LAND EXCHANGE IN SOUTHERN COLORADO

LAND EXCHANGE IN SOUTHERN COLORADO – The Valle Seco area in Southern Colorado is considered one of the most important winter habitats for elk and deer in the San Juan Basin.  Many elk and deer travel from the high country of the San Juan National Forest to lower areas during the winter.  These areas include Southern Colorado and Northern New Mexico.

Proposed Exchange

The Forest Service is looking to obtain a 880-acre piece of private land in the Valle Seco area that is prime for elk and deer winter habitat.  The exchange would allow the Forest Service to help protect a continuous habitat for wintering wildlife and migration corridor.  In exchange for the property, the Forest Service is offering a couple different pieces of land.  Those include 26 acres of federal land with scenic river corridors, as well as 176 acres of roadless land in the San Juan area.

The Forest Service frequently purchases land from private parties.  However, to purchase a property, the owner must be willing to sell.  In the case of the Valle Seco property, the owner is not willing to sell.  Thus, the Land and Water Conservation Fund cannot be used.  In cases where the owner is not willing to sell, the Forest Service then turns to a land exchange to hopefully benefit both parties involved.

Next Steps

In the coming months, the Forest Service plans to have an environmental analysis draft developed.  The draft will be available for public view.  The analysis will also be open for public comment, and the Forest Service will accept feedback on the proposed exchange.  If anyone has questions related to the exchange, the Forest Service recommends reaching out to the Colorado Pagosa Ranger District at the information below.

Do you see a benefit in this exchange?  If you were the property owner, would you entertain the exchange?