The San Luis Valley faces many natural resource challenges, so our conservation programs aren’t one-size-fits-all.
Most of RiGHT’s work is protecting private land and water rights with voluntary conservation easements. More recently we have branched out and are restoring private and public lands, working on aquifer sustainability, and teaching kids about their home. Below are just a few of RiGHT’s ongoing projects.
Our Conservation Easements
To date we have protected nearly 32,000 acres of working ranches and farms, water resources, wildlife habitat, and scenic landscapes with over 57 conservation easements. Our conservation easements are spread across the entire San Luis Valley with a focus on protecting streams and wetlands, especially along the Rio Grande corridor. We take pride in collaborating with landowners to design conservation easements that work for their needs and honor the tremendous contributions they make every day as land managers.
These important landscapes are vital to linking wildlife corridors for various species including the federally endangered Southwestern Willow Flycatcher. More than ten of the conservation easements are adjacent to other protected lands including the Rio Grande National Forest (and Weminuche Wilderness Area), the Rio Grande Natural Area, the Alamosa and Monte Vista National Wildlife Refuges, Bureau of Land Management’s wildlife areas, Colorado State Land Board, Colorado Parks and Wildlife State Wildlife Areas, and The Nature Conservancy’s Medano-Zapata Ranch and Mishak Lakes.
In 2023 we reached 57 conservation easements
Conservation is a slow and patient process that involves a lot of leg work, passion, and time. Hitting almost 60 easements as an organization is a huge milestone that we couldn’t have done without the support of so many along the way! Fox Creek, La Jara Creek, Lone Tree Ranch, and Broken Box Ranch are the latest additions to the RiGHT conservation easements here in the San Luis Valley.
