2024 Winter Newsletter

Content:
Message from the Executive Director
Red Lady Forever
Mining and Conservation
photo: Xavi Fane Supporter Spotlight

Click here for the PDF version.

Message from the Executive Director

We did it! Mt. Emmons, the beloved Red Lady standing tall and proud above Crested Butte, is now conserved, FOREVER. Often referred to as a fight on moral or environmental grounds, the fate of Red Lady has animated our community for decades. The modern story of conservation on Mt. Emmons can be better explained as a successful partnership between a landowner, who happens to be an international mining company, and the people who live in the mountain’s shadow and within its watershed.

Protecting the mountain from a large industrial mine while securing legal public access across private land in Red Lady Bowl was possible through successful collaboration between private industry, local governments, federal agencies, and local conservation organizations. The Crested Butte Land Trust is proud to have led the critical path to develop the conservation easement on Mt. Emmons, and we are honored to now have the perpetual responsibility of protecting the mountain’s conservation values and community benefits. For some, this successful project represents the end of an era. For the Crested Butte Land Trust, this is just the beginning. Conservation is forever, and, thanks to you, we are here to stay.

Conserving Red Lady is a tangible success and an ideal example of how to protect important habitats, water resources, iconic vistas, and access to public lands for everyone. The Crested Butte Land Trust is well known for protecting land close to where you live, work, and play, such as the Lower Loop, Long Lake, Gunsight Bridge, the Mt. CB Rec Path, and the Lupine Trails. With this project, our reach has expanded even more. Red Lady is one of hundreds of mountains in our watershed, which is one of the most important basins in the entire Colorado River system. Over 40million Americans are dependent on water that originates in these high peaks. With support from you and the entire community, the Land Trust has protected public access to the trails we can’t live without, sustainable grazing land for local ranchers, habitats that support plants and animals, and an important watershed for our country.

Lesser known are the Land Trust’s efforts to protect high peaks and sensitive mountain ecosystems through the acquisition of backcountry parcels, including mining claims, surrounded by public lands. The development of one small mining claim in an alpine environment could have outsized impacts on all of the conservation values we hold dear, including access to those very places for everyone. Whether protecting 885 acres on Mt. Emmons or small mining claims in remote Wilderness, we are contributing to the conservation and care of our water, wildlife, recreation, and agricultural heritage.

Conservation in the Gunnison Valley is a legacy we can be proud to leave for our grandchildren, their children, and onward through generations. Once conserved, the land is protected forever. Some projects, like Mt. Emmons, require years of effort, collaboration, and consensus-building across diverse perspectives. Others are simpler, like working with a landowner to acquire a small asset, like a mining claim, that, if developed, could change the character and quality of our backcountry, water, access, and habitats. These conservation victories, large and small, near and far, are driven by you, our faithful supporters. Please consider a gift today to be part of the next big success. The Crested Butte Land Trust is built to last and will be here forever, with you by our side.

Red Lady Forever

For nearly five decades, Crested Butte’s beloved Mt. Emmons, affectionately nicknamed Red Lady, has symbolized the ultimate conservation goal for many citizens of the Gunnison Valley. Our community has repeatedly come together to oppose an industrial mine on Mt. Emmons, protecting its watershed, wildlife habitats, scenic views, and recreational access.

On August 29, 2024, the Mt. Emmons Land Exchange and Conservation Easement was finalized, an agreement that will permanently protect Red Lady. The Mt. Emmons project is unique in scale, visibility, and complexity. It includes a land exchange deal with the US Forest Service and a conservation easement held by the Crested Butte Land Trust.

Through the land exchange, Mt. Emmons Mining Company (MEMC) transferred private property in Gunnison County’s Ohio Creek headwaters and in Saguache County to the US Forest Service. In exchange, MEMC, a subsidiary of global mining company Freeport-McMoRan, acquired land surrounding the water treatment plant and historic mine infrastructure at the Keystone Mine site on Mt. Emmons. This will allow MEMC to efficiently continue the remediation of historic mining impacts and replace the aging water treatment plant.

The conservation easement, placed by MEMC on their Mt. Emmons property, adds 885 acres to the Crested Butte Land Trust’s portfolio of protected lands. The easement prohibits mining and development on Mt. Emmons forever and provides legal winter access to Red Lady Bowl for the first time in history.

