LTA in Your Region: Southwest Program

Land Trust Alliance: Southwest Region

115 North Fifth Street, Suite 500
Grand Junction, CO 81501-2679
970-245-5811
970-245-5818 (fax)
southwest@lta.org

Colorado Govnernor Signs County Open Space Sales Tax Exemption

On March 30, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter signed SB-98, the County Open Space Sales Tax Exemption, into law at the Capitol. This bill allows counties to ask voters to approve up to a half-cent sales and use tax to fund an open space program which would reflect local priorities for acquisition and management. This is a critical tool for Colorado counties to protect water quality, natural areas, working farms and ranches, wildlife habitat, and create new parks and opportunities for outdoor recreation. Local funding is vital to attracting matching funds from state and federal sources and for purposes of pursuing land conservation projects with interested and willing landowners. (posted 4/4/07)

Land Trust Success Stories:

A.J. Ryder in front of his ranch protected by a conservation easement, next to Fort Sill Army Base. Photo by Andre Chenault, courtesy Land Legacy.

Strategic Planning a Boon for an Oklahoma Land Trust
by Rachel Cleaves

OKLAHOMA - One of only a handful of land trusts in Oklahoma, Land Legacy has filled an important role since its inception in 2003. During its first two years, Land Legacy accepted most projects that were offered to it with a loose focus on agricultural soil conservation and urban green spaces. But as property prices increased, the organization decided to identify priorities to increase its effectiveness. Now the land trust is blazing toward success with a new strategic plan. More (posted 9/5/06)

For more information on this and and other success stories, visit our Southwest Success Stories Web Page.

Southwest Land Trusts
in the News

Land near Canyons of Ancients to be preserved
Shane Benjamin | The Durango Herald | March 20, 2007

3 grants come rolling in for conservation
Roger Croteau | San Antonio Express | February 27, 2007

Pitkin County early leader in private land conservation
Sarah Gilman | Aspen Valley News | January 1, 2007

2007 Natural Areas Conference

CLEVELAND, OH - The 34th Annual Natural Areas Conference will be held at the Cleveland Marriott at Key Center, October 9-12, 2007. Join your colleagues for a week of symposia, contributed oral and poster presentations, workshops, field trips, a land trust social, and the annual Natural Areas banquet & silent auction to be held in the galleries of the Cleveland Museum of Natural History. To register online, view conference Abstracts, reserve lodging, etc. visit: www.naturalarea.org/07conference/. (posted 9/6/07)

Water Rights Handbook for Colorado Conservation Professionals

The Water Rights Handbook for Colorado Conservation Professionals is available for purchase now through Bradford Publishing. Prepared and reviewed by accomplished Colorado water and conservation attorneys, engineers, and appraisers, this book presents essential information that will allow Colorado's land conservation professionals to sensibly evaluate, pursue, and protect the water resources necessary to preserve conservation values year after year. The retail price is $45 and it can be purchased online at www.bradfordpublishing.com or by calling their customer service line at 800-446-2831. Those in the Denver area can also purchase it at our retail store located at 1743 Wazee Street in downtown Denver. (posted 3/17/06)

McDowell Sonoran Land Trust

Conservation Funding in Colorado: A Guide to Federal and State Programs