Sylvan Dale donates easement to county

By Jackie Hutchins  |  © 2011 Loveland Reporter-Herald

Reporter-Herald/Jenny Sparks A corral fence standing for more than 100 years shows its age Tuesday as Dave Armstrong, resident naturalist at Sylvan Dale Ranch, hikes through the northwest corner of a 320-acre parcel of land that is part of a 560-acre conservation easement.

FORT COLLINS — The Larimer County commissioners accepted a donation Tuesday of a conservation easement on 560 acres of the Sylvan Dale Ranch west of Loveland.

Larimer County land agent  Charlie Johnson said since 1998 the Sylvan Dale Ranch has placed 1,620 acres with $1.9 million in value under conservation easement with Larimer County.

“They have donated a tremendous amount to our program, more than anyone, I believe, in our entire history,” he said.

The newest easement will protect land with ponderosa pine forests, open meadows and intermittent creeks, but allow the land to still be grazed by cattle on the ranch and used for trail rides and rustic camping by guests at the dude ranch, he said.

The land includes a large barn and an old homestead building, and terms of the easement will allow the ranch owners to stabilize or reconstruct the historic buildings as needed.

They also can construct livestock facilities, Johnson said.

The appraised value of the newly donated easement is $450,000.

Larimer County will pay about $15,000 for the transaction costs.

The ranch owners, David and Susan Jessup, will pursue state of Colorado tax credits for the value of the easement.

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