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Larimer County affirms support for public lands and accepts Legend Trail Ranch conservation easement
Summary
The board approved a resolution opposing disposal of public lands without broad public and tribal consultation and accepted a donated 675-acre conservation easement near Livermore to add contiguous conserved acreage in the Laramie Foothills.
The Larimer County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 23 adopted a resolution in support of continued public ownership and stewardship of public lands and approved acceptance of a donated conservation easement covering 675 acres known as the Legend Trail Ranch.
Resolution: Commissioner Jody Shattuck McNally introduced a resolution urging federal and state land managers to maintain funding and staffing for trail maintenance, wildfire response, visitor education, law enforcement and conservation work. The resolution states the board opposes any sale, transfer or lease of public lands without meaningful public engagement and tribal consultation and urges Colorado—s congressional delegation to reject legislation or executive actions that would threaten public ownership. The board approved the resolution by voice vote, 3-0.
Conservation easement donation: Later in the meeting the board voted 3-0 to accept a donated conservation easement on a 675-acre property north of the intersection of County Road 74E and Highway 287 (near Livermore) in the Laramie Foothills priority area. Natural Resources staff described the easement as protecting foothills grasslands, limited riparian drainages, scenic viewsheds along Highway 287, and roughly 80 acres of irrigated ground supported by one share of North Poudre Irrigation Company water. The easement allows two building envelopes (one around the existing residence and a second for a limited additional residential or agricultural improvement) and will be monitored annually by the county.
Why it matters: county staff said the donated easement helps stitch together contiguous conserved lands in the Laramie Foothills and buffers existing conserved parcels including Roberts Ranch and Eagles Nest Open Space. The county described the donation as supporting working lands (grazing and hay production) and preserving watershed and scenic resources that support tourism and local ecosystem services.
Action taken: The board—s resolution was adopted 3-0; the acceptance of the Legend Trail Ranch conservation easement (statement of authority and deed of conservation easement) was also approved 3-0. Staff said a closing was scheduled the following week and that the easement will be stewarded under the county—s open-space monitoring program.
Ending: Commissioners encouraged public participation in Public Lands Week activities and stewardship work; staff noted state conservation tax credits and the broader landscape-scale Laramie Foothills conservation initiative as enabling tools for preserving contiguous habitat and viewsheds.
