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Great Outdoors Colorado awards $1 million for Glassier Ranch purchase

Staff report

Great Outdoors Colorado has awarded $1 million toward the $5.9 million purchase of the Glassier Ranch — a joint open space acquisition by Pitkin and Eagle counties.

The Great Outdoors Colorado board of trustees met Tuesday in Adams County to consider grant requests, according to a news release issued by Pitkin County Open Space and Trails. Great Outdoors Colorado distributes state lottery proceeds for projects that preserve, protect and enhance Colorado’s wildlife, park, river, trail and open space heritage.

The Pitkin County Open Space and Trails program last summer entered into a contract to purchase the historic, 137-acre Fred L. and Freida L. Glassier Ranch in the Emma area. Pitkin and Eagle counties agreed to split the purchase price and seek a Great Outdoors Colorado grant. Pitkin County will own the property outright while Eagle County will hold a conservation easement on the parcel.



The Glassier property includes significant water rights in the Home Supply Ditch and 9 acres fronting the Roaring Fork River, as well as an historic, Victorian farmhouse. In addition, it abuts Red Ridge Ranch, previously acquired in partnership by the two counties. Combined, the two ranches create a 282-acre swath stretching from the Roaring Fork River up onto the slopes of the Crown.

Next year, Pitkin County will convene a steering committee to plan the long-term management of both ranches, which together contain about 140 irrigated acres in the fertile midvalley.

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