Dear Jeremy D.,

As of January 01, 2025, Colorado Headwaters Land Trust merged with Colorado Open Lands, a land trust with a long track record of successful private land conservation throughout the state.

Over the last 30 years, CHLT has gone through many changes, from our early days as the Grand County Land Conservancy, to Middle Park Land Trust in the early 2000s, to adopting our current name in 2013 with the focus on the vitally important waters we have around us. We have conserved more than 10,000 acres throughout Grand County on nearly 70 different properties, from forested ground to recreational open space to generational ranches.

The land trust has played significant roles in many conservation and community efforts in Middle Park, including partnering with other land trusts to achieve their easements, supporting waterway restoration efforts with the County, and organizing National Public Lands Days with Headwaters Trails Alliance. One of our greatest accomplishments was the voter-approved Open Lands, Rivers, and Trails Fund ballot measure in 2016, followed by the successful reapproval of that measure with significant expansions in 2023.

This merger is a strong, strategic move forward for all of us. Developmental pressures throughout Grand County continue to grow, and the needs and wants of the diverse communities in our county continue to evolve. The resources and capacity brought by Colorado Open Lands will put the Grand County community in the best position to continue to conserve and steward the open lands and natural character of the headwaters of the Colorado River in partnership with the local community for another 30 years and beyond.

I am honored to have been a part of the Grand County community as the Executive Director of CHLT for the past six years. I appreciate the guidance and direction of the past and present CHLT Board of Directors and Advisory Board, and the CHLT network of colleagues and partner organizations dedicated to protecting the land we love in Grand County. I look forward to seeing the great successes Colorado Open Lands will facilitate on behalf of landowners, ranchers, recreators, and everyone who considers themself a partner in conservation - as well as all the wildlife with whom we share this beautiful landscape.

Many have asked about my future since learning of the merger. I recently completed rebuilding my home outside of Grand Lake, which I lost in the East Troublesome Fire of October 2020. The photo to the right is the rebuilt house, taken after one of our wonderful recent snowfalls. My dog, Cauliflower, and I are settling into the new cabin and we are both enjoying being back on the meadow in the shadow of Rocky Mountain National Park. I am not leaving Grand County, but I am pursuing other opportunities to benefit conservation and community throughout our region. I am currently working with Colorado Open Lands through this transition, so you might still hear from me on behalf of the land trust and you will certainly see me around town!

I deeply appreciate your support over the years, for the mission of the land trust and our work in Middle Park. If you would like to stay in touch with me directly, please reply to this email and I will follow up.

Thank you,

Jeremy D. Krones

Colorado Headwaters Land Trust closes on ‘long-awaited’ Granby conservation easement: This easement allows for 10 miles of trails to be built in the future

Sky-Hi News, 12/13/24

Colorado Headwaters Land Trust has officially acquired a 743-acre conservation easement in Granby north of the intersection of U.S. Highways 40 and 34, according to a news release from the organization.

Click here to read more

Colorado Headwaters Land Trust to merge with statewide land trust

Sky-Hi News, 12/18/24

Colorado Headwaters Land Trust will be merging with Colorado Open Lands, which is a statewide land trust based out of Lakewood, according to a joint news release.

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Granby Secures Land Trust

KFFR 88.3 FM, 01/01/25

Executive Director Jeremy Krones came to KFFR Studios to discuss a unique easement that was recently acquired by the Colorado Headwaters Land Trust in Granby. Mayor Josh Hardy and Town Manager Ted Cherry joined Jeremy in this discussion.

Click here to listen

Over $500,000 raised for Grand County nonprofits during Colorado Gives Day

Sky-Hi News, 12/26/24

Colorado Gives Day is a statewide event organized by the Colorado Gives Foundation that invites people to donate and support their favorite nonprofits. Each year, Grand County Gives supports local nonprofits by marketing the event regionally and raising awareness.

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Large-scale fire mitigation project burns 1,000 slash piles with more planned

Sky-Hi News, 01/09/25

Grand Lake and Grand Fire’s joint wildland division has been working this winter to reduce wildfire risk in Grand County by preforming pile burns, a type of prescribed fire where firefighters stack and burn forest debris.

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