Protect Chico Basin Ranch from sale or division now! (El Paso/Pueblo Counties)

[linda hodges]

Fellow birders,

 

The State Land Board (SLB), which owns the 87,000-acre Chico Basin Ranch (El Paso and Pueblo Counties), has been considering its options when the current lease expires in 2024. These include selling the ranch, holding the ranch, dividing it into 3 parcels or dividing it into 3 parcels and selling one.

 

We were surprised to learn that the SLB will be voting on the future of Chico at their upcoming meeting, Weds August 12^th.

 

While staff is recommending holding onto the ranch, it also appears that they’d like to split it into 3 separate parcels, to be leased individually.

 

Aiken Audubon (Colorado Springs) has been following this issue, and has been collaborating with a group of organizations to send the message that we believe the ranch should be kept intact. The land has very high conservation values according to the Colorado Natural Heritage Program, as well as wide, contiguous swaths of the threatened shortgrass prairie. Shortgrass prairie supports 52 species designated by Colorado Parks and Wildlife as Species of Greatest Conservation Need. As the Cornell Lab of Ornithology recently stated, grassland birds have declined in numbers by 53% since 1970, with nearly 75% of all grassland species in decline.

 

Habitat loss and fragmentation are two of the greatest threats to wildlife populations. Division or sale of the ranch would likely prove detrimental to the wildlife and plant communities found on the ranch. In addition, bird banding and public access would likely cease. 345 bird species have been documented at Chico, which may make it the largest birding hotspot in the state.

Your comments are needed!

 

Please write to the State Land Board by NOON this Tuesday, August 11^th

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdHLoANsTkJyomSRsPJm5aNH5EA-2sA8h7RlM8Df_ESURzjSQ/viewform

 

In addition, please consider attending the virtual meeting on Weds August 12th. You may also make real-time comments during the meeting using the Q&A feature in Zoom. The Board President will review your comments in real-time and invite you speak if needed. This link will take you to the board packet and the Zoom link:

 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1pgsT9COM-SRV8AaMv_i7hcqx8CXOE9X0/view

 

For a copy of Aiken Audubon’s letter to the SLB, signed by Audubon Rockies,  Bird Conservancy of the Rockies, Colorado Natural Heritage Program, CFO, DFO, and many others, please email me separately.

Please help us take a stand by asking the SLB to keep Chico Basin Ranch as one, intact parcel.

Thank you.

Linda Hodges

Conservation Chair

Aiken Audubon

Colorado Springs

[John Malenich]

On its website, the Colorado State Land Board (https://slb.colorado.gov/) (who leases Chico) has posted its 2026 Strategic Plan, which guides its decision-making:  It can be found here for those interested:  https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qiMWtEmDEH9_cKTP21FdlIIGk7t5jW7a/view.  It details the Board's "Four Bold Goals:" 

"Goal 1: Financial Trusteeship: Protect and enhance the long-term economic value of the whole trust."  

"Goal 2: Real Property Stewardship: Protect and enhance the long-term economic value of the trust's physical assets: land, water, commercial real estate and mineral estate."  

"Goal 3: Organizational Excellence: Cultivate prudent decision making and entrepreneurial business practices."
"Goal 4: Communications & Outreach: Broadcast what the agency does and its positive impact on Colorado."

I thought this might be useful for those submitting comments on Chico.

John Malenich

Boulder, CO