This is a joint news release between Eagle County and the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust 
 
Feb. 03, 2026 - The Eagle County Board of County Commissioners has approved a funding agreement for up to $10 million to support the permanent conservation of the Nottingham Ranch, located in both Eagle and Routt Counties. The decision follows a formal recommendation from the Eagle County Open Space Advisory Committee (OSAC), which evaluated the project using the county’s established conservation criteria and recommended utilizing the Open Space Fund for this historic conservation project. 
 
This partnership with the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT) represents the largest single-acreage conservation project in the 23-year history of the Eagle County Open Space program, effectively doubling the program’s total conservation impact since inception. 
 
The total value of the conservation easement is currently estimated to be between $27 million and $30 million. Eagle County’s financial commitment is specifically restricted to the 9,480.49 acres of the Ranch located within Eagle County boundaries. By contributing up to $10 million, the County achieves a cost-per-conserved-acre of approximately $1,054.80, leveraging significant external funding to secure a high-priority landscape. 
 
“This is an irreplaceable opportunity due to its sheer size, high-priority habitat, and the low cost-per-acre to remove future development rights,” said Tom Boyd, Eagle County Commissioner. “Our contribution leverages significant state and regional funding to protect a landscape that defines the future of our county.”  
 
“Conserving land at this scale requires a visionary and committed landowner who cares deeply about the land and its stewardship,” said Erik L. Glenn, CCALT CEO. “It also takes partnership and collaboration. CCALT is grateful for Eagle County’s leadership and its commitment of up to $10 million through the Open Space program to help permanently conserve the historic Nottingham Ranch. Investments like this don’t just conserve open space, they protect wildlife habitat, promote our rich agricultural heritage, and support the working lands economy that sustains rural communities, local jobs, and the producers who feed and fuel our state.” 
 
The Open Space Advisory Committee recommended acquisition of conservation easements for the Nottingham Ranch, noting that it scores highly across many of the Eagle County Open Space Criteria. 

• Wildlife, Wildlife Habitat and Migration Routes: The property provides essential winter range and calving territory for the White River elk herd, securing migratory corridors between the Flat Tops Wilderness and lower wintering grounds for an estimated 40,000–42,000 animals. This conservation project protects vital landscapes for Elk, Mule Deer, and Pronghorn (severe winter range/calving), safeguards priority nesting/brood-rearing habitats for Greater Sage-Grouse, and maintains year-round connectivity for Black Bear and Mountain Lion. Preventing fragmentation ensures long-term resilience for Colorado’s key wildlife populations. 

• Scenic Landscapes and Vistas: The ranch preserves the visual integrity of a landscape defined by Castle Peak and the surrounding U.S. Forest Service and BLM lands. The property maintains the vast, unobstructed views experienced when driving or floating along the Colorado River, protecting the iconic rural character that defines this region. 

• Regional Heritage, Historic Sites, and Agricultural Land: The project protects a historic working ranch, ensuring long-term viability and productivity. The easements secure over 160 cubic feet per second (cfs) of senior water rights, which are critical for preserving irrigated lands and necessary agricultural infrastructure. 

• Sensitive Lands and Environments: The project conserves nearly 9,500 acres adjacent to federal lands, establishing a contiguous protected landscape crucial for safeguarding riparian ecosystems and regional watershed health. This high-biodiversity property spans a diverse range of ecosystems—from Colorado River areas up to alpine meadows over 10,000 feet—including sagebrush steppe, shrubland, aspen and mixed conifer forests, wetlands, and pinyon juniper. 

This initiative is a joint effort between Eagle County and several state and regional funding partners, including: 

• Routt County Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) 
• Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) 
• CPW-Eagle County Regional Partnership Initiative 
• National Fish and Wildlife Foundation 
• Additional funding partners anticipated 

About Eagle County Open Space 
The Eagle County Open Space and Natural Resources Program is dedicated to conserving landscapes, scenic views, and agricultural heritage, promoting the sound management of our natural resources to support the Eagle County way of life for present and future generations. The Open Space fund is guided by the Citizens’ Open Space Advisory Committee and utilizes a dedicated, voter-approved sales tax to prioritize and fund the protection of Eagle County’s most significant open lands. 
 
About Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT) 
The Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT) partners with landowners to conserve and steward Colorado’s working landscapes and agricultural heritage for the benefit of all Coloradans.  Since 1995, CCALT has partnered with over 400 families to conserve more than 820,000 acres of Colorado ranch land.  CCALT seeks to build a future where Colorado’s working lands, farm and ranch families, and rural communities thrive — ecologically, economically, and culturally.