“This project is a beautiful example of diverse interests coming together to find common ground and solve a generational problem,” says Land Trust Executive Director Jake Jones. “The Land Trust was in a unique position to bridge different points of view amongst many partners. It wasn’t easy, but we are all stronger now than when this process started.”

Since acquiring the parcel in 2016, MEMC has worked to restore the mined land to a natural state and improve the water quality of Coal Creek. The conservation easement ensures that MEMC can continue the remediation of past mining and operate the Keystone Mine water treatment plant. “Since Freeport-McMoRan acquired MEMC’s operations, the company has led many conservation projects and initiatives related to clean water and habitat enhancement and will continue to do so as an engaged community partner,” says Freeport- McMoRan Manager of External Communications Jim Telle.

Successful conservation projects start with a willing landowner, as was the case with MEMC and its cooperation to see this agreement through. “After decades of community resistance and a local economy that transitioned away from mining in the 1950s, it took the right landowner to initiate and follow through with the process to permanently eliminate the risk of a large mine in our watershed,” says Jones. “The stars really aligned with this project, and we are fortunate that Mt. Emmons Mining Company, and not another mine developer, acquired the land eight years ago.”

Many pieces fell into place at the right time for this deal to reach its final resolution. The agreement was made possible by the trust and collaboration of our local partners, regional governmental entities, and long-time community advocates, including the US Forest Service, Town of Crested Butte, Gunnison County, High Country Conservation Advocates, Coal Creek Watershed Coalition, and the Red Lady Coalition.

While celebrating this victory 47 years in the making, the Land Trust’s work with Red Lady is just getting started. “Our role as the conservation easement holder is one we take very seriously,” says Jones. “The Crested Butte Land Trust will monitor the property every year to ensure the terms of the easement are being met, and we will help educate the public about where and how to legally access the mountain. Our perpetual responsibilities start now.”

The Land Trust will oversee the property to enforce the terms of the easement forever. The Land Trust’s stewardship team will inspect the entire property annually to ensure the landowner’s compliance. Additionally, the Land Trust will work with the landowner on public education and outreach regarding winter access to Red Lady Bowl where recreation management includes non-motorized use and a restricted area around the historic Keystone Mine and water treatment plant. New signage will be established at the winter trailhead to educate the public regarding winter recreation on Mt. Emmons. There is no summer access from Kebler Pass through the conserved property; summer access to the summit of Mt. Emmons remains legal via Gunsight Pass Road from Slate River Road.

As the stewards of the conservation easement, the Crested Butte Land Trust is honored to take on the responsibility of safeguarding this mountain, protecting our local watershed, ensuring the public’s winter access, and continuing our community’s conservation legacy.

Mining and Conservation: Past, Present, Future

Our community’s connection to this land is deeply embedded in the Gunnison Valley’s heritage. The Gunnison Valley has been home to many land stewards over time – from

the Utes living off the land to the miners working in the coal mines to the ranchers and resort developers establishing the area’s varied economy. Today, the community continues to evolve with tourism and industries that rely on the land.

Historic Perspective

The Utes were early stewards of the Gunnison Valley and cared for the landscape long before miners
came to the area. Extended family groups traveled seasonally to hunt and gather. These Ute bands camped along established routes throughout the west, including the Gunnison Valley during the summer months to hunt big game. The Tabaguache band ranged along central Colorado from the Elk River in the north to the Uncompahgre and Gunnison Rivers further south.

Then gold and silver boomed in Colorado in the 1870s. The General Mining Act of 1872 authorized mining for minerals on federal public lands and opened the mountains to mining camps and towns in the area. In the 1873 Brunot Treaty, the Utes lost 3.7 million acres of their land to the US government. This displacement allowed for the development of mining and settlement in western Colorado.

Thousands of people flocked to the Gunnison Valley hoping to strike it rich. Crested Butte originally served as a supply town for over 15 silver mining camps. Even as the gold and silver rush ended in the 1890s, people continued to arrive in the Gunnison Valley because the area held both Anthracite and Bituminous coal.

