Sutey Ranch Land Exchange Environmental Assessment
In this complex land exchange, the proposal included trading privately-owned for BLM lands, all of which were located in Western Colorado (Eagle, Garfield and Pitkin counties). Following an appraisal of all lands in question, SE Group coordinated with the BLM to prepare an Environmental Assessment (EA) analyzing potential environmental impacts of this proposal.
Project Planning
Through the analysis, the private lands were determined to provide greater public recreational opportunities and benefits than the federal lands. The private lands also contain valuable big game winter habitat and water rights, allowing for consolidated, long-term protection and enhancement of natural resources by the BLM.
The BLM received 269 comment letters during the scoping period, and 65 comment letters on the EA, with a range of supportive and oppositional comments. A June 2014 Decision Record approved the land exchange, and the approval is currently undergoing administrative review with the BLM.
Project Stats
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334comment letters
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$1.1million donated
Coordinating with both the Aspen and Eagle Valley Land Trusts, the landowner prepared permanent conservation easements that precluded future development on all of the acquired BLM lands.
The landowner also committed to donating $1.1 million for the long-term resource management of the private lands acquired by the BLM.
