CLEAR CREEK LAND CONSERVANCY

The Clear Creek Land Conservancy was founded in 1986 as a non-profit organization to hold conservation easements, purchase land, and otherwise protect open space values in Clear Creek Canyon

 Goals: “to encourage, expand and protect public open space, scenic vistas, wildlife habitat, trails,

                and other outdoor recreation and education opportunities, and to promote open space

                compatible development”

 Focus Area: the 30 square miles of Clear Creek Canyon in Jefferson County

 The CCLC is a tax exempt, tax deductible charity, organized under Colorado Law, governed by a nine person Board of Directors and a Board of Advisors, which provides legal and technical advice as necessary.

Land Ownership

                Lost Park Woods – land donation (10 acres)

                Chavez Trail Parcel – land purchase (10 acres)

Conservation Easements

                Approximately 600 acres of conservation easements held for lands owned by the Northwoodside

                                Foundation, Rilliet Park, Mt. Vernon Country Club and Jefferson County Open Space.

 Accomplishments

                Initial acceptance of 240 acres of conservation easements from Carla Coleman (1986).

                Conservation easements from Northwoodside Foundation.

                Raised $110,000 to help Jeffco Open Space purchase the Dieker-Flynn property.

                                (now traversed by the Gudy Gaskill Trail)

                Acquired 240 acres of Bureau of Land Management leases, later conveyed to Jeffco Open Space.

                                (lands along Clear Creek, just up stream from Tunnel 3)

                Clear Creek Master Plan – organized a master planning process among stakeholders and financed

                                printing of Master Plan Document.

                Purchase of 10 acre private inholding within Genesee Denver Mountain Park unit.

                                (purchase will allow opening of the Chavez Trail)

                Ongoing forest management to CCLC Conservation Easements.

 Activities

                Annual Newsletter, Raise funds for land or easement purchases.

                Provide advice and expertise to persons interested in preserving open space through total or

                                partial donation of conservation easements on lands they own.

                Provide advice and help with costs for private landowners pursuing open space-compatible

                                development.

                Monitor activities that will affect open space values in Clear Creek Canyon:

                                Highways (Gaming Access EIS), Clear Creek Watershed Forum (water quality),

                                Planning for development of current Jeffco Open Space Parks in the Canyon.

                Push for expansion of Jeffco Open Space parks in canyon area (facilitate if possible).

                Monitor available open space land parcels, seek preservation.

                Involved in conceptual stages of GOCO Legacy grant for the Clear Creek Corridor (to JCOS).

                Annual Beaver Brook Hikes in early June.

                Act as general open space “watchdog” for canyon.

 Clear Creek Canyon Progress:

                Approximately 15 square miles preserved: 10,000+ acres  (mainly Jeffco Open Space purchases)

Goal is a 3 mile x 8 mile (24 mi²) Open Space park centered on Clear Creek

 Contact: Greg Holden (Vice President of CCLC Board) (303-279-4452 (h)), gholden@mines.edu

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