GREAT PLACES
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Yampa Valley Land Trust
Semotan Property Conserved
ELK RIVER VALLEY, COLORADO (12/28/05) - Before the end of December 2005, the Routt County Board of County Commissioners approved the use of Routt County Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) funds toward the bargain-sale purchase of a conservation easement on the Semotan property.
In 1996, Routt County voters approved the creation of a PDR Program to be used for purchasing development rights and establishing conservation easements. In November 2005, voters renewed and expanded the PDR Program to continue conserving open land resources in Routt County. Funding is derived from a portion of County property taxes. Through a proposal and review process, Routt County PDR Program funds may be dispersed to landowners that work with land conservation organizations. The process is overseen by a Citizens’ Advisory Board, which is appointed by the Routt County Board of County Commissioners. The PDR Advisory Board must make recommendations to the Routt County Board of County Commissioners on whether to fund the purchase in full, in part, or not at all. Including the Semotan conservation transaction, the PDR Program together with Yampa Valley Land Trust, the Nature Conservancy and the City of Steamboat Springs, has helped fund conservation easements on 8,062 acres to date, with additional projects in process.
The Semotan property is a 132-acre parcel of land located in an area of Routt County historically known as Long Gulch. Long Gulch, on Routt County Road 56, is surrounded by agricultural land and rural residential home sites and is in close proximity to fifteen other conserved properties, United States Forest Service land, Bureau of Land Management land, and State of Colorado land.
The Semotan property was once part of a much larger ranch where the family raised registered Hereford cattle along with registered quarter horses. The 132-acre parcel that remains consists primarily of pastureland and the property can continue to be used for cattle grazing and other open land agricultural purposes. A variety of wildlife species can be found utilizing the property, including black bear, mountain lion, mule deer, elk and Columbian sharp-tailed grouse.
Historic structures dating back to the early 1800s including the Long Gulch Schoolhouse, where Josephine Semotan attended first grade, along with the teacherage are located on the Semotan property. The structures were moved from their original location farther west on RCR 56. These historic structures are listed on the Historic Register of Routt County.
A bargain-sale purchase of the Semotan property conservation easement was made possible through the Routt County PDR funds, supporters of Yampa Valley Land Trust and Josephine Semotan’s significant donation of a majority of the value of the conservation easement. Josephine Semotan will maintain ownership and management of her property and Yampa Valley Land Trust will hold the conservation easement.
A1lan White, Chair of the Purchase of Development Rights Citizen Advisory Board, said
“Our Board is very excited about finalizing the purchase of development rights on Ms. Semotan’s property. The dollars the taxpayers have committed to the PDR process have once again resulted in a positive change in our community and the preservation of an historic ranching property. We would especially like to commend the family for their very generous donation of value to make this project possible. Thankfully, we are looking forward to many years of continued preservation with worthwhile projects such as this one.”
Yampa Valley Land Trust is a regional, non-profit, land conservation organization serving Northwest Colorado. Established in 1992, Yampa Valley Land Trust works with willing landowners to conserve the agricultural, natural, scenic and historic landscapes located in Routt, Rio Blanco, Jackson and Moffat Counties. To date, much of YVLT’s work has focused on the Yampa River Valley in Routt County and the White River Valley in Rio Blanco County. Yampa Valley Land Trust now holds over 36,520 acres in 54 conservation transactions, ensuring the beautiful working landscapes and prime ecological features will continue to be an inspiring part of our lives and the lives of generations to follow. Through cash donations and contributions, supporters of Yampa Valley Land Trust helped to make these projects and all Yampa Valley Land Trust conservation easement projects possible.
PO Box 773014 Steamboat Springs, Colorado 80477 (970) 879-7240 www.yvlt.org
