Sustainable Agriculture
Working lands are important to Chaffee County’s quality of life. They provide the green meadows that give our valley its beautiful open spaces. The irrigated meadows recharge the aquifer and wetlands, the cattle drives contribute to our rural character, and the alfalfa fields give the antelope, elk and deer critical forage during deep-snow winters.
Nine out of ten local producers say they want to keep their lands in production, but they face economic challenges and ever-increasing conflicts with the growing population. Common Ground funds help keep working lands working through conservation agreements with landowners and programs that support agricultural sustainability to protect our rural landscapes for everyone.
