None The Nature Conservancy in Colorado Press Releases Search All Press Releases Christine Broda-Bahm Phone: (720) 974-7002 Cell: (303) 910-5427 Email: cbrodabahm@tnc.org

The Nature Conservancy and Partners Complete Acqusition of Baca Ranch

Secretary of the Interior Designates New National Park in Colorado

Alamosa, Colorado—September 13, 2004—After more than a decade of work to conserve the 151-square mile Baca Ranch, The Nature Conservancy today announced it had completed the last of a complex set of real estate transactions, clearing the way for the protection of the ranch and the designation of the nation’s newest national park, the Great Sand Dunes National Park.

At a ceremony today at the Great Sand Dunes National Monument and Preserve, Secretary of the Interior Gale A. Norton officially re-designated the monument as the Great Sand Dunes National Park, the nation’s 58^th national park.

"This is an emotional day for the hundreds of people who poured their heart and soul into this 10-year conservation odyssey," said Steve McCormick, the Conservancy’s president and CEO. "The success of this effort lies in the dedication and commitment of the unprecedented coalition of individuals and organizations that came together, determined to protect the San Luis Valley’s water and conserve one of the nation’s most spectacular and ecologically-important places."

Upon closing the Baca Ranch transaction, the Conservancy transferred management responsibility for 27,000 acres of land within the designated national park boundaries to the National Park Service. The Conservancy will continue to manage the remainder of the Baca lands in partnership with the U.S. Department of the Interior pending a final $3.4 million federal appropriation. Once the remaining monies are appropriated, the full ownership of the ranch will be transferred to the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and USDA Forest Service to create the Baca National Wildlife Refuge and expand the existing Rio Grande National Forest.

The 97,000-acre Baca Ranch is one of the largest, unfragmented landscapes in the state. Its awe-inspiring terrain features grasslands, alpine lakes, sand dunes and two 14,000 foot peaks, Kit Carson Peak and Challenger Point. The ranch harbors more than 70 species of rare plants and animals, including several species found nowhere else in the world. The landscape provides vital habitat for a wealth of wildlife species, including a large elk herd, fox, mountain lion, bighorn sheep and numerous migratory bird species, including sandhill cranes.

The protection of the Baca Ranch and associated water rights will protect the very existence of the Great Sand Dunes themselves. A significant portion of the dunes occur within the boundaries of the ranch. Streams and wetlands on the ranch play an important role in the creation, replenishment and preservation of the dunes. Acquisition of the water rights ensures that the ranch's water will remain available to sustain the dunes ecosystem and the local agricultural economy.

"The completion of this transaction is the realization of a vision put forth by the people of the San Luis Valley," said Charles Bedford, the Conservancy’s Colorado associate state director. "The local community’s desire to preserve the valley’s agricultural and natural heritage is ultimately what made conservation of the Baca Ranch possible."

Additionally, Bedford said, the Conservancy wanted to explicitly recognize the unflagging efforts of Senators Wayne Allard and Ben Nighthorse Campbell; Congressman Scott McInnis; Governor Bill Owens; Attorney General Ken Salazar; Interior Secretary Gale Norton; and former Interior Secretary Bruce Babbitt.

Bedford also lauded the invaluable assistance of the Great Outdoors Colorado board, which provided a no-interest $3 million loan from state lottery proceeds that kept the project on track at the right moment; the David and Lucile Packard Foundation for early and critical financial assistance; and Farallon Capital Management, with whom the Conservancy negotiated the sale of the ranch, for their commitment to overcoming hurdles and making this transaction work.

Finally, Bedford expressed gratitude for the efforts of the staffs of the National Park Service, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Colorado State Land Board, the Colorado Division of Wildlife and the hundreds of other individuals and supporters that contributed to the success of this project.