Success! The Arkansas River Community Preserve has been expanded.

By Wendy McDermott, Executive Director

Today, Central Colorado Conservancy announced that the Arkansas River Community Preserve (ARC Preserve) located in southern Lake County has been expanded by 74 acres. The ARC Preserve includes the Shawn Andrick Memorial Preserve previously established by Central Colorado Conservancy. The new acquisitions grew the ARC Preserve to 345 acres with almost three miles of Arkansas River frontage. 

The creation and management of the ARC Preserve is a partnership between Central Colorado Conservancy, Lake County Government and Colorado Open Lands, a statewide land trust. The newly purchased properties have been added to the existing conservation easement, held by Colorado Open Lands, and the public access easement that the Conservancy conveyed to Lake County. While public access on the ARC Preserve is not currently allowed, it is anticipated that the Preserve will open to the public for activities such as hiking and fishing in Spring 2025.

This phase of property purchases to grow the Arkansas River Community Preserve was made possible by grants from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO), the California Gulch Superfund Site Natural Resource Damages (NRD) Recovery Fund, Freeport McMoRan Foundation and Central Colorado Conservancy donors. The properties were purchased from willing land owners at fair market value.  

“Central Colorado Conservancy is thrilled to have completed this phase of acquisitions with our partners. The additional acreage we have purchased expands protections of the river corridor and riparian habitat and protects a wildlife corridor between the river and the uplands. It is very powerful when public and private partners join forces to protect critical wildlife habitat and provide options for public recreation and river access. While the ARC Preserve is not yet open to the public, we look forward to Lake County residents and visitors to be able to enjoy fishing and hiking on the Preserve in the near future. We are grateful for the generosity of our funders and Lake County Government and Colorado Opens Lands for partnering on the creation and management of this amazing community asset,” said Wendy McDermott, Executive Director of Central Colorado Conservancy. 

The 345-acre Arkansas River Community Preserve is an important connector to existing public lands including three Colorado Parks and Wildlife state wildlife areas, Bureau of Land Management lands, and San Isabel National Forest. Both the Top of the Rockies and Collegiate Peaks Scenic Byways run along the river adjacent to the land as well. As Colorado experiences significant population growth and pressures, it is critical to protect wildlife habitat corridors from development while it is still possible for the benefit of the public now and in the future.

“I commend Central Colorado Conservancy, Lake County, and all the funders and partners for their work to expand the Arkansas River Community Preserve. It is very difficult to put a subdivision back together – and now over 20 parcels stretching along three miles of the river are reassembled, protected from development, and soon to open for public access. The vision to protect this canyon from development in this way began with John Andrick, his observations of Bighorn Sheep and other wildlife using the area, and his farsighted action to buy parcels for conservation.  With the Conservancy’s persistence and diverse financial support this is now a community asset, forever,” said Ben Lenth, Senior Project Manager, Colorado Open Lands.

“Lake County is honored to be part of this monumental step in protecting our precious and invaluable resources. We are proud to partner with Central Colorado Conservancy and Colorado Open Lands to protect and steward this land, and are so grateful to the funders and partners over the last several decades who have made this possible. The ARC Preserve is a testament to what intention, collaboration, and dedication can bring to fruition for current and future generations.

With this next phase of land acquisition, we continue building upon the legacy of innumerable partners and countless hours of commitment to forever protecting the natural, historical, cultural, and recreational benefits this space offers to our community,” said Jane Schaefer, Deputy Director of Open Space for Lake County.

“I'm excited to be one of the funding partners of the Central Colorado Conservancy's next phase of the ARC Preserve land acquisitions as it helps the Upper Arkansas River Natural Resource Damage Assessment and Restoration (NRDAR) Trustees accomplish our goals of habitat restoration and protection. Congratulations to all the partners on a fantastic project that protects significant sections of the river corridor for fish and wildlife habitat, wildlife migration corridors, the Top of the Rockies Scenic Byway viewshed, and improves/manages eventual public access to the Preserve.  I'm grateful for the years of partnering, land use planning, collaboration with landowners, and tenacity exemplified by the Conservancy and its partners.  Thank you for protecting such beautiful places for future generations to enjoy,” said Laura Archuleta, Upper Arkansas River NRDAR Project Manager for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

“The Freeport-McMoRan Foundation and Climax Molybdenum’s Colorado operations are grateful for community partners such as Central Colorado Conservancy. Their effort to conserve the Arkansas River corridor and protect key wildlife habitats aligns with the Climate Resilience Strategy of the Lake County Resilience Action Plan, delivering meaningful social benefits and building resilience against potential risks,” said Nell Wareham, Social Performance Manager, Climax Mine Operations and Climax Molybdenum Company.

“The Arkansas River Community Preserve is the impressive result of over a decade of collaboration and perseverance,” said GOCO Executive Director Jackie Miller. “We congratulate Central Colorado Conservancy, Colorado Open Lands, Lake County, and partners for the permanent protection of its critical land, water, and wildlife resources, and the expanded opportunities Coloradans will now have to experience the outdoors. The Preserve is truly a gift to future generations.”