The Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust is THE Community Land Trust for the San Luis Valley.
Our Story
The Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust was founded as a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization in 1999 to help secure water for the future. We are the only local land trust that serves the entire San Luis Valley. As the community’s land trust, RiGHT is committed to working with private landowners, public agencies, and other conservation organizations to preserve the natural beauty and wildlife habitat of the area and to promote a sustainable agricultural way of life. Our goals are to protect and support working ranches and farms, water resources, wildlife habitat, scenic landscapes, and inspire a culture of conservation in the San Luis Valley.
Highlights from our History
Late 1990s
The organization was conceptualized out of a desire to protect water from trans mountain diversions. Founders include Cathy McNeil as the lead initiator with Chris Canaly, Susan Pierce, Karen Henderson, Ralph Curtis, Pete Magee and other friends contributing to this effort.
1999
First Donation received for $5,000 from Brown Foundation.
2000
Julie Gallegos and Susan Pierce hired as first staff.
2001
Closed on our first conservation easements, the 7L Diamond Ranch, followed by the Bonanza project.
2002
Nancy Butler hired as Executive Director with Rio De La Vista assisting as Coordinator of SLV Wetlands Focus Area Committee. Outreach with landowners and conservation successes in the San Luis Valley expand significantly.
2006
Rio Grande Initiative created with the goal of conserving 25,000 acres over the next 10 years. This bold vision attracted over $12 million in grant funding in its first two years alone, including support from Great Outdoors Colorado, Colorado Water Conservation Board and other Donors. Our identity in the valley as a conservation leader, collaborative partner and for getting things done becomes firmly established.
2010
Receive first Land Trust Alliance Accreditation. RiGHT remains an accredited land trust receiving LTA accreditation renewals in 2015 and 2021.
2011
First Annual Headwaters Hoedown held bringing together conservation partners, landowners and other community members to celebrate conservation successes in the San Luis Valley.
2015
Rio Grande Initiative completed resulting in protection of well over 25,000 acres and 35+ miles of river.
2017
RiGHT hosts 1st community conservation event for youth in the San Luis Valley.
2018
Allen Law becomes Executive Director after our beloved former Executive Director, Nancy Butler, passes away.
RiGHT expands conservation throughout entirety of the San Luis Valley serving a diversity of landowners while continuing our focus on protecting prime working farm and ranchlands, wetlands and river corridors and other significant ecological and cultural landscapes. A restoration program is added to the services we provide.
2019 to present
2022
Close on our 56th Conservation Easement, protecting into perpetuity over 30,000 acres.
What is a land trust?
A land trust is a nonprofit organization that, as all or part of its mission, actively works to conserve land. Land trusts traditionally achieve their conservation goals by acquiring and stewarding land or conservation easements. More recently many land trusts, like RiGHT, have started to broaden their programs beyond property acquisitions to help all people benefit from conserved lands. We believe working with more of our community will support our goal of protecting land and water forever.
Leave a legacy of land, water, and way of life in Colorado’s San Luis Valley.
There are a variety of ways to join with RiGHT and support our conservation efforts in the San Luis Valley.
Awards & Accolades
2011
The Nature Conservancy’s ‘Phil James Award’ for extraordinary contributions in advancing the mission of TNC
2013
El Pomar ‘Award for Excellence’
2014
Palmer Land Trust’s ‘Friend of Open Space Award’ to Nancy Butler (2014) at ‘Southern Colorado Conservation Awards’