The Routt County Board of County Commissioners on July 22 approved $272,000 toward a conservation easement on Mountain Meadows Ranch and authorized up to $60,000 in reimbursable transaction costs. The landowners are conserving 160 acres that include headwaters for Trout Creek and would extinguish at least four residential building sites. "By doing this conservation easement on the entire 160 acres, they are extinguishing at least 4 building sites," said Blair (Project presenter). The county contribution represents about 47 percent of the appraised easement value; the landowners will contribute the remainder. The Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust (CCLT) and the local PDR (purchase of development rights) board recommended the project as protecting agricultural and water values, including an irrigation hay meadow and historic ditch headwater. Commissioners said the project aligns with the PDR program’s goal of conserving working agricultural land and wildlife habitat. The motion to fund the project and sign the conservation easement agreement passed on a motion and second with voice vote. The action authorizes the chair to sign the agreement between Routt County and CCLT and to pay up to $272,000 toward the conservation easement and up to $60,000 toward reimbursable transaction costs. The county and CCLT described the property’s water rights, wildlife habitat, and the landowners’ stewardship as key conservation values during the presentation. Commissioners and CCLT representatives emphasized the multiple public benefits — water protection, wildlife connectivity and preserving agricultural uses — though they also noted that the PDR program is oversubscribed and that funding decisions are competitive each year. The landowners told commissioners they were motivated by protecting the property for future generations. The county will proceed with the agreement and transaction steps described in the motion.