The Bureau of Land Management conveyed a 31.1-acre parcel of public land to Mesa County on Aug. 25, the BLM said in a news release. The land sale was directed by the Clifton Opportunities Now for Vibrant Economic Yields Act that was passed Jan. 4.

“The BLM identified this land as available for disposal, because it’s difficult to manage and has little opportunity for the public to access. It’s rewarding to know that this land will benefit the community of Clifton and the county,” BLM Grand Junction Field Manager Stacey Colón said.

The parcel is located between Interstate 70 and the Grand Valley Canal, and it is north and east of where northbound 32 Road ends in Clifton. The Bureau of Reclamation used the land from 1908 to 2024 for canal operations before transferring it to the BLM.

Per the CONVEY Act, the BLM sold the land to Mesa County at fair market value as appraised by the Department of the Interior’s Appraisal and Valuation Services Office. That amount was $31,000, and Mesa County also paid $50 (the standard charge) for the property’s mineral rights, according to BLM Colorado Realty Specialist Jana Moe. The funds will be held in a Federal Land Disposal Account under the custody of the BLM for in-state use.

For more information, please contact BLM Grand Junction Field Office at 970-244-3000.