The Rio Grande Initiative:

The Rio Grande is Colorado's last major mountain river corridor that still has a significant amount of intact private lands in farming and ranching along its banks. At a length of 1,885 miles, the river is also the fourth longest in the United States and has played a major part in defining the Southwest's history and modern-day demands.

The Rio Grande Initiative (RGI) is a community projects in the San Luis Valley to protect the strategic and critical private lands along Colorado's 175 mile reach of the Rio Grande corridor with voluntary conservation easements. 

Why Protect the Rio Grande?

Land and water conversion from open space and agriculture to development of subdivisions on private lands threatens the integrity of the Rio Grande including: loss or degradation of wildlife habitat (including the South Western Willow Flycatcher, listed as Endangered), fragmentation and development of corridors for residential and commercial uses and transportation, increased sedimentation and pollution, introduction of invasive and exotic species, loss of agricultural productivity and its economic contributions, water table reductions and changing return flows, to name a few.

Why Now?

The Rio Grande corridor in Colorado remains relatively intact, but the threats to it are increasing at an alarming pace.  Currently there are 17,800 acres of private land protected along the Rio Grande by either RiGHT, The Nature Conservancy, Ducks Unlimited or the National Resources Conservation Service.  However, nearly 40,000 acres of intact private land remains unprotected and susceptible to development.  This, combined with the frenzied pace of growth along the Rio Grande, means we need to take action now.  As the American Farmland Trust report "Farming on the Edge" states, "We are losing our best land - most fertile and productive - the fastest.

RiGHT's Projects:
Since beginning the Rio Grande Initiative in 2006, RiGHT has completed 11 conservation easement projects along the river corridor permanently protecting over twelve miles of river and 6,814 acres of wetlands, wildlife habitat, open space, and productive ranchland. You can read about a few of our Rio Grande Initiative properties on our Conservation Projects page.

Rio Grande Initiative Updates:

RiGHT Protects Scenic Rio Oxbow Ranch

In December 2009, RiGHT completed the second phase of a conservation easement on the Rio Oxbow Ranch. Stretching along the Silver Thread Scenic Byway, US Highway 149, above Creede in Mineral County, this 1,070 acre ranch encompasses six miles of the Upper Rio Grande and has an extensive boundary with the Rio Grande National Forest. The owners and managers of this ranch have been recognized for their excellent management of the riparian area, which supports abundant populations of elk, deer, moose, beaver, marmots and many other small mammals. For more details on this unique ranch, you can read our press release here.

Rio Grande Initiative Partners Work Together to Protect More then 2,000 Acres - Governor Ritter Praises Effort

“The Rio Grande River is truly one of our state’s most important natural treasures,” said Governor Bill Ritter, who announced in 2007 that the Rio Grande Initiative had been designated a Legacy Project by the Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Board and awarded $7.4 million.

“Its waters sustain productive farms and ranches that were founded before Colorado became a state, and wildlife thrive along its impressive length. All Coloradans should be heartened to know that in these difficult economic times, creative people came together to protect the land, water and wildlife that are the heart and soul of one of our iconic landscapes.”

Click here to read the full press release.

Colorado Conservation Board Awards $1.5 Million in Matching Funds for the Rio Grande Initiative

On March 19th, 2008, the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) voted unanimously to award $1.5 million to the Rio Grande Initiative to match the GOCO Legacy grant.  Thanks to the support of the Rio Grande Basin Round Table, this award represents a new level of collaboration between the conservation and water interests in Colorado. These funds will help secure senior water rights along the Rio Grande through conservation easements. Mike Sullivan, Division of Water Resources, Division 3 Engineer, said  in his letter of support:

"The protection of the hydraulic characteristics of the alluvial corridor of the Rio Grande is important to providing for a functional river system. This protection includes continued operation of the irrigation systems along the river; systems which were in place when the Rio Grande Compact was negotiated and are thus a part of the underlying physical framework and assumptions of the Compact"

RiGHT Accomplishes a Major Milestone for the Rio Grande

In December of 2007, RiGHT was awarded $7.4 million dollars to protect six ranches along the Rio Grande river as part of our Rio Grande Initiative.  This funding was a major milestone in our ability to provide landowners incentive to protect their land for its agricultural productivity, scenic beauty and wildlife habitat. 

Read More: Rio Grande Initiative Newsletters

Rio Grande Initiative Newsletter Vol. I

Rio Grande Initiative Newsletter Vol. II

Rio Grande Initiative Newsletter Vol. III

Rio Grande Initiative Newsletter Vol. IV

Rio Grande Initiative Newsletter Vol. V