Pitkin County pursues purchase of river parcel near Basalt

ASPEN – Pitkin County is pursuing the purchase of 2.72 acres of land along the Roaring Fork River near Basalt, preserving fishing access along both sides of the river for more than 1,000 feet.

The $276,611 Open Space and Trails purchase will go before county commissioners for approval on first reading on Wednesday. The commissioners will meet in Aspen.

The land is part of the Cerise family’s St. Judes Ranch, a property the Open Space and Trails program hopes to some day conserve, according to a memo to commissioners from Dale Will, program director.

The parcel slated for purchase is a small piece that is separate from the main ranch. It is northeast of the river, just above the upper Highway 82 bypass bridge in Basalt. A fishing easement on the west bank of the river is part of the deal, according to Will. In addition, the land is just upstream of a proposed Basalt kayak park, he noted.

The purchase was initially to involve about 3.2 acres for $325,000, but an adverse possession claim for almost a half-acre by neighboring landowner Mark Kittle remains unresolved, according to Will. The county’s contract includes the purchase of the .47 contested acres for $48,389 if Reno Cerise prevails in the adverse possession case, says Will’s memo.