one another.
The East Orchard Mesa conservation easements are part of the Fruitlands Forever Initiative, an effort to protect a critical mass of Mesa County's exceptional agricultural land within the next five years.
Great Outdoors Colorado is the result of a 1992 citizen's initiative passed by 58 percent of voters. Using lottery proceeds, GOCO awards grants to local governments and land trusts, and invests in projects with the Colorado Division of Wildlife and Colorado State Parks. Mesa County has received about $23 million in GOCO grants since 1994.
