Category: News

Conserved: 180 Acres of Farmland & Forest

August 3, 2022
by lposc

*|MC:SUBJECT|*

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*

Conserved: 180 Acres of Farmland and Forest

We are thrilled to announce the conservation of 180 acres of farmland and forest south of Durango on Highway 550. The Weaselskin conservation easement will ensure that the land, much of which has been in the same family for over 40 years, is preserved from development in perpetuity. The property is comprised of irrigated farmland and dryland pasture, relatively undisturbed pinon-juniper woodlands, and a small equestrian center. For the public, the property offers unobstructed views of the La Plata Mountains for north-bound travelers on Highway 550. This land protection effort also preserves habitat for numerous species of wildlife, including elk, mule deer, black bear, bobcat and mountain lion. Like much of the Florida Mesa’s western edge overlooking the Animas River, the property is also home to numerous archaeological resources that will remain undisturbed. The landowner also intends to continue to provide educational and experiential opportunities to interested parties to foster a sense of ecological awareness and an appreciation for conservation.

“This project marks the culmination of more than a decade of efforts by a particularly dedicated landowner to preserve open space for the benefit of all. Despite seemingly insurmountable obstacles, this landowner never gave up her vision for a conservation easement,” says Christy Curd, LPOSC’s Stewardship Director.

While development pressure in the Durango area has rapidly intensified in the past two years, so too has interest in conservation. “The urgency to protect lands that produce locally grown foods, support critical wildlife habitat, and provide access to recreational activities is incredibly high,” said Adrienne Dorsey, LPOSC Executive Director. “Fortunately, many landowners in our region understand the urgency to act and are working closely with LPOSC to protect hundreds of acres in the coming months.”

We are grateful to many partners who made this project possible, including Great Outdoors Colorado and Keep it Colorado who provided generous grant dollars to support transaction costs for this project.

Fly Fish for Open Space!

Are you looking for a fun way to contribute to our work conserving land and water resources? Purchase your ticket for this special opportunity to access fishing on a conserved property in a brand-new way.

Guided by San Juan Anglers, participants in this September 4th event will fly fish on the private waters of a conserved property near Durango. There are few better ways to see the impact that preserving open spaces has on our rivers than to fish them with seasoned experts! Choose between four exquisite, conserved properties for a full day of guided fly fishing.

Purchase Tickets

Ska Anniversary Party

Beers & tunes! The ticket link for this event is still live.
Join us for Ska Brewing’s 27th Anniversary Party and Brewer’s Invitational, featuring Hepcat with special guests, Rude Girl Revue and more! Enjoy beers from 30+ breweries. Proceeds benefit our work to conserve land and water here in wonderful Southwest Colorado!

Are you a business wanting to get involved? Sponsorship opportunities are available for this event! Please contact adrienne@lposc.org for more info.

Buy Tickets

Pause for a Cause

Move your body for Open Space! Join us at Pause Yoga & Pilates every Thursday evening in August for $10 drop-in yoga classes. We are grateful to be the recipients of proceeds from these awesome classes.

Fun in the Secret Garden…

What an evening with Kirk James Blues Band!

On Wednesday, July 20, the Durango community came together over blues music and Titos Vodka cocktails in the ever-so-magical Rochester Hotel Secret Garden for the sake of Open Space. Huge thanks to the folks over at Southwest Community Foundation for putting this fabulous string of events together, and to the Rochester Hotel for hosting this series in their amazing space!

Six La Plata County nonprofits serving the environment sector have been selected to benefit from the 2022 Community Concerts in the Secret Garden at the Rochester Hotel, and you still have a few weeks to show your support!

Community Concerts pairs a nonprofit with a local music talent on Wednesday evenings through August 17 to offer a fun evening of entertainment. Food and signature cocktails provided by the Rochester Hotel will be available for purchase. Join us for two more amazing evenings of music on August 10 & August 17!

La Plata Open Space Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Your gift may be tax deductible. Our EIN number is: 84-1204273.

To contribute, go to: lposc.org/donate-today/
or mail a check to the address below. Thank you!

