The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
A conversation with the Crested Butte Land Trust
With opportunities for hiking, mountain biking, wildflower viewing and horseback riding in the summer, and Nordic skiing, backcountry skiing and snowshoeing in the winter, Snodgrass Mountain has long been a popular destination for visitors and residents to the upper valley. Yet, despite its accessibility and well-traveled trails, Snodgrass is not wholly public land. Use of large portions of the mountain by the public is at the discretion of the landowners, and in recent years access has been threatened by the possible development and sale of the private property.
Three years ago the U.S. Forest Service denied a request from Snodgrass property owner Crested Butte Mountain Resort to allow ski lifts on Snodgrass Mountain, derailing ski area expansion and development of a scaled-down North Village.
Following that decision, CBMR listed its Snodgrass holdings for sale, advertising the property as appropriate for the development of more than “1,800 residential units and approximately 200,000 square feet of commercial development.” While a few offers were entertained, the sale of the North Village property fell through last winter, and the future of Snodgrass was once again uncertain.
Now the Crested Butte Land Trust, a non-political, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that works on a voluntary basis with private landowners in Gunnison County, is working with the local municipalities to purchase approximately 93 acres of property on Snodgrass. If successful, the Land Trust would work to place a conservation easement on the property, securing future access for the public and ensuring the protection of the landscape for years to come.
The cost of the land purchase and the fees associated with the project is about $2.6 million. As of now, funding has been secured from the town of Crested Butte, the Gunnison County Land Conservation Fund and a private foundation wishing to remain anonymous. The Land Trust is also currently working to submit a substantial grant request to Great Outdoors Colorado. If funding is secured a successful sale could be completed by January 2015.
Here, Crested Butte Land Trust executive director Ann Johnston answers a few questions about the Snodgrass project, the importance of green space and the role of the Land Trust in the upper valley.
Crested Butte News: What is unique about the Snodgrass parcel? Will the Land Trust be the owner of the property? Or will it manage the property for someone else?
Ann Johnston: The Snodgrass parcel is home to one of Crested Butte’s most storied and popular trails for locals and visitors, with more than 40,000 hikers, bikers and skiers enjoying it each year. Right now the Snodgrass area is slated to have more than 1,800 residential units and 200,000 square feet of commercial space built—called the North Village. Our plan is to purchase a piece of that landscape to keep the trailhead intact and further protect about nine acres of wetlands just north of the trail so there is a secure, fresh water source for the wildlife in the area.
Before committing to the project, the Land Trust had long talks with the owners of the ski area, who currently own the land, and with leaders from the town of Mt. Crested Butte. The town of Mt. Crested Butte is enthusiastic about our involvement because the Snodgrass trailhead is an enormous economic driver for them—something that will generate income forever. In fact, they’re so supportive that they have become our primary partner. The purchase balances the town of Mt. Crested Butte’s interest in growth, the ski area’s expansion plans and our mission to protect open space and public access.
After the Land Trust secures the property, it will convey it to the town of Mt. Crested Butte. The Land Trust and the town will manage it jointly.
Crested Butte News: How are the municipalities supporting the purchase of the Snodgrass parcel?
Ann Johnston: The town of Crested Butte is generously funding the project and has declared their support in town meetings and other public forums. The town of Mt. Crested Butte has agreed to receive ownership of the protected landscape and manage it jointly with the Crested Butte Land Trust. And, the Crested Butte Mountain Resort has been a collaborative partner in this effort, helping us determine the right blend of development and conservation, both of which benefit the local economy.
Crested Butte News: How does a conservation easement differ from public and private lands?
Ann Johnston: A conservation easement is a written agreement between a landowner and a land trust that conserves private land for its natural, recreational, scenic, historical and agricultural values.
Conservation agreements can be placed on privately owned land. The landowner continues to own and manage their land, and can pass it on to their heirs, or may choose to sell it. They have the discretion to determine whether or not they want to open the land to the public.
Often times, the land trust purchases lands itself, places a conservation agreement on it, and then opens the land to the public.
You will seldom encounter a conservation agreement on public lands managed by the government—like BLM, Forest, or National Park lands. Each one of these agencies has slightly different missions but generally the public is allowed to use the land.
Crested Butte News: What would you want locals and visitors to know about the Snodgrass effort?
Ann Johnston: The Land Trust shares the community’s interest in securing a healthy local economy. Land conservation helps communities grow smart and attract investment. Conservation is not an expense, but an investment that pays many dividends, particularly in the tourism realm. There are other benefits too, such as healthy ecosystems, clean air and water, and the maintenance of adequate river flows, which provides critical drinking water to the state overall.
