Land Trusts

Extinguishment and Transfer to the Federal Government: The two documents below outline the partnership between The Nature Conservancy and Great Outdoors Colorado in their efforts to create a 500 square mile “American Serengeti” in the San Luis Valley of Colorado (quote from page 4 of the first document “GOCO Medano-Zepata Ranch” email to Lise Aangeenbrug). To accomplish this the 2003 conservation easement will be extinguished and the land will be sold to the Federal Government for inclusion in the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve. However, the second document, “Deferred Maintenance” reveals that the Federal Government is already over $10 million behind in maintaining the Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve and the addition of an additional 500 square miles is unlikely to ease the burden.

GOCO-MZ-Post-Closing-Issues-1

FY17-NPS-Deferred-Maintenance-by-State-and-Park_508-4