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Pitkin, Eagle and AVLT celebrate 3 Meadows purchase and begin joint management planning
Summary
Pitkin County, Eagle County and Aspen Valley Land Trust (AVLT) completed a multi‑partner purchase of 3 Meadows Ranch and are forming a three‑way management partnership; counties pledged operating and capital contributions and a caretaker is now in place while baseline studies and repairs begin.
Pitkin County and Eagle County officials, together with Aspen Valley Land Trust, are moving from acquisition to active management after completing the purchase of 3 Meadows Ranch.
County officials said the purchase was financed rapidly by a mix of contributions: Eagle County provided $12.5 million, Pitkin County $7.7 million and AVLT raised about $7.5 million, donations that county officials described as essential to closing the deal quickly and preserving the property.
County commissioners and staff called the partnership notable for its speed and scale. Pitkin County Commissioner Gary Tenenbaum credited county staff, AVLT and partner attorneys for assembling funding and closing the transaction quickly. "You guys put Eagle put 12 and a half million, Pick and put 7.7, and ABLT got a donation for 7 and a half," he said. Several speakers emphasized the property’s landscape‑scale value and the need to coordinate management across agency boundaries.
Leaders described early management steps: a caretaker household is now living on the property (Brian and Emily Hightower, employed by AVLT), a ranger/maintenance team is being organized, and attorneys are budgeting a repair to farm infrastructure (a damaged barn pipe) from acquisition resources. Staff said initial field work this summer will include wildlife and ecological baseline studies as well as targeted maintenance and safety work.
Speakers said the partners will form operating teams that draw on each organization’s specialists to design a shared management plan and to coordinate visitor, resource and infrastructure decisions. Pitkin Commissioner Patty Clapper and others proposed a summer site visit for commissioners from the partner counties so elected officials can see the ranch’s scale and initial work in person.
Officials acknowledged the next three years will be busy with studies, planning and early stewardship work. Pitkin County staff said they will circulate regular updates to partners and the public as the partnership implements wildlife surveys, camp and caretaker logistics, and infrastructure repairs.
Ending: County staff and AVLT asked stakeholders and residents to look for public notices and suggested summer site visits for elected officials and partner staff; staff also said they will post progress updates as baseline reports and management plans are developed.