The Snodgrass project provides excellent opportunity for long-term growth and development while also balancing important conservation benefits. We consulted closely with the ski area and with leaders from the town of Mt. Crested Butte and ultimately determined not to purchase the entire North Village property but instead the most ecologically sensitive piece, supporting smart development. Between the potential development of residential and commercial space, and the preservation of Snodgrass Trail—a key economic driver for the town of Mt. Crested Butte—we are jointly excited about what the future holds.
Crested Butte News: Why should citizens of the upper valley support the efforts of the Land Trust when there is so much open space already available?
Ann Johnston: While much of the landscape along the Slate and East Rivers, and around Crested Butte South, Crested Butte, and Mt. Crested Butte appears protected, it is not. In fact, much of it is either available or already approved for development. Also, you might be surprised to learn that some segments of our most heavily used trails, including the Lower Loop, the Woods Walk, and the Snodgrass Trail, are privately owned and do not have formal perpetual trail agreements that would assure future generations use of the trail.
In addition, the population of Colorado is expected to explode over the next 20 years. Literally millions of people will be moving into our beautiful state. That means that Colorado will look and feel a lot different before we know it. So, it is critically important to proactively save lands now. By doing so, we can act strategically, while also responding to a need for continued economic development and increased housing.
Crested Butte News: What is the total acreage/how many properties is the Land Trust responsible for within Gunnison County?
Ann Johnston: While we work throughout Gunnison County, much of our focus has been to protect the majestic views and working ranches along Highway 135, north to Schofield and the North Pole Basin, and throughout the Slate River Valley. The Land Trust has worked with local families on dozens of projects totaling more than 6,000 acres to date.
Crested Butte News: What is the role of the Land Trust in the valley?
Ann Johnston: It is the role of the Land Trust to provide tangible, inspirational, and everyday landscapes for our community to delight in. By doing so, we help foster a greater love of the land, nature, and natural resources through recreation, education, and active enjoyment.
We also support our ranching heritage by working with local families who want to conserve their working ranches.
While preserving the natural beauty, the Land Trust also contributes to economic diversity and prosperity to guarantee our community’s sustainability. Yet after we preserve land, our work really has just begun, as we have a responsibility to care for that land forever. We call this work “stewardship.” Through our stewardship programs, we actively care for the land in a comprehensive way, optimizing the land for all the forms of life that dwell or interact on it.
One of our stewardship priorities right now is focused on the eastern bank of Peanut Lake. The Land Trust will lead the charge in riparian restoration efforts, where the dynamic, snow-melt driven Slate River is causing instability. Thankfully, there are colonies of beavers working hard to fortify this bank as well.
We are also following closely the water rights proposed for use by the potential molybdenum mine on Mt. Emmons, known locally as “Red Lady.” Our primary goal is to ensure the wetlands of the Slate River—which truly define our entire community and host a vibrant blue heron rookery—are not negatively impacted by this potential mine.
Another progressive new project under way in the valley is our community farm. While still early in the process, the Crested Butte Land Trust and Mountain Roots Food Project are partnering on this new community farm on three acres near Crested Butte South. This will showcase how sustainable agriculture and protected landscapes can“ be mutually beneficial to their community, as well as allow people of all ages to go home with fresh food to put on the dinner table, connecting them to the abundance of the land in a new way.
Of course, the town of Crested Butte works in partnership with us, and many of the state’s most strategic organizations, such as Great Outdoors Colorado, the Colorado Water Conservation Board, the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety and the Fish and Wildlife Service have worked closely with us to protect, preserve and restore land in and around the valley. And closer to home, we are grateful for the support of the Gunnison Valley Land Preservation Fund, the Community Foundation of Gunnison Valley, and 1% for Open Space.
Crested Butte News: How can people get involved with the preservation of green space?
Ann Johnston: I love this question! There are many ways people can get involved. The first is by visiting and recreating in and around Crested Butte. We encourage people to hike the trails and visit the beauty here! It’s why we’re here, after all.
Also, we have volunteer days the last Wednesday of every month where anyone—children included—can help with restoration projects, such as our efforts near Peanut Lake. In addition, landowners may consider permanently protecting their land, without forfeiting ownership. Or, they may choose to donate or sell their land for protection. People can also donate funds directly to the Crested Butte Land Trust on our website www.cblandtrust.org. Most important to us though, is that people experience the beauty and scenic views of Crested Butte. These iconic images and natural beauty are why we all love this area and, to us, that love is the most valuable support we could have.
