County staff outlines fall events and land-conservation outreach; film screening Oct. 23 to highlight farmland succession

County staff briefed the San Miguel County Open Space Commission on program activities and outreach at the Sept. 22 meeting, including food- and film-based engagement and land-conservation outreach.

Staff said they and partners will screen the film Common Ground on Oct. 23 in Norwood and host a panel that will include local landowners and representatives from the Montezuma Land Conservancy to discuss succession planning for farmland and other land-conservation tools. The event will include family activities and locally sourced food.

Staff also summarized progress on the county's Payments for Ecosystem Services (PES) program, noting that preliminary landowner participation stands at eight to ten parcels this season and that staff are preparing FY2026 program budgets and commitments. The commission asked staff to circulate details to members and to recruit participation and outreach support for the Oct. 23 event.