New Easement Protects Habitat on the West Fork

On November 22, 2024, Montezuma Land Conservancy (MLC) completed a conservation project with a local landowner permanently protecting 302 acres of land on the West Fork of the Dolores River, north of the West Dolores Campground.  

The Sturdevant easement is a once-in-a-generation project that will protect over two miles of river corridor on the West Fork of the Dolores, providing vital connectivity for a variety of wildlife species and protecting over 300 acres from development in the valley. The property is a private inholding, surrounded by USFS land which adds to its unique character in the valley and crucial protection and enhancement for trout habitat.                                                                                     

This project, paired with another MLC easement along the West Fork, will further add to MLC’s efforts in permanently protecting over five miles of the West Fork and this vital watershed for the Dolores River. Along with wildlife habitat, the easement is also a historic grazing land for cattle as they come down from the high country and graze on the pastures. 

This project was made possible thanks to $75,000 in grant funding received from Keep it Colorado’s Transaction Cost Assistance Program, $50,000 of which came from the Walton Family Foundation’s Colorado River Basin funding. MLC is incredibly honored and grateful to work with landowners and community partners to protect the landscapes we all love and cherish in Southwest Colorado.