Re: [cobirds] Potential loss of Chico Ranch for birding (Pueblo and El Paso counties)

This is a link to the main portion of the State Land Board minutes discussing Chico (40 pages)

http://www.avoapples.com/birds/chico_SLB_9_1_19_b.pdf

 I agree that 5 years is a ways off but it is better to be proactive vs reactive and we currently have a governor and legislature that would look at our concerns from a fairly positive perspective. I think our goal should be maintaining long term  public access to the various birding "hot spots" on the ranch.

tx

Bill

On Sunday, September 1, 2019 at 4:29:34 PM UTC-6, paddyo'bird wrote:

Thanks for the heads-up.

I'll be curious to know just how someone could "inadvertently add" nearly 2,000 acres of Chico Basin Ranch to Stewardship Trust back in 1998.

Count me skeptical of this . . . what, exactly -- excuse? Justification?

Patrick O'Driscoll

Denver

On Sun, Sep 1, 2019 at 4:19 PM linda hodges <hiker...@gmail.com> wrote:

Bill, and all concerned birders,

Please check the State Land Board's website if you want the full scope of what's being considered at Chico.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uzQdtc4yw3_HLoOJ5Rm8zITXOJkMR7Pa/view  

The Phillips' lease on Chico is good for 5 more years, so nothing is imminent.

You can be assured that Aiken Audubon and the Audubon Colorado Council will be following this every step of the way, and will advise you when we need to rally the troops. Interestingly, in the board packet the SLB staff advised the board that pushback from the community should be expected. Indeed!

The SLB will be meeting in Colorado Springs (El Paso County) September 11th and 12th. The agenda has not yet been released, but anyone interested in attending can check to see when citizens' comments will be allowed. I am hoping to attend.

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-NbLPHRjORvug3nf38BGvpk-f8zoDI_bic_Id7AUNps/edit  

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or comments.

Linda

Linda Hodges

Conservation Chair

Aiken Audubon Society 

Colorado Springs

conservation@aikenaudubon.com

On Sun, Sep 1, 2019, 11:24 AM kickback <bill_...@msn.com wrote:

I read this article in the recent newsletter from the Colorado Springs Aiken Audubon Society. I don't know anything beyond what the article states but if all of the facts in it are correct I think we need to send input to appropriate individuals, especially since it sounds like the state owns Chico Ranch.

Comments welcome!

Bill Kosar

CHICO BASIN RANCH CONCERNS

 For the past 20 years, Colorado Springs birders—in fact, birders across the state—have been accustomed to wide access to the migratory stopover known as Chico Basin Ranch. That may be about to change. Ranchlands (Duke Phillips and family) holds the lease for Chico from the State Land Board (SLB), which owns the property. The 25-year lease expires in 2024. In their August meeting notes, the SLB devoted 33 pages to re-evaluating the Chico lease and increasing revenue. While the proposed options include selling the entire property for $33 million or continuing to lease to one entity, it would be more profitable for them to split up the ranch. The preferred option seems to be dividing the property into three separate ranches, and potentially selling one off. Public access would likely be denied. Almost half (44%) of Chico is designated into the Stewardship Trust. "The designation is focused on large areas of intact, high quality Central Shortgrass Prairie that include globally significant natural plant communities and imperiled species" (SLB August 2019 Board Meeting Information). Dividing the ranch would obviously fragment wildlife habitat due to increased fencing, new ranch buildings, and differing management styles. This is the largest tract of undeveloped land owned by SLB, and the lack of fragmentation only increases its conservation value as a wildlife and migratory corridor. It's possible that SLB would put a conservation easement on any property it sold, but that would be a long shot. The State Land Board will be meeting in El Paso County on September 11 and 12.

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