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Every time someone takes a turn at filling out a lottery ticket, 50 percent of the proceeds of that sale go to Great Outdoors Colorado, or "GOCO.” Since voters mandated this action in 1992, $14.7 million has been directed to critical Nature Conservancy projects, resulting in the protection of over 140,000 acres of ecologically-important land. In all, more than $489 million of GOCO proceeds have helped state projects that preserve, protect and enhance Colorado’s wildlife, parks, rivers, trails and open spaces. To date over 2,300 projects have been selected, including several priority projects for the Conservancy that have been helped by this fund in the past decade. As one staffer put it, “GOCO is just such a great partner. The contribution they have made to both conservation and outdoor recreation in this state is truly spectacular.”
Fragmentation of rural landscape for residential development, together with soaring land values, constitute the greatest challenges facing wildlife and agriculture in Colorado. GOCO funds often leverage and kick-start conservation actions that help Coloradans meet that challenge and that have a wide-ranging ripple effect. From acquisition of conservation easements to providing $3.485 million for the outright purchase of the Medano Zapata Ranch near Alamosa, GOCO support has made the difference.
This fall GOCO deepened their support, which began in 1996, of the Yampa River Valley near Steamboat Springs with the purchase of a 486-acre conservation easement on Wolf Mountain Ranch. This second easement raises the total number of acres protected on the Ranch to 1,761, and the total length of Yampa River protected through these lands to nearly 10 miles. As importantly, the balance of ranching and wildlife habitat that make the Yampa Valley such a great place remains intact.
For more information about Great Outdoors Colorado, visit them on the Web at www.GOCO.org. | 
