Cliffs Overlooking Stagecoach Reservoir

Protected Forever

For Release: January 9, 2002

South Routt County, CO – The Gay family of Green Creek Ranch has relinquished the development rights and forever preserved an additional 80 acres of their property on Blacktail Mountain with a conservation easement held by Yampa Valley Land Trust. These two newly conserved 40-acre parcels are located approximately 15 miles south of Steamboat Springs and are immortalized as the “Sickels Property” in honor of Horace Sickels’ homestead that once occupied the surrounding land. With its steep and rugged rimrock, the conserved Sickels property protects a dramatic view directly above Stagecoach Reservoir and Stagecoach State Park. Extending uphill from the reservoir and surrounded by Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District (UYWCD) land, the two Sickels parcels are in-holdings in a much larger block of conservation which includes BLM, Division of Wildlife (DOW) State Wildlife Area, Colorado State Parks, UYWCD, United States Forest Service and additional Gay Family property in conservation. The Sickels conservation easement insures critical year-round wildlife habitat on Blacktail Mountain, particularly for elk and Columbian sharp-tail grouse.

Funding for the bargain-sale purchase of the Sickels conservation easement was made possible through Routt County Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) funds, a lottery grant from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), supporters of the Yampa Valley Land Trust and a donation of part of the conservation easement value from the Gay Family

In 1996, Routt County voters approved the creation of a PDR Fund to be used for purchasing development rights and establishing conservation easements. Funding is derived from a portion of County property taxes over a period of ten years, which began in 1997. Through a proposal and review process, Routt County PDR funds may be dispersed to landowners that work with conservation organizations. The process is overseen by a Citizens’ Advisory Board, which is appointed by the Routt County Commissioners. The PDR Advisory Board must make recommendations to the Routt County Board of Commissioners on whether to fund the purchase in full, in part, or not at all. The PDR program has helped fund conservation easements on 1,750 acres to date, with several more projects in the works.

Great Outdoors Colorado has awarded $266 million for more than 1600 projects across the state from lottery funds. GOCO has awarded the Yampa River Legacy Project $10.4 million. Routt County projects have also received an additional $3.9 million including the Emerald Mountain Open Space Project, land additions for Yampa River Park, and the Routt County Multi-use Athletic Track and Field Park. The Sickels Property transaction is a part of the Yampa River System Legacy Project and was specifically targeted as an important conservation project in the original 1995 Yampa River System Legacy Grant application.

Yampa Valley Land Trust is Northwest Colorado’s dynamic, results-oriented, land conservation organization. Established as a non-profit organization in 1992, YVLT is dedicated to the protection of natural, scenic, historic and agricultural landscapes of Northwest Colorado, with a focus on the Yampa River Basin in Routt County. The Yampa Valley Land Trust now holds over 23,000 acres in 46 conservation easements, ensuring the beautiful working landscapes and prime ecological features will continue to be an inspiring part of our lives and the lives of generations to follow.