Colorado West Land Trust

Colorado West Land Trust Colorado West Land Trust is a nonprofit that conserves and enhances land in western Colorado.

A couple of hours on Friday morning at Crane Landing, Delta’s boat ramp, with a great group of volunteers! A big thank-y...
09/03/2026

A couple of hours on Friday morning at Crane Landing, Delta’s boat ramp, with a great group of volunteers!

A big thank-you to two members of the River Science Crew, Clair and Chloe, for joining us to tackle invasive species along the Gunnison River. Removing invasives earlier in the season is much easier than waiting until the kochia grows to become tree-sized! The last photo shows the overgrowth at Crane Landing in 2025 and why staying on top of invasive species early in the season makes such a difference!

Crane Landing is a great spot to enjoy a short and sweet river trail and do some wildlife watching along the Gunnison River. We’re grateful to all the volunteers who help keep this special place healthy and accessible.

We just completed our first-ever Restoration Plan! Over the next five years, this plan will help guide how we care for a...
08/31/2026

We just completed our first-ever Restoration Plan!

Over the next five years, this plan will help guide how we care for and restore the lands we’ve worked to protect across Western Colorado.

It builds on more than 40 years of conservation and helps us focus our restoration work where it can make the biggest difference, whether that means improving water and wildlife habitat, supporting working farms and ranches, or helping landscapes better withstand drought, fire, and other changes.

The plan also gives us a way to track what’s working, learn from our projects, and adjust our approach as we go.

Swipe through to learn more about where we’re headed with restoration.

Go here to read more: https://cowestlandtrust.org/colorado-west-land-trust-releases-new-restoration-plan-as-north-fork-watershed-restoration-project-moves-forward/

A new bench and shade shelter are now part of the newest section of the Monument Trail!Check out these photos of local a...
08/27/2026

A new bench and shade shelter are now part of the newest section of the Monument Trail!

Check out these photos of local artist Jeff Bates Art installing the new addition he designed. The City of Grand Junction donated the shade shelter, and CWLT donors sponsored the bench.

CWLT dedicated the bench to the community that made the Monument Trail happen. We hope this new addition provides a place to rest, enjoy the view, and reminds us of the power of community.

Next time you’re on the Monument Trail, stop by and take a seat!

That’s CWLT’s Monument Stewards pulling Russian thistle at Jurassic Flats! For seven seasons, these dedicated volunteers...
08/24/2026

That’s CWLT’s Monument Stewards pulling Russian thistle at Jurassic Flats!

For seven seasons, these dedicated volunteers have been transforming vistas and habitat along the Monument Trail by removing invasive plants and making room for native species to thrive.

Blanketflower, Mexican hat, globemallow, and a variety of native grasses are already starting to populate this new section of trail in areas disturbed by construction. It’s exciting to see native plants reclaiming the landscape!

A big thank you to the City of Grand Junction for picking up the piles and supporting this important stewardship work!

In the late 1970s, when an oil shale boom swept into western Colorado, a group of Palisade farmers saw their way of life...
08/20/2026

In the late 1970s, when an oil shale boom swept into western Colorado, a group of Palisade farmers saw their way of life about to disappear. They first reached out to the local government for help but were unable to find a solution.

They took matters into their own hands and, in 1980, gathered around a kitchen table to found Mesa County Land Conservancy. They became one of the nation's first agricultural conservation groups. Many in town saw them as extremists.

Today, that kitchen-table idea has grown into Colorado West Land Trust, with nearly 150,000 acres conserved across six counties, protecting the farms, wildlife habitat, and open spaces those founders fought for.

Western Colorado is under pressure again, this time from a warming climate, water scarcity, wildfire, and continued development pressures. Times have changed, but the lesson from our founders hasn't. The land worth saving needs people willing to act.

The land we love deserves protection that outlasts us. That takes planning. August is National Write-A-Will Month, a goo...
08/17/2026

The land we love deserves protection that outlasts us. That takes planning. August is National Write-A-Will Month, a good reminder to think about what happens to the things that matter most to you, including your connection to Western Colorado's land and water.

A will is one of the simplest ways to make sure your values carry forward. Planned gifts don't require significant wealth or complicated paperwork. Supporters can choose to name CWLT as a beneficiary of a portion of their estate, retirement account, or life insurance policy. This decision costs nothing today but leaves a lasting legacy.

If you don't yet have a will, this month is a good time to start one. If you already have an estate plan, it's worth revisiting to see if it reflects your current wishes.

If you're interested in learning more about including Colorado West Land Trust in your plans, you can reach out for more information.

Our first half of 2026 went beyond conservation easements to include community, restoration, and connection.Protecting l...
08/13/2026

Our first half of 2026 went beyond conservation easements to include community, restoration, and connection.

Protecting land is only part of what we do. Over the past six months, that also meant restoration projects on conserved properties, events that brought people out onto the land, and continued partnership with the people and organizations who make this work possible.

Six months, and six wins for Western Colorado's wild places!The first half of 2026 has been full of reasons to celebrate...
08/10/2026

Six months, and six wins for Western Colorado's wild places!

The first half of 2026 has been full of reasons to celebrate. This year we've partnered with landowners across our service area to permanently protect agricultural land, critical wildlife habitat, and the water that sustains it all.

None of this happens without landowners who choose to protect the places they love, and a community that shows up to support this work. Thank you for being part of it.

If you saw yesterday's "Guess the Location" post, here's the answer.This is Iola Farms and Sundrop Flora, located along ...
08/05/2026

If you saw yesterday's "Guess the Location" post, here's the answer.

This is Iola Farms and Sundrop Flora, located along the Silver Thread Scenic Byway near Blue Mesa Reservoir, south of Gunnison.

The farm takes its name from the town of Iola, which was flooded in 1966 when the river was dammed to create the reservoir. During periods of low water, the old town's foundations have been known to resurface.

In 2017, Matt Ozyp started Iola Farms. "Every bit of what we grow is sold within 50 miles," he says. "We want to keep our food local and support the community."

Iola Farms has since grown into a collective of small agricultural businesses, including Sundrop Flora, a flower farm run by Alexis Taylor.

At 8,300 feet, the growing season is short and unforgiving. Snow can linger into May, and nights drop below freezing well into spring. The team relies on a propagation shed and solar-heated greenhouses to make farming here possible at all.

Thanks to a conservation easement completed in 2025, these 213 acres are now permanently protected. The land will continue to support working agriculture, and habitat for elk, deer, and the threatened Gunnison sage-grouse.

Can you guess where this conserved property is located?This 213-acre farm supplies fresh produce and flowers to communit...
08/04/2026

Can you guess where this conserved property is located?

This 213-acre farm supplies fresh produce and flowers to communities within a 50-mile radius. Thanks to a 2025 conservation easement, it will stay in agriculture permanently. Swipe through the clues below. We'll share the answer tomorrow. Drop your guess in the comments!

Address

1006 Main Street
Grand Junction, CO
81501

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

(970) 263-5443

Website

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