County approves $35,000 contribution to conserve 5,720 acres near Disappointment Valley

San Miguel County commissioners voted to contribute $35,000 from the county Land Heritage/Open Space fund to help Colorado West Land Trust finalize a conservation easement on about 5,720 acres near Disappointment Valley.

Janet (Parks & Open Space director) and Nate Jacobson from Colorado West Land Trust told commissioners the project would: permanently retire subdivision/development rights on roughly 163 parcels aggregated into three parcels totaling 5,720 acres; maintain the property as an active working ranch (livestock grazing and rangeland management); and provide riparian and wildlife habitat protection. The land trust reported the new owner is donating a substantial portion of the conservation value and plans to leverage Colorado’s state conservation tax credit to finance the transaction.

County staff framed the payment as support for transaction costs (surveying, title work and closing expenses) rather than payment for the easement’s conservation value. Commissioners asked about public access and were told the property will remain private working ranchland; public access decisions remain with the owner and are not guaranteed by the easement unless the parties agree otherwise.

Staff said the county’s Land Heritage/Open Space fund is financed via a dedicated mill levy and can only be used for open‑space and land‑conservation purposes; the $35,000 contribution was approved unanimously.

What the county will do next - Parks & Open Space staff will finalize the transaction paperwork with Colorado West Land Trust and monitor the state tax‑credit filing and closing schedule. - The county will expect documentation of the state‑match and a final easement instrument once recorded.