The U.S. Bureau of Land Management field office in Grand Junction joined with Western Rivers Conservancy to acquire land within a conservation area in Mesa County.

Located on the Gunnison River within the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area, the 26.32-acre acquisition is expected to protect resources for future generations.

“This acquisition will benefit the public and our national conservation lands,” said Amber Koski, manager of the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area.
“We have great partners, such as Western Rivers Conservancy, that assist the BLM in acquiring lands for the public to enjoy and cherish here on the Western Slope.”

Nearly 30 miles of the Gunnison River flow through the 210,172-acre Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area. This section of river is listed as critical habitat for two federally endangered fish species, the Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker. The acquired property also is located on a popular stretch of river for boating and offers other scenic and recreation values. 

The BLM has joined with Western Rivers Conservancy to purchase and conserve riverfront inholdings in the national conservation area since its creation in 2009.

This is the sixth property that Western Rivers Conservancy has purchased along the lower Gunnison River and transferred to the BLM as part of its broader effort to conserve lands within the national conservation area. The partnership began with two acquisition projects in 2012 and 2013 totaling more than 560 acres.

To date, Western Rivers Conservancy and the BLM have acquired more than 7 miles of the lower Gunnison in the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area as well as downstream in the Bangs Canyon Special Recreation Management Area.

“We’re thrilled to see a decade of hard work pay off with this parcel along the Gunnison protected and another crucial property included in the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area,” said Sue Doroff, president of Western Rivers Conservancy. “The Gunnison is a lifeline through this arid western Colorado landscape, and protecting vulnerable land along the river is crucial to the health of the entire conservation area.”

Western Rivers Conservancy acquires lands along rivers throughout the West to conserve critical habitat and create or improve public access. By cooperating with local agencies and organizations, Western Rivers Conservancy strives to protect ecosystem health.