This is a link to the main portion of the State Land Board minutes discussing Chico (40 pages)
http://www.avoapples.com/birds/chico_SLB_9_1_19_b.pdf I agree that 5 years is a ways off but it is better to be proactive vs reactive and we currently have a governor and legislature that would look at our concerns from a fairly positive perspective. I think our goal should be maintaining long term public access to the various birding "hot spots" on the ranch. tx Bill On Sunday, September 1, 2019 at 4:29:34 PM UTC-6, paddyo'bird wrote: > > Thanks for the heads-up. > I'll be curious to know just how someone could "inadvertently add" nearly > 2,000 acres of Chico Basin Ranch to Stewardship Trust back in 1998. > Count me skeptical of this . . . what, exactly -- excuse? Justification? > > Patrick O'Driscoll > Denver > > > On Sun, Sep 1, 2019 at 4:19 PM linda hodges <hiker...@gmail.com > <javascript:>> wrote: > >> Bill, and all concerned birders, >> >> Please check the State Land Board's website if you want the full scope >> of what's being considered at Chico. >> https://drive.google.com/file/d/1uzQdtc4yw3_HLoOJ5Rm8zITXOJkMR7Pa/view >> >> The Phillips' lease on Chico is good for 5 more years, so nothing is >> imminent. >> >> You can be assured that Aiken Audubon and the Audubon Colorado Council >> will be following this every step of the way, and will advise you when >> we need to rally the troops. Interestingly, in the board packet the SLB >> staff advised the board that pushback from the community should be >> expected. Indeed! >> >> The SLB will be meeting in Colorado Springs (El Paso County) September >> 11th and 12th. The agenda has not yet been released, but anyone >> interested in attending can check to see when citizens' comments will be >> allowed. I am hoping to attend. >> >> https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-NbLPHRjORvug3nf38BGvpk-f8zoDI_bic_Id7AUNps/edit >> >> >> Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or comments. >> >> Linda >> >> *Linda Hodges* >> *Conservation Chair* >> *Aiken Audubon Society * >> *Colorado Springs* >> *conservat...@aikenaudubon.com* <javascript:> >> >> >> On Sun, Sep 1, 2019, 11:24 AM kickback <bill_...@msn.com <javascript:> >> wrote: >> >>> I read this article in the recent newsletter from the Colorado Springs >>> Aiken Audubon Society. I don't know anything beyond what the article states >>> but if all of the facts in it are correct I think we need to send input to >>> appropriate individuals, especially since it sounds like the state owns >>> Chico Ranch. >>> >>> Comments welcome! >>> >>> Bill Kosar >>> >>> *CHICO BASIN RANCH CONCERNS* >>> >>> * For the past 20 years, Colorado Springs birders—in fact, birders >>> across the state—have been accustomed to wide access to the migratory >>> stopover known as Chico Basin Ranch. That may be about to change. >>> Ranchlands (Duke Phillips and family) holds the lease for Chico from the >>> State Land Board (SLB), which owns the property. The 25-year lease expires >>> in 2024. In their August meeting notes, the SLB devoted 33 pages to >>> re-evaluating the Chico lease and increasing revenue. While the proposed >>> options include selling the entire property for $33 million or continuing >>> to lease to one entity, it would be more profitable for them to split up >>> the ranch. The preferred option seems to be dividing the property into >>> three separate ranches, and potentially selling one off. Public access >>> would likely be denied. Almost half (44%) of Chico is designated into the >>> Stewardship Trust. “The designation is focused on large areas of intact, >>> high quality Central Shortgrass Prairie that include globally significant >>> natural plant communities and imperiled species” (SLB August 2019 Board >>> Meeting Information). Dividing the ranch would obviously fragment wildlife >>> habitat due to increased fencing, new ranch buildings, and differing >>> management styles. This is the largest tract of undeveloped land owned by >>> SLB, and the lack of fragmentation only increases its conservation value as >>> a wildlife and migratory corridor. It’s possible that SLB would put a >>> conservation easement on any property it sold, but that would be a long >>> shot. The State Land Board will be meeting in El Paso County on September >>> 11 and 12.* >>> >>> -- >>> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google >>> Groups "Colorado Birds" group. >>> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send >>> an email to cob...@googlegroups.com <javascript:>. >>> To view this discussion on the web visit >>> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/384eb07d-d151-494a-9476-0a75d24de0a5%40googlegroups.com >>> >>> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/384eb07d-d151-494a-9476-0a75d24de0a5%40googlegroups.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >>> . >>> >> -- >> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups >> "Colorado Birds" group. >> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an >> email to cob...@googlegroups.com <javascript:>. >> To view this discussion on the web visit >> https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CABW16TkQKfaD8irWosG1LaKWY1L14zvLB1LmJWbMy99vHkY%2B_A%40mail.gmail.com >> >> <https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/cobirds/CABW16TkQKfaD8irWosG1LaKWY1L14zvLB1LmJWbMy99vHkY%2B_A%40mail.gmail.com?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> >> . >> > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Colorado Birds" group. 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