Trust Our Land: Showing up for landowners and our community

By Jessica Foulis

The Eagle Valley Land Trust works to protect land in and around our community with a focus on long term, durable benefits to the people that live, work, and play here. Not just for the present, but for all the future generations, and wildlife, that will call this place home, too. We’re your local land trust. 

We’ve worked in partnership with landowners to protect our community’s agricultural land, open spaces, wildlife habitats, and our western heritage for 43 years. In fact, EVLT is the only local accredited and state-certified land trust serving the Eagle River Valley, Upper Colorado River Valley, and surrounding areas.

What have we learned from landowners in the last 43 years? That landowners are the best stewards of their land, and also the best conservationists and advocates for our land and water. That is why we partner with landowners to protect the lands we love for open space, wildlife habitat, western heritage, and, as appropriate, public access.

How EVLT protects land

EVLT has served our Eagle County community since 1981. Most of that time, our primary conservation tool has been the durable and versatile conservation easement. Conservation easements are voluntary legal agreements between a landowner and a land trust like EVLT that permanently protect scenic or agricultural open space, natural habitat, or recreational areas (collectively defined as “conservation values” by the IRS) for the public’s benefit.

Like parcels of land, no two conservation easements are alike. Conservation easements are built in partnership with each landowner and specifically tailored to the needs of the land and owner. They’re versatile in that way – they can support the long-term vision of multi-generational ranching families, agricultural operations, municipalities, and businesses. 

Unlike outright sale of land, conservation easements allow landowners to retain ownership, control, and management of their land. The landowner and the land trust negotiate the level and type of encumbrances on the land introduced by the conservation easement. Generally, the more restrictive the conservation easement, the more financial benefits the landowner can expect in return. Conservation easements have helped hundreds of landowners across the state  meet their financial and tax planning needs in a way that benefits the public, forever.

What it takes to be here for landowners and our community

Over our 43 year history, EVLT has permanently protected 39 properties that span over 14,000 acres of wildlife habitats, scenic vistas, and open spaces. Each of these conservation successes were made possible by people like you who help sustain EVLT. When a property owner is ready to conserve their land, EVLT is here to help them. 

Land is the foundation of our community, we depend on it for mental, physical, and spiritual sustenance. We’ll continue working with landowners to ensure that foundation is here for our community forever. 

Farm to Fork, EVLT’s annual fundraising gala, helps us be there for the next landowner ready to protect their land.

This signature event, made possible by American Gypsum and Alpine Bank, isn’t just a fundraiser. It’s a local favorite. Christina Lautenberg, EVLT’s Board President, has attended and helped plan the event since its inception.

“Farm to Fork is such a special event for the Eagle Valley Land Trust. It really connects folks with the core of our mission – protecting the lands we love forever – by actually getting them on the land where they can help protect more of it.”

The event takes place in a decorative nordic tent that celebrates the natural landscape. It’s an incredible night in an open meadow catered by Red Maple. And this year, we’ve got more to celebrate than ever – several conservation projects in the works, new Conservation Center construction beginning, and the biggest year of Community Conservation in our 43 year history. 

Will you join us for a night to celebrate protected lands with our community’s greatest conservation advocates? Farm to Fork tickets and table sponsorship are on sale now at evlt.org/f2f. 

Jessica Foulis is the Eagle Valley Land Trust’s Executive Director and can be reached at Jessicafoulis@evlt.org. To learn more about protecting your land, attending Farm to Fork, or about EVLT’s local conservation efforts, visit www.evlt.org.