Our mailing address is:
La Plata Open Space Conservancy
P.O. Box 1651
Durango, CO 81302

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

News

Mid Year Update

July 18, 2022
by lposc

*|MC:SUBJECT|*

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*

30th Anniversary Mid-Year Updates

This year, LPOSC celebrates 30 years of conservation progress in Southwest Colorado! Since 1992, our organization, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, has worked with nearly 200 landowners throughout southwestern Colorado to conserve 26,000 acres of land and 49 miles of river in perpetuity. The lands protected include agricultural lands that support locally grown food, open spaces, wildlife habitat, and recreation and park lands offering over 26 miles of trails.

We closed on a unique conservation easement on a five-acre property with significant archeological resources dating back to 800 AD back in January, and will complete a 180-acre conservation easement on a property south of Durango off of Highway 550 in the coming weeks. We are in the process of finalizing another 180-acre conservation easement north of Elmore’s Corner and anticipate completing two additional conservation easements later this year.

We have also seen strong success with our Southwest Stewardship Series, now in its second year, which consists of educational workshops on various stewardship topics with the goal of improving the quality and resiliency of local lands. Over the past several months, LPOSC has hosted or co-hosted three workshops open to the public covering topics ranging from pollinator preservation, soil health, and noxious weed mitigation.

Support from donors like you help make our work possible. Please consider making a gift today in support of the natural lands, waters, and ways of life that bind us all together by donating online at  lposc .org.

Thank you!

Adrienne Dorsey Christy Curd Leah Coe
Executive Director Stewardship Director Programs Assistant

Save the Date!

Save the date for this opportunity to access fishing on a conserved property in a brand new way. Guided by San Juan Anglers, participants in this September 4th event will fly fish on the private waters of a conserved property near Durango. There are few better ways to see the impact that preserving open spaces has on our rivers than to fish them with seasoned experts! Keep an eye out for tickets on lposc.org.

Meet our new Board President: Chase LaCroix

We would like to extend a warm welcome to our new Board President, Chase LaCroix! Chase is an environmentally-minded local business owner and advocate for our public lands and waterways. Read more about Chase below!

Chase LaCroix was born and raised on the Western Slope in Aspen, CO. He moved to Durango to attend Fort Lewis College in 2004, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Economics with a business concentration. During his time at Fort Lewis College, Chase met his now wife of 12 years as a river guide in both Durango, CO and Moab, UT. They have two beautiful children and a Golden Retriever named Copper.

Chase’s professional experience includes 7 years at a fast growing fintech company that allowed Chase to learn how to adapt to change and how to effectively grow an organization. Today, Chase and his wife own and operate an outdoor consignment shop called Durango Outdoor Exchange that they started in September of 2014. Their guiding values in business and in life are community, adventure, and environment. When not in the shop, you are likely to find Chase spending time with his family camping, rafting, hiking, biking, and skiing. His personal interests include hockey, sustainability, and astronomy.

Join us for the Community Concert Series in the Secret Garden! Six La Plata County nonprofits serving the environment sector have been selected to benefit from the 2022 Community Concerts in the Secret Garden at the Rochester Hotel, and we are grateful to have been selected. Community Concerts pairs a nonprofit with a local music talent on Wednesday evenings throughout July 13 – August 17 to offer a fun evening of entertainment. Food and signature cocktails provided by the Rochester Hotel will be available for purchase. Please find the 2022 Concert Schedule below!

Ska Anniversary Party

Are you a business wanted to get involved? Sponsorship opportunities are available for this event! Please contact adrienne@lposc.org for more info.

Buy Tickets

La Plata Open Space Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Your gift may be tax deductible. Our EIN number is: 84-1204273.

To contribute, go to: lposc.org/donate-today/
or mail a check to the address below. Thank you!

