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Committee recommends Paintbrush conservation easement; staff cites habitat and Gross Reservoir settlement funds
Summary
Boulder County Parks and Open Space staff recommended, and the advisory committee unanimously voted to recommend to commissioners, a conservation easement on the 35-acre Paintbrush property for $215,000, funded from the 2021 Gross Reservoir settlement. The easement limits development and gives the county a right of first refusal.
The Boulder County Parks and Open Space Committee voted unanimously Oct. 23 to recommend that county commissioners accept a conservation easement on a roughly 35-acre property known as Paintbrush, southeast of Ned and in Upper Cold Creek Canyon. "Agreed upon price is $215,000," said Eric Clark, land officer, during the presentation.
Staff said the easement would restrict development to one of two pre‑approved building envelopes (the unchosen envelope would be extinguished), permit a single cabin up to 2,000 square feet with associated outbuildings, and include a county right of first refusal if the owner later decides to sell. Clark described wetlands, riparian areas and mapped critical wildlife habitat on the parcel and said it is within a scenic protection corridor off Highway 72.
The proposal would be funded from a $5.1 million allocation to the county from the 2021 Gross Reservoir settlement with Denver Water; Clark said the funds are intended for fee acquisitions, conservation easements, or trail corridors near Gross Reservoir. Committee members asked whether water shares or other water rights were involved; Clark said none were identified on the property. Mike Ligon, natural resources division manager, clarified that Forestry staff "do not do Forestry Work on conservation easements" but that conservation staff visit and can make recommendations to landowners during monitoring visits.
Committee members also asked about wildfire risk and thinning authority on privately held conservation easement land; staff said management recommendations can be made to owners but that the county cannot perform forestry work on private easement land. Members requested clearer fund‑balance notes on future acquisition materials; Clark estimated roughly $3.4 million remained in the Gross Reservoir settlement fund based on recent purchases.
Trace Baker moved to recommend the easement; the motion passed unanimously. The recommendation will go to the Board of County Commissioners for final action.
Next steps: staff will finalize the purchase agreement, complete required monitoring and due‑diligence, and forward the recommended acquisiton to the commissioners for final approval.
