Pat Willets of the Trust for Land Restoration told the Board of County Commissioners that TLR is under contract to acquire 104 acres of historic mining claims on Brown Mountain above Ironton Park, with the explicit goal of donating the land to Ouray County to protect views, public access and the broader Red Mountain Mining District.

Willets said the purchase price is $400,000 and that TLR has verbal commitments for about $150,000 more toward the project; the full project cost could rise to roughly $560,000 if the group pursues a conservation easement. TLR asked the county for continued partnership, including coordination on environmental due diligence and consideration of modest local funding to strengthen outside grant applications. Willets said the organization will hire a qualified environmental consultant and complete expanded Phase I field work this fall; additional site testing could follow. He named Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment staff (CDPHE) point people who will be involved in assessing any water and waste-rock issues and explained that the intended transfer to the county will be structured to respond to liability questions under CERCLA and state bonafide purchaser protections.

Commissioners and county legal staff discussed the site's history and liability protections. County counsel advised that Colorado's bona fide prospective purchaser framework and coordination with CDPHE can limit local government liability if the county receives documented environmental reviews and follows regulatory guidance. Commissioners asked TLR to proceed with field sampling and to keep the county informed; TLR offered a site visit with CDPHE representatives for interested commissioners and staff in mid-September.

TLR also said it had sought funding from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) and would welcome a county letter of support and a small cash contribution to improve the competitiveness of a future GOCO request; TLR suggested $10,000 as a possible county contribution and recommended the conservation trust fund as a potential source. Commissioners asked staff to place the funding request on the 2026 budget discussion list for formal consideration and to continue working with TLR on the due diligence timeline.

TLR and commissioners highlighted community benefits: the parcel connects with county-owned Garrard and Corkscrew properties, protects viewsheds visible across Ironton Valley, preserves public access to backcountry recreation (including the Grama-Copper Gulch Trail and routes used by backcountry skiers and snowmobilers), and reduces the number of private development rights inside the national-forest matrix. TLR said it would return with the environmental report and a request for formal county action if due diligence supports donation.