Our mailing address is:
La Plata Open Space Conservancy
P.O. Box 1651
Durango, CO 81302

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

News

Summer in Full Swing

July 6, 2022
by lposc

*|MC:SUBJECT|*

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*

Debra and Jeff May hosted us at their lovely Destination Ranch property for Solstice Swing, and we are so appreciative of their hospitality (and knack for throwing an unforgettable party!). Views were admired, friends were made, and swing dancing was done. We couldn’t ask for a better start to our summer!

Speaking of music…

Buy your punch pass here!

Ska Anniversary Party

Beers & tunes!
Join us for Ska Brewing’s 27th Anniversary Party and Brewer’s Invitational, featuring Hepcat with special guests, Rude Girl Revue and more! Enjoy beers from 30+ breweries. Proceeds benefit our work to conserve land and water here in wonderful Southwest Colorado!

Are you a business wanting to boost visibility and support a great cause? Sponsorship opportunities are available for this event! Please contact adrienne@lposc.org for more info.

Buy Tickets

Supporter Spotlight

Meet Lorna Campbell, winner of our spring raffle Expedition Outside fishing trip!

“I am originally from Australia and have spent the last 20 years bouncing back and forth between Melbourne and Houston before settling in Durango in 2019. I am a geologist and avid athlete – trail runner, mountain biker, hiker, social kayaker – which eternally has my eyes and attention on the outdoors. Durango and the San Juans are paradise to me (although a beach would be nice some days – ha!). I love nothing more than getting out into the wild places we are so lucky to have access to. I really appreciate the value of open space and its conservancy so that we can preserve and protect special places for their natural beauty, provide a home for native wildlife and birds, and for responsible public use. I have not done as much on the water as the land in the area, so am really excited to try out a special fishing place with my prize!”

Thanks for your support, Lorna!

Bird Banding Workshop

Participants in our 2022 Bird Banding Workshop rose early to make their way to Oxbow Park & Preserve for a morning of mist nets and bird song. Brian Magee of Colorado Parks & Wildlife, Lynn Wickersham of Animas Biological Studies, and a knowledgeable team of bird banding volunteers led workshop participants through the meticulous process of catching, documenting, banding, and finally releasing birds back into the wild. Thanks to this crew for a special morning!

Our mailing address is:
La Plata Open Space Conservancy
P.O. Box 1651
Durango, CO 81302

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

Events

Spring Raffles

May 27, 2022May 27, 2022
by lposc

We’re raffling off an Alpacka Raft and a day of private water fly fishing, perfect for your summer adventures! All proceeds support La Plata Open Space Conservancy’s work to conserve land and water in Southwest Colorado.

Tickets and More Information

News

Spring Raffles, Workshops, and Upcoming Events

May 16, 2022
by lposc

*|MC:SUBJECT|*

*|MC_PREVIEW_TEXT|*

this e-mail best viewed in your browser

We are raffling off two incredible prizes: a “Scout” Raft from Alpacka Raft and a day of Private Water Fly Fishing from Expedition Outside.

Buy Tickets

A big thank-you to Expedition Outside and Alpacka Raft for their generous donations! All proceeds support La Plata Open Space Conservancy’s work to conserve land and water in Southwest Colorado.

Southwest Stewardship Series

Soil Health Workshop
We are pleased to sponsor Montezuma County Conservation Districts’ Soil Health Workshop featuring Ray Archuleta (of the film Kiss the Ground) this Friday, May 20. Learn how to improve your soil health, reduce fertilizer costs, and increase your farm’s profitability. Online registration is now closed, but same-day registration will be available at a reduced price. In addition, we have a few scholarships left for La Plata County landowners to attend. If the registration fee is an obstacle, please contact christy@lposc.org for a scholarship. Registration info here.

Pollinator Workshop
We have just a few spots left for our popular Pollinator Workshop on a beautiful conserved property (and pollinator paradise!) south of Bayfield this Saturday, May 21. Check out the Herald’s coverage of the workshop, or the registration link below for more info. This workshop is free and open to all, but registration is required. Register here.

Noxious Weed Workshop

This weed mitigation workshop will be held on a conserved property near Durango. La Plata County’s Weed Control Manager, Ben Bain, will discuss identification and management best practices for common species in our area. Chemical, mechanical, and biological control methods will all be addressed. This workshop is free and open to all, but registration is required. Register here.

