The Central Colorado Conservancy has just completed a conservation easement on the Lewis Ranch. CCC courtesy photo.
On Friday afternoon — the news came that Arkansas River Valley got not just a special gift – it received a priceless one.
Central Colorado Conservancy (Conservancy) announced its completion of a conservation easement on the Lewis Ranch. The agreement permanently protects the 191-acre ranch along U.S. Hwy 50, roughly three miles northwest of Poncha Springs.
Panorama and Production Protected
“We are thrilled with the completion of the Lewis Ranch conservation easement. The ranch is incredibly scenic with panoramic views of the Collegiate Peaks, the Mosquito Range, and the Arkansas River Valley,” said Central Colorado Conservancy Executive Director Wendy McDermott. “Conservation easements are one of our main tools for protecting wide open vistas and wildlife habitat and for keeping working lands working.”
The Lewis Ranch is a working cattle ranch with irrigated meadows and native woodlands across a rolling terrain. The ranch provides habitat for several wildlife species from songbirds to raptors, small mammals to big game, and reptiles to fish, all of which are significant contributors to the biodiversity of the region.
It also provides a critical range for mule deer, elk, and moose. It is a winter forage range for bald eagles, migratory habitat for the greater sandhill crane, and a breeding habitat for a state species of concern, the northern leopard frog.
The Lewis Ranch has been put into a 191-acre conservation easement, protecting critical view sheds and habitat. CCC photo.
The Lewis Ranch is owned and operated by Brice and Kate Lewis. While the end product for the ranch is the sale of calves into the beef supply chain, they also produce and direct market grass-fed, grass-finished beef. Brice will tell you their goal is to raise good grass. The better the grass production, the better the beef production.
It takes careful planning, stewardship, and consideration to grow good grass in the arid environment of central Colorado.
The Lewises participate in multiple programs that allow them to implement management tools like rotational grazing using virtual fencing and other practices that improve the health of the soils on their ranch. Healthy soils improve water infiltration, reduce erosion, and increase species diversity and habitat
The Lewis Ranch irrigation system is key to keeping this open land green and productive.
Community Conservation Connection
The Lewises participate in the Community Conservation Connection where they placed a non-perpetual Agricultural Conservation Agreement on the property, which is administered by Central Colorado Conservancy with funding from Chaffee Common Ground.
The Community Conservation Connection program, currently a five-year pilot program, helps keep area ranches intact and can serve as a stepping stone to a perpetual conservation easement.
“Our goal from the start was to use the purchase of this property to build our business, and if we can also preserve the beauty of the property and the open space, it’s a win for everyone,” said Kate and Brice Lewis.
“Ownership allowed us to add a base property to our forest permit, to have a home base for calving and wintering our replacement females, something we never had before,” they add. “With the addition of the direct market beef business, we are expanding and becoming more sustainable. Without the support and encouragement of entities like Central Colorado Conservancy and Chaffee Common Ground, working agricultural lands will continue to disappear in our beautiful county.”
The Community Conservation Connection agreement process, while less rigorous, is similar to the perpetual conservation easement process. The program allows participants to experience the process, build relationships with the Conservancy team, and learn about additional programs that support agriculture in our community while protecting the ranch from development.
The Lewises are the first Community Conservation Connection program participants to choose to place a conservation easement on their ranch while enrolled in the program.
Elements of the Lewis Ranch conservation easement project were made possible with funding from Chaffee Common Ground.
Central Colorado Conservancy is a nationally accredited land trust based in Salida, CO. Its mission is to protect the lands, waters and quality of life of Central Colorado as our communities face pressure and rapid growth. Through land easements, restoration efforts and connecting our communities to conservation, Central Colorado Conservancy is leading the charge to preserve the places and quality of life we all love for generations to come. Visit centralcoloradoconservancy.org to learn more.
Recent Comments