Upcoming Community Land Connection events you don't want to miss | | |
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Horn Ranch History Hike
Join the Eagle Valley Land Trust and the Eagle County Historical Society for a guided hike at the spectacular Horn Ranch! Don’t miss this opportunity to hike on private land, enjoy sweeping views of Red Canyon in the fall, and learn fun trivia!
When: Saturday, October 14, 2023 from 9:30 am to 12:00 pm
Where: Horn Ranch between Eagle and Wolcott
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Horseback Riding at Sweetwater Lake
Have you wanted to go horseback riding but haven’t had the means or opportunity? Is visiting Sweetwater Lake still an unchecked box on your bucket list? Then join the Eagle Valley Land Trust for a special horseback riding event with A.J. Brink Outfitters at Sweetwater Lake - free of charge!
When: Tuesday, October 17, 2023 and Tuesday, October 24 from 9:30 am to 12:30 pm
Where: Sweetwater Lake Resort north of Dotsero, CO
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Protect our community’s most important lands, wildlife habitats, and nature-based economy | |
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PC: Eagle Valley Wild
Eagle County is an increasingly difficult place to live, especially if you’re a deer, elk, bear, or any other animal that depends on open spaces, habitat corridors, and safe places to hunker down for the winter. That’s why we need your help.
As you know, open spaces and access to nature have been the foundation of our community and economy for decades. This is why the Eagle Valley Land Trust has been working to permanently protect our most important local lands, trails, and habitats for over 42 years. Lands like the Eagle River Preserve, which not only protect critical winter elk habitat, but also provide local students and families a safe place to enjoy nature’s benefits.
Over the last few years, our trails, rivers, and open spaces have seen unprecedented use. On top of that, undeveloped open spaces that wildlife and our community depend on for habitat and scenic open space have begun disappearing at an alarming rate. It’s an indication that a lot more conservation work is required to balance the needs of our community, economy, and wildlife. As we settle in for a long winter, wildlife are moving out of the high mountains and into the valley floor to hunker down for the cold months. We need to protect more lands like the Eagle River Preserve while we still can. It’s a big job for a small organization. We can’t do this without you.
Can we count on you to renew your annual support of EVLT this week? Your donation helps us conserve more land, plain and simple. It’s an investment in the future of our home.
| Eagle Valley Wild's Critter Scouts | |
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PC: Eagle Valley Wild
Good news - registration is still open and there are few spots remaining! Do you know a student 5th Grade and up who has an interest in wildlife and technology? The Eagle Valley Wild Critter Scout program involves the deployment and management of cellular trail cameras into local open spaces and national forest areas in order to capture remote photos of wildlife.
The mission of the program is to connect kids with nature and wildlife in a way that is engaging, educational and innovative, while also contributing to Eagle Valley Wild’s mission of sharing the importance of nature and wildlife with our community and our visitors.
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Meet EVLT's newest board members | | |
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Melissa Daruna
Melissa is an adventurer, mom, wife, public servant and lover of nature. Her professional background includes degrees in parks and recreation and law. She has worked in local government for over a decade and the nonprofit sector, specifically land conservation, for four years. She currently serves as the Assistant Town Manager for Eagle. Prior to that she was the inaugural Executive Director for Keep It Colorado, the statewide coalition for land trusts and conservation organizations. There she focused heavily on land conservation policy and advocacy as well as partnership and coalition building.
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She, her husband and son moved to the Eagle Valley in 2022 when her husband took a position as the CEO at Eagle County Paramedic Services. Melissa immediately knew how special this place is. She has refocused her professional and personal skills to invest in this community. While she took a new position back in local government earlier this year, she remains dedicated to conservation and the protection of our lands, waters and wildlife for the future. She is eager to put that passion to work with EVLT. Melissa doesn’t believe connecting with the outdoors should be left to our “spare time”, she believes it should be a regular part of our daily lives. Some of her favorite ways to connect are trail running, mountain biking, rafting, fishing, skiing and backyard birdwatching. | | |
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Stephen Hoffman
Steve practiced land development and real estate law in Fort Lauderdale and worked on land use, zoning, permitting and transactional matters for some of the largest and most complex developments in the State of Florida. Steve started coming to Colorado on a regular basis in early 1998 when he and his wife, Jackie, honeymooned in Breckenridge. Steve and Jackie immediately fell in love with Colorado and in 2004 purchased a lot in Eagle Ranch with the dream of eventually retiring in Eagle. Their plans accelerated upon the construction of their home in 2011 and they made Eagle their full-time home in 2020.
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Steve and Jackie love to hike, bike, paddle on the river and anything else that gets them outdoors. Steve just discovered fly fishing and is now “hooked”. Steve and Jackie have a son and daughter and one granddaughter.
Steve has spent the last year attending EVLT Stewardship Committee meetings and participated in several site visits. During this last year, Steve came to realize the importance of the Trust’s mission. In the last 20 years, Steve has witnessed how development pressures in Eagle have resulted in dwindling elk herds. As he transitions from full time work, Steve intends to concentrate on conservation and community matters to enhance the quality of life for humans and the wildlife that inhabit this region.
| We are so grateful for Melissa and Stephen's commitment and dedication to conservation in the Eagle River Valley, and the expertise and wisdom they bring to our organization and community. Welcome to the EVLT team! | |
Here's where we're at with Sweetwater Lake | |
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PC: Eagle Valley Wild
Four years ago Sweetwater Lake went up for sale after development plans failed to materialize once again. It had been on the verge of private development for decades. The most recent proposal? Private homes, a golf course, and even a water bottling plant. There’s one thing that wasn’t included, however — public access.
Community members reached out to Eagle Valley Land Trust and The Conservation Fund for help to conserve the property before it went to the highest bidder.
A variety of conservation options were vetted, including private acquisition and conservation of the property, U.S. Forest Service ownership, state ownership, and others. Forest Service ownership made the most sense because it is the agency entrusted with the care of the surrounding White River National Forest and has access to acquisition funding from the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
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Support our local Land and River's Fund businesses | |
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Eagle Valley Land Trust | Phone: (970) 748-7654 | Website: www.evlt.org
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