from careful surveys
to an action plan
From its inception an important goal of the Crestone/Baca Land Trust has been to address the design flaws of the Baca Grande subdivision as originally conceived. The early development plan paid scant attention to the concepts of sustainability, community or to the extraordinary beauty, ecological values and sensitivity of the lands within the subdivision.
In order to preserve the ecological integrity of the area the Land Trust needed baseline information. The Steering Committee went to work mapping wetlands, wildlife corridors, future community service areas and potential pedestrian and bike paths.
With the assistance of local ecologists, botanists and geologists CBLT documented vegetation and soil types and compiled lists of plants, birds, mammals, fish and reptiles. This work was an essential first step in identifying priority conservation sites with the most ecological significance.
The 2004 grant from the Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) supported a comprehensive biological study of the Baca Grande subdivision. Conducted by zoologist John Sovell with the prestigious Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) at Colorado State University, Ft. Collins, this important study identified four Priority Conservation Areas and one site of Special Biological Significance in the Baca Grande subdivision. The Sovell Report serves an important role in helping the Land Trust identify priority conservation areas and issues.
To download the report
click / right click here 6.24 MB PDF
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