Northeast Colorado ranching family expands their conservation commitment to the Uncompahgre Plateau.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Karina Puikkonen, karina@ccalt.org, 720.557.8277

January 6, 2024

MONTROSE, Colo. – The Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT) announces the completion of a new conservation easement with the Hettinger family that conserves a 160-acre inholding within the Uncompahgre National Forest in Montrose County. The new Hank’s Creek Conservation Easement expands the conservation of open lands that sustain healthy and diverse wildlife populations and supports the local agricultural community in Montrose County. The Hettinger family headquarter their agriculture operations on the plains of Northeast Colorado, and their land stewardship now transcends regions.

“Partnering with the Hettingers, a family dedicated to land stewardship and conservation, has been a privilege and wonderful experience,” said CCALT Conservation Manager Monica Shields. “The Hank’s Creek Conservation Easement is an important part of a larger landscape that helps to support valuable wildlife corridors and support ecosystem stability. We are extremely grateful to the Hettinger family for their continued dedication to conserve Colorado’s working lands.”

The Hank’s Creek Conservation Easement lies 20 miles southwest of the town of Montrose and is surrounded by public lands within the Uncompahgre National Forest and other private lands. The property is undeveloped with rolling and steep terrain of Gambel oak, mountain shrublands, and aspen forests. Almost one mile of Hank’s Creek runs through the property, supporting a local agricultural operation and bountiful wildlife populations year-round.

The Hettingers were first introduced to the property more than 50 years ago and fell in love with the area. They dedicate this conservation easement to the memory of John Delmar Jutten who, with his family had owned and stewarded this land since 1950. Howard and Julie Hettinger appreciate the land stewardship practiced by the Jutten family.

“Completing the conservation easement has been a goal for a number of years. We first visited the Uncompahgre Plateau over 50 years ago. This area is a huge and beautiful place, and we’d like to see it remain that way,” said Howard and Julie Hettinger in a statement. “When we were given the opportunity to purchase this inholding in the National Forest, we decided to do something to keep the land in its natural state and to not allow it to be subdivided and exploited. We want to keep its present use for agriculture and a special place for wildlife.”

The Hettingers currently lease the property for seasonal livestock grazing that supports a neighboring cattle operation. Grazing durations are considered based on the condition of the range each season and what it can support, ensuring the resources remain plentiful for wildlife habitat across the seasons. This immediate area has been mapped by Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) as critical habitat for elk calving as well as overall range for elk and migratory corridors for large mule deer herds. Conserving inholdings provides important public benefits as it reduces the fragmentation of wildlife habitat and maintains the scenic quality of public land viewsheds. 

CCALT holds conservation easements on 5,815 acres in Montrose County. There are eight other conserved private properties within seven miles of Hank’s Creek, three of which have been conserved by CCALT and landowner-partners. This is the second conservation easement the Hettinger family has completed with CCALT. In 2023, the Hettingers completed a conservation easement on the X7 Ranch near Sterling that conserved a unique combination of agricultural land and wildlife habitat in Northeast Colorado. The Hettinger family exemplifies a conservation ethic that benefits the entire state.

Transaction cost assistance was provided by CPW’s Habitat Partnership Program and the Muley Fanatic Foundation.

About the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust
The Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT) is a nonprofit land conservation organization whose mission is to “…conserve Colorado’s Western heritage and working landscapes for the benefit of future generations.” CCALT has partnered with hundreds of ranching families to conserve more than 805,000 acres statewide.

About Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) works to perpetuate the wildlife resources of the state, provide a quality state parks system, and provide an enjoyable and sustainable outdoor recreation opportunities that educate and inspire current and future generations to serve as active stewards of Colorado’s natural resources.

About Muley Fanatic Foundation
The Muley Fanatic Foundation works to ensure the conservation of mule deer and their habitat and to provide such supporting services to further the sport of hunting and sound wildlife management.