“The Trust for Land Restoration continues to be the mightiest little land conservation organization in Southwest Colorado, achieving great things with the tiniest of operating budgets.”  These words, spoken of TLR in the past, ring true today as we celebrate our 20th anniversary in 2020!

Four years ago, TLR downsized from a statewide organization with full-time staff to its configuration today:  two part-time employees, seven incredibly dedicated Directors, and a cadre of advisors and friends, many of whom donate their time free of charge, to tackle unique projects in the San Juan Mountains.  These projects require the specialized knowledge, time and perseverance that only TLR can give.

Since its inception in 1999, TLR and its partners have been awarded more than $2M in grants and contracts to preserve (and often times clean up) historic mine sites, principally in our San Juan Mountains.  TLR’s partners, and donors like you, have brought an additional $4.2M to these important projects.  Over the last twenty years TLR has saved over 4,000 acres of wildlife habitat via conservation easement; we’ve purchased and then donated another 200 acres of mining claims to local, state and federal agencies; we have led the community effort in the Ophir Valley to clean up dozens of tailings and waste rock piles, resulting in the return of aquatic life to the Howard Fork of the San Miguel River; and we have joined forces with local governments, not only here in Ouray and San Juan Counties, but also in Summit County, Lake City, Telluride and Rico, to help clean up and preserve hundreds of abandoned mines and mill sites.

In 2015, TLR purchased and conveyed fourteen mining claims to the United States Forest Service.  In 2016, we completed donation of the mining claims that comprise the historic Corkscrew Turntable to Ouray County.  In 2018, TLR negotiated and acquired a mining claim near the top of Red Mountain Pass that included an important SNOTEL snow, rain, and climate data gathering site on behalf of the Colorado Water Conservation Board and the Southwest Water Conservation District. 

Current projects include negotiations now underway to acquire and preserve three of the Idarado Houses on Red Mountain Pass and the purchase of one hundred acres of mining claims on Brown Mountain to be donated as open space to Ouray County.  In 2020, we will continue work on a ranch land preservation project near the town of Ridgway.

TLR has received a commitment of $92,000 from the Idarado Natural Resource Damage Fund to purchase the 100 acres of mining claims that comprise the Silver Mountain Mine, on Brown Mountain, above Ironton Park. That’s about one third of the total money needed to complete the deal. Our task now is to complete negotiations with the landowner, obtain an appraisal and an environmental assessment, and raise the remaining funds. It’s a big task, but we are excited by the opportunity. 

This is where you come in!  We could not do what we do without the support of people who care about the San Juan Mountains and who understand both the challenges and the opportunities to keep them special.  If you are reading this, we know you are one of those people.  As we celebrate our 20th anniversary, please accept our sincere thanks for your part in helping us keep the San Juan Mountains special for many years to come!