Schutt Wetlands

In January of 2023, 1% for Open Space granted $125,000 toward the purchase of a conservation easement on 107 acres of private property, just southeast of the town of Crested Butte. The property is located adjacent to Town Ranch and highway 135, encompassing 1.2 miles of the Slate River. The land owners, Bob and Suzanne Schutt, worked with the Crested Butte Land Trust to place an easement on their property to protect its conservation and recreational value into perpetuity. The property consists of sub-irrigated meadow, wetlands, and riparian ecosystems. Apart from its exception views of the entire valley it also offers a seasonal home to nesting birds and a migration corridor for big game.

The conservation easement (CE) serves to protect all these conservation values by eliminating the development rights for two potential homesites on the property. The CE also permanently protects the seasonal access to the public’s use of cross country ski trails, connecting the neighborhoods of Skyland and Riverbend to town in the winter months. The Deli Trail, which crosses the property, will also be permanently protected for the public’s use, keeping recreationalists off the main highway!

1% for Open Space was thrilled to be a part of this landmark project that protects critical wetlands and is part of the 30 year effort to preserve the slate river and its surrounding habitat. A huge thank you to the Crested Butte Land Trust and the Schutt Family for the time and energy they put into this conservation effort!

Photo: Xavi Fane

01/19/2023