Forest Health

Funding collaborative projects to improve forest health and reduce community wildfire danger

Rodeo Road fuel break addresses Mount Princeton wildfire threat

Nearby homeowners create defensible space to increase wildfire resiliency through programs supported by Common Ground A wildfire mitigation project at the base of Mount Princeton southwest of Buena Vista was…

Chaffee Fire hires wildfire and mitigation coordinator

Dedicated specialist focuses on preparedness and fire response Chaffee County Fire Protection District has added a wildfire coordinator to its staff with support from Chaffee Common Ground. Long-time firefighter Jeff…

Project salvages beetle-kill trees on steep slopes to reduce wildfire risk, protect water resources Story and photos provided by Arkansas River Watershed Collaborative Thanks to a collaborative effort led by…

Upper Ark Forest Fund supports wildfire plan implementation

National Forest Foundation accelerates land treatments with Common Ground seed funds The Upper Ark Forest Fund created by the National Forest Foundation (NFF) accelerates forest treatments as outlined in the…

Chaffee Chips helps landowners prep for wildfire

A countywide fire mitigation program called Chaffee Chips is helping landowners create defensible space around their homes by coordinating neighborhood slash removal and chipping services. Originally developed by Chaffee County…

Community wildfire preparedness supported by Common Ground

More than $4 million in Common Ground funding is helping to implement Chaffee County’s Community Wildfire Protection Plan. The plan maps where to treat up to 30,000 acres of public…

Recreation

Creating planning and management solutions for growing use of public lands

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Story walks highlight ecology themes around BV’s town lake

Project headed by the BV Public Library brings environmental education to the public

Campsite conversions support forest health & outdoor experience

Projects achieve a major Chaffee Rec Plan objective to provide high-quality, low-impact camping experiences across Chaffee County

Common Ground supports wildlife during sensitive times of the year

Seasonal trail and road closures explained and reinforced with signs and gates Known as the “Banana Belt” for its relatively mild winters, Chaffee County hosts many species of migrating wildlife.…

Trail upgrades protect Arkansas River in Buena Vista

Whipple Trail corridor improvements help manage growth in popularity The Town of Buena Vista is completing a trail project to address erosion, safety concerns, congestion and additional issues on the…

SLB pilots program for designated public campsites

14 new campsites open on 3,400 acres in the Fourmile Recreation Management Area The Colorado State Land Board (SLB) designated new campsites on its Chubb Park parcel in the Fourmile…

Temporary toilets keep public lands cleaner

Nearly 30 portable toilets have been placed at busy trailheads and popular recreation areas over the past two summers as part of a Chaffee Recreation Council “Keep it Clean” initiative…

Managing the impacts of growth in outdoor recreation

Quality outdoor recreation is an essential part of the Chaffee County lifestyle as well as a key economic driver. While recreation use is growing and that’s good for the economy,…

Rangers patrol, clean up public lands under recreation program

On a Thursday morning in early July, the Chaffee Rec Rangers arrive at the Buffalo Peaks Trailhead deep in the Fourmile Recreation Management Area where remnants of a campfire remain…

All hands help restore Fourmile road near Midland recreation area

Mini-grant supports BLM, volunteer effort to address growth impacts Julie Finley grabs a handful of seed from a gallon-sized Ziplock baggie then flicks her wrist over a two-track road at…

Education in sharper focus at popular Fourmile recreation area

Chaffee Common Ground is supporting education and interpretation at one of the county’s busiest visitor recreation areas. More than a dozen new entry-point kiosks and information panels were added in…

Sustainable Agriculture

Keeping working lands working to protect our rural landscapes for everyone

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Lewis Ranch preserved in perpetuity

Brice and Kate Lewis became the first Community Conservation Connection program participants to permanently preserve their land when they closed on a traditional conservation easement with the Central Colorado Conservancy…

Rawhide Creek Ranch near Nathrop preserved

Agreement completes Heart of the Arkansas project with protection of 2,400 acres through conservation easements

Virtual fencing helps ranchers address evolving changes

New tech can help mitigate conflicts between livestock and recreational land users Agriculture has been practiced for millennia, but that doesn’t mean farmers and ranchers have stopped innovating since the invention…

In early 2022, 650 acres of the historic Centerville Ranch in the heart of Chaffee County were protected forever through a conservation easement agreement between the landowner and Central Colorado…

Innovative program keeps working lands in operation

Community Conservation Connection, a new program led by the Central Colorado Conservancy with funding from Chaffee Common Ground, is seeing success as more rural lands stay in agricultural operation while Chaffee County…

Stunning Arrowpoint Ranch protected in perpetuity

The Central Colorado Conservancy has completed a conservation easement on the mid-valley Arrowpoint Ranch, situated in a stunning setting along the Arkansas River and scenic Highway 285 in Nathrop. The…

Common Ground invests in irrigation system to help keep the valley green

Bowen Ditch, dug in 1868, receives important repairs to keep water flowing By Tara Flanagan Bowen Ditch Company Secretary With its origins in a tight and somewhat remote canyon on…

Forest Health

Rodeo Road fuel break addresses Mount Princeton wildfire threat

Chaffee Fire hires wildfire and mitigation coordinator

Making a difference at Monarch Pass

Upper Ark Forest Fund supports wildfire plan implementation

Chaffee Chips helps landowners prep for wildfire

Community wildfire preparedness supported by Common Ground

Recreation

Story walks highlight ecology themes around BV’s town lake

Campsite conversions support forest health & outdoor experience

Common Ground supports wildlife during sensitive times of the year

Trail upgrades protect Arkansas River in Buena Vista

SLB pilots program for designated public campsites

Temporary toilets keep public lands cleaner

Managing the impacts of growth in outdoor recreation

Rangers patrol, clean up public lands under recreation program

All hands help restore Fourmile road near Midland recreation area

Education in sharper focus at popular Fourmile recreation area

Sustainable Agriculture

Lewis Ranch preserved in perpetuity

Rawhide Creek Ranch near Nathrop preserved

Virtual fencing helps ranchers address evolving changes

Centerville Ranch, protected forever!

Innovative program keeps working lands in operation

Stunning Arrowpoint Ranch protected in perpetuity

Common Ground invests in irrigation system to help keep the valley green