FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contact: Darryl Seibel, Darryl@ccalt.org , 720-557-8266

October 2, 2025

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. – The Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT) is proud to partner with the Routt County Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) Program and landowner Susan Larson to conserve 120 acres of Wild Goose Ranch, which is located in Steamboat Springs. The easement secures irrigated hay meadows and riparian habitat and fulfills the conservation vision of Susan and her late husband, Jim Larson. This effort ensures the long-term viability of the ranch’s agricultural operations and carries forward the Larson family’s commitment to the land and water of this Colorado ranch.

“As you drive down Highway 40 into Steamboat Springs, Wild Goose Ranch comes into plain sight,” said CCALT Conservation Manager Monica Shields. “The irrigated hay meadows will not only continue to provide scenic views, but the conservation of this ranch will permanently secure important water rights that will allow future generations of ranchers and farmers to continue to steward the land. It has been a privilege to work with Susan to conserve her beautiful ranch, and we are extremely thankful for the support the Routt County PDR Program has provided for this project.”

The Wild Goose Ranch is comprised primarily of irrigated hay meadows, with 92% of the easement area in active hay production. Historically, the land supported both haying and livestock grazing, and today it remains leased to a local agricultural producer. Several water rights associated with the hay meadow irrigation will be tied to the easement, supporting both agricultural production and riparian ecosystems.

“Since our arrival in the Yampa Valley full time, our family has always felt a duty to protect the land and the water, especially here in the South Valley,” said Susan Larson. “We have felt even more strongly about this responsibility, with all the growth that has occurred in the last several years all over Colorado, and notably here in Routt County. Jim and I always knew that this is a critical value and vision that our children and grandchildren will surely continue to support.”

The conservation of the Wild Goose Ranch is critical for maintaining the agricultural productivity of this Routt County working landscape, particularly as expansion from Steamboat Springs continues to increase development pressure. In addition, its protection safeguards valuable wildlife habitat for elk, mule deer, moose, black bear and species of special concern like the Columbian sharp-tailed grouse and greater sandhill crane, while also securing scenic views along Colorado State Highway 131 and Highway 40. The property lies adjacent to existing CCALT easements and within close proximity to publicly managed lands, including Colorado Parks and Wildlife properties, Routt National Forest and Bureau of Land Management lands.

This conservation achievement was made possible through funding from the Routt County PDR Program, which continues to expand its portfolio of conserved ranches through its ongoing partnership with CCALT. CCALT is grateful for the collaboration and partnership that enables the conservation of these working lands.

“We are proud to support the permanent conservation of the Wild Goose Ranch through the Routt County Purchase of Development Rights Program,” said Routt County Commissioner Sonja Macys. “Nestled in the highly scenic South Valley floor corridor, the ranch is a vital part of the iconic landscape of working agriculture and conserved lands that residents and visitors alike enjoy when descending Rabbit Ears Pass. This conservation easement not only safeguards a beloved agricultural and scenic landscape, it also plays a critical role in protecting vital wildlife habitat and increasingly important water rights. We are deeply grateful to the property owners, as well as the many agencies and organizations who partnered in this effort, for their commitment to permanent land stewardship and the long- term preservation of Routt County’s natural and cultural heritage.”

The success of this project also reflects the dedication of landowners like Susan Larson, whose willingness to conserve Colorado’s working lands and waters ensures the continued vitality of the region’s working lands, wildlife habitat and scenic character for generations to come. Working in partnership with landowners, CCALT has now conserved more than 820,000 acres of farmland, ranchland, wildlife habitat and open space across Colorado, including more than 83,000 acres in Routt County.

About the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust

The mission of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust is to conserve Colorado’s Western heritage and working landscapes for the benefit of future generations. Since 1995, CCALT has partnered with more than 400 families to conserve more than 820,000 acres of Colorado farmland, ranchland, open space, and wildlife habitat.

About the Routt County Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) Program

The Routt County PDR Program is a land protection tool in which a property’s development rights are purchased from willing landowners. Funding for the PDR Program is derived from a 1.5 mill levy in County property tax approved by voters through 2035. In exchange for County funds, the landowner grants a perpetual conservation easement, or deed restriction on the property, thereby permanently protecting the land from development. The PDR Program provides landowners an economically attractive alternative to selling land for development by compensating them for the development rights on their land. Ownership of the property remains vested with the landowner, who can use and manage the property consistent with the terms of the conservation easement. Since the initiation of the PDR Program in 1997, the County has helped fund the purchase of conservation easements on 68,535 acres, at a cost of just over $32 million.

Members of the media: for more information, please contact Darryl Seibel, CCALT Director of External Relations, at (720) 557-8266 or darryl@ccalt.org.