As Crested Butte transitioned into a mining-based economy, cattle ranching emerged in parallel in the late 1800s with families going back to living off the land and laying the foundation for the valley’s prolific ranching legacy. The valley slowly transitioned to a tourist destination after its coal mining era ended in the 1950s and the Crested Butte Ski Resort opened in 1962. The valley’s recreation economy and
reputation continued to grow and evolve into the outdoor paradise we know today.

Though Crested Butte’s mining era lasted less than 100 years, it is a piece of our history that holds much significance in the Gunnison Valley’s landscape. Mining and conservation are deeply intertwined, and many present-day conservation projects focus on mining reclamation and restoration work.

Mining & Conservation: The Past

The Crested Butte Land Trust has spearheaded many conservation efforts in the valley for decades. As the area’s economy transitioned from mining and ranching to tourism, so has the emphasis on restoration and rehabilitation work on historic mining lands.

When the mines closed and were abandoned, the community recognized an environmental need to restore the land and clean up the water damaged by mining. These are the same lands where we now recreate, where cattle graze, and where wildlife have returned.

Many of the old mining areas in Crested Butte became popular recreation hubs for locals and visitors. For example, the Land Trust’s acquisition of Peanut Mine, Peanut Lake, and the Lower Loop parcels transformed blighted land into one of the most popular trail systems in the valley. The mines in this area were abandoned, leaving toxic mining waste behind. This waste was so severe that, in the summer of 2000, the coal and silver ore next to the Lower Loop Trail spontaneously combusted. After this fire event, the Land Trust led the charge in cleaning up the Peanut Mine site and partnered with the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety (CDRMS) to restore the surrounding habitat.

The Land Trust conserved these formerly polluted mine properties over many years, utilizing successful partnerships and countless volunteer hours. This area now includes  miles of trails and dozens of acres of wetlands essential to the local ecosystem.

Mining & Conservation: The Present

The Slate River corridor was once a bustling hub for mining activity with the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad running through it. Today, we know it as a bustling hub for recreation, cattle grazing, and unique wetland habitats. The Gunsight Bridge area was part of the Anthracite Mine property, also known as the Smith Hill Mine. Over the last decade and a half, the Land Trust has worked with regional partners to restore and maintain protected wildlife habitats, ranching heritage, and recreational access to this scenic waterway.

In 2011, the Land Trust once again partnered with CDRMS to restore neighboring wetlands from leftover coal debris as part of the Smith Hill Reclamation Project. Volunteers helped clear and restore the original topography of the wetlands, plant new vegetation, and restabilize the visitor parking lot. At the time, the old bridge was contributing to in-stream erosion, disturbing the natural channels of the surrounding wetlands. In 2018, the Land Trust replaced the bridge to help restore the natural hydrology of the river and surrounding habitat. In 2020, the Land Trust worked with the Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association and the Bureau of Land Management to create the Coal Train Trail, which provides wetland- protected trail access from Gunsight Bridge to Oh-Be-Joyful Campground.

“A lot of these mining lands were once blighted and then abandoned,” says Crested Butte Land Trust Executive Director Jake Jones. “But now, they’ve been largely restored and ‘rewilded.’ They’ve gone back to nature in many ways.”

Today, the Land Trust remains committed to stewarding the Gunsight Bridge area and the Slate River wetlands. The Land Trust’s Recreation and Conservation Ranger monitors the area; tracks recreation traffic; and educates the community and visitors on responsible recreation, private property boundaries, and habitat conservation. Through the Slate River Working Group, the Land Trust collaborates with willing landowners, local ranchers, government entities, fellow nonprofits, and committed community members to identify issues and make informed decisions as land managers to better steward the lands and mitigate human impacts moving forward.

Mining & Conservation: The Future

The mission of the Crested Butte Land Trust is to forever protect and steward open lands for vistas, recreation, wildlife, and ranching. While the Land Trust has come a long way in managing the valley’s mining impacts, the conservation and stewardship of former mine-impacted lands will continue to be a priority.

This year, the Land Trust celebrated the permanent protection of Mt. Emmons. Through the Mt. Emmons Land Exchange and Conservation Easement, our community’s treasured “Red Lady” is forever protected from mining and development. The Mt. Emmons conservation project is a prime example of our commitment to the ongoing mitigation of historic mining impacts. Our stewardship of Red Lady is just beginning, as the Land Trust will monitor the property annually, ensure the conservation easement terms are met, and establish a long-term recreation management plan in partnership with the landowner.