Big thanks to Great Outdoors Colorado for their support of our Southwest Stewardship Series!

Summer Solstice Benefit

We hope you’ll join us for a special evening at Destination Ranch featuring drinks, heavy appetizers, and Jeff Solon’s Swingin’ Big Band! Destination Ranch is almost entirely permanently conserved, and lies under the magnificent La Plata Mountains. Support our work to conserve land in Southwest Colorado while enjoying the incredible scenery and ambiance of this conserved property.

Tickets & More Info

Save the Date: 30th Anniversary Celebration

Although we were disappointed to cancel our Snowdown Cocktails for Conservation for the second year in a row, we’re very excited to bring you a similar event on a conserved property near Durango on July 23rd. Even better, this event will be a celebration of our 30th year of work conserving your Southwest Colorado way of life. Mark your calendars now and keep an eye out for more information to come!

Art Show Benefitting LPOSC

Join us for a reception for Sandra Emmanuel Heller‘s One Person Show at Create Art & Tea. 10% of sales will go to La Plata Open Space Conservancy during the show, which runs from June 3 – 29.

Reception: June 3, 2022, 5-7pm, Create Art & Tea, 1015 Main Ave, Durango

Call for Volunteers

We are seeking volunteers to help us staff our booth at Animas River Days on Saturday, June 4. We have the following slots available:

9am-12pm
12-3pm
3-6pm
6-9pm (includes breakdown of booth)

Email adrienne@lposc.org if you would be interested in helping out!

Thanks for Joining Us!

Photo Credit: Eppich Photography, LLC
Thanks to those who attended our Spirit of the Southwest Gathering, and a special shout-out to Kellam Throgmorton of Crow Canyon Archaeological Center for leading a fantastic tour of the site. Thanks also to Carver‘s for donating beer and to landowner Helen Ruth Aspaas for creating fabulous table centerpieces.

La Plata Open Space Conservancy is a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Your gift may be tax deductible. Our EIN number is: 84-1204273.

To contribute, go to: lposc.org/donate-today/
or mail a check to the address below. Thank you!

Our mailing address is:
La Plata Open Space Conservancy
P.O. Box 1651
Durango, CO 81302

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

News

Meet Our New Executive Director

February 21, 2022
by lposc

Our new Executive Director, Adrienne Dorsey, originally from Silverthorne, comes to us from Denver. Adrienne has nearly two decades of combined experience working in land conservation, sustainability, and renewable energy.

Previously, she was Executive Director of GRID Alternatives Colorado, a nonprofit organization whose mission is to build community-powered solutions to advance economic and environmental justice through renewable energy. Prior to joining GRID Alternatives Colorado, she worked for various nonprofits and governmental agencies leading innovative programs and projects at both the state and local levels. Her experience includes managing a statewide conservation fellowship program, leading a statewide initiative to expand access to community solar for low-income households in Colorado and building the first sustainability office for Adams County, Colorado.

She holds a master’s degree in Environmental Policy and Management from the University of Denver and a bachelor’s degree in Natural Resources Management from Colorado State University. She formerly sat on the Board of Directors for the Colorado Solar and Storage Association and the Sustainable Neighborhoods Network. She was also recognized by the Denver Business Journal as one of the 40 Top Women in Energy in 2019. When not in the office, you can find her enjoying the outdoors with her husband, son, and three dogs.

Events

30th Anniversary Events!

February 21, 2022April 22, 2022
by lposc

We’ve been a little quiet over here lately, but it’s just because we’ve been rounding up this great 30th Anniversary event schedule. No matter your interests, we think there’s an event in this lineup for you. Some details are still TBD, and we even have a few more events in the works that we haven’t included here, so be sure to keep an eye out for updates as the year goes on. First up is our Earth Day Meet & Greet and Film Screening of “To Which We Belong,” featuring our friends at James Ranch. Stay tuned and head on over to our events page for more details as it gets closer!