Since 1996, Gunnison Ranchland Conservation Legacy (GRCL) has facilitated 35 conservation easements on 15,794 acres. This success could not have been possible without generous financial support and expert assistance from a number of partners.

Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) has contributed approximately 10 million dollars for GRCL’s conservation easement projects. GOCO’s staff and board of directors have supported our work ever since GOCO first awarded a planning grant to GRCL in 1996, when Legacy was first getting off the ground. GOCO is funded through the Colorado Lottery and awards competitive grants for the preservation of open space and natural areas across Colorado. Legacy’s work would not have been possible with out GOCO’s support.

In December of 2007, GOCO awarded another three million dollar grant for ranchland preservation in the Gunnison-Crested Butte area. In partnership with the Crested Butte Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy, GRCL plans to protect another 1600 acres of productive, scenic ranchlands.

Additional funding partners include the Gunnison County Land Preservation Fund, Colorado Division of Wildlife, US Department of Agriculture’s Farmland Protection Program, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, and Colorado Conservation Trust. Our members, local businesses and other private donors have also contributed cash to match grant funding and to help cover operating expenses. Most grants require that we provide at least a 25% cash match. Participating ranch families have also donated over seven million dollars in easement value since 1998.

GRCL also works with a number of partners to complete our conservation easement projects. Land trusts that hold the rancher’s easements include: Colorado Open Lands, Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust, and The Nature Conservancy. These organizations are responsible for the monitoring and enforcement of the easements in perpetuity. The staff of the land trusts and the funding agencies work diligently with the GRCL and the ranch families to develop conservation easements that fulfill the needs of the ranch families and protect the conservation values on the property. The Natural Resource Conservation Service and the Division of Wildlife frequently assist with management plans for the properties.

Gunnison Ranchland Conservation Legacy extends our sincere thanks to all of the friends and supporters who make our work possible. Every project is the result of our dedicated partners.

The following list of internet websites represent some of the organizations who work together with GRCL.

• Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust
• Colorado Coalition of Land Trusts
• Colorado Conservation Trust
• Colorado Division of Wildlife
• Colorado Open Lands
• Crested Butte Land Trust
• Great Outdoors Colorado
• Land Trust Alliance
• National Fish and Wildlife Foundation
• The Nature Conservancy
• USDA Farm and Ranchland Protection Program