Owner gives 41 acres in Kittredge to land trust

The Mountain Area Land Trust has received the largest land donation in its 25-year history of saving ranches, natural areas and other scenic resources.

Bob Meade, who retired in 1996 after working for the U.S. Geological Survey for many years, gave a 41-acre parcel north of Kittredge to MALT for the benefit of the community.

Meade said he had enjoyed managing the property he has owned since 1980 but his days as a volunteer forester had come to an end. He said he was delighted to give the land to MALT at this point and walk away, knowing that MALT would be taking good care of it, according to a press release. Meade enjoyed the property with his wife, Mereth, who died in 2013.

“We are truly humbled and grateful for his generous donation, said Jeanne Beaudry, executive director of MALT.

Based in Evergreen, MALT has protected 21,404 acres, mainly in the form of conservation easements, but this is the largest donation of raw land both in terms of size and monetary value, according to Linda Besler, MALT communications director.

MALT also owns some land on the side of Pennsylvania Mountain in Park County.

The Meade land is north of Kittredge between Kerr Gulch and Quartz Valley. It includes ponderosa forests, open grass and shrub meadows and rock outcroppings. It embodies conservation values of open space, scenic vistas, wildlife habitat and migration corridors.

Info at savetheland.org.