Additionally, the Land Trust is working to acquire backcountry mining claims to protect the undisturbed, continuous landscapes in the high country. Many of these claims hold deep mining history in the Gunnison Valley but could still be developed as they are scattered between private and federal lands. The Land Trust pursues these remote parcels to protect wildlife habitats, migration routes, scenic corridors, and public access.

Guided by our valley’s vibrant history, the Crested Butte Land Trust is proud to steward our lands for the past, present, and future. We are grateful for the generations of land stewards who came before us and instilled the conservation values to care for this cherished place for ourselves and for generations to come.Our community’s connection to this land is deeply embedded in the Gunnison Valley’s heritage. The Gunnison Valley has been home to many land stewards over time – from the Utes living off the land to the miners working in the coal mines to the ranchers and resort developers establishing the area’s varied economy. Today, the community continues to evolve with tourism and industries that rely on the land.

Photo courtesy Steelworks Center of the West Archives

Supporter Spotlight: John and Conni Mahoney

The Crested Butte Land Trust’s motto is “preserving the present for the future.” Our work is perpetual, protecting and caring for lands today so future generations can enjoy them and continue our legacy tomorrow. The Mahoney family are leaders in our conservation community, living and working on conserved lands in the Gunnison Valley. John and Conni manage the Reserve on the East River, and John is one of the Crested Butte Land Trust’s newest board members.

The Mahoney family’s ranching roots run deep: Conni comes from five generations of ranching in Montana. Prior to moving here full-time in 2016, John and Conni split their time between the Gunnison Valley and her family’s ranch outside of Bozeman. When they had the opportunity to move here permanently, “we couldn’t pass it up,” says Conni. Their daughter Hazel, now 9 years old, has grown up here ever since and attends Crested Butte Community School.

John and Conni have been ranch managers at the Reserve on the East River since 2016, which includes 24 home sites nestled among 1,500 acres along the East River. The Reserve is a residential neighborhood with a large conservation easement held by the Crested Butte Land Trust. John and Conni are the property managers, oversee the ranching operations, and maintain the Reserve’s wildlife habitats.

“We really enjoy being ranch managers. It includes such a diverse range of jobs and responsibilities,” says John. “It also ties us to the Land Trust and gets us excited about living in the valley. There are so many opportunities to conserve land and to be smart about how we develop in the valley to keep it for future generations. We have those values and see the importance they bring to the community.”

The Mahoneys enjoy the outdoor-centric nature of their jobs and living here. “The Gunnison Valley is so diverse as far as everything it offers and how everybody enjoys it – from recreation to tourism, to the ranching community making a living here,” says John. “We enjoy everything everyone has to offer, and we’re all so focused on the outdoors. Whether you’re on the recreation or agriculture side of it, everyone appreciates the outdoor space.”

The Mahoneys also recognize the significance of the conservation values at the Reserve on the East River. “From the beginning when they created this community, there has been a huge emphasis on the value of open space and having enough room for people to grow but also to keep wildlife and habitat in mind,” says Conni. “It’s important to make room for it all, for us to coexist with what was already here and take care of it. We want to help maintain the beauty of our small valley and find that balance of conservation and growth for the future.”

It’s those same values that inspired John to recently join the Land Trust Board of Directors. “This is an amazing place to conserve and be smart with how we manage the land. The Land Trust has conserved a portion of the Reserve on the East River. I think it’s so incredible to have that right here on the property that we manage.”

John is passionate about protecting our lands for the future. “It’s important to make that connection for the future generations to come. What we’re doing here impacts the land, and we’re really trying to be mindful of how we affect the natural habitats and wildlife in the valley.”

Conni is also a wildlife photographer, and her work is featured at Redline Gallery in downtown Crested Butte. Her photos regularly capture scenes of Land Trust-conserved lands, and she has contributed her beautiful photography to the Land Trust over the years.

“I get to see the value of the Land Trust’s conservation work firsthand when I’m out photographing wildlife,” says Conni. “I’ve taken photos all across the valley, and it’s pretty amazing to look around and see that these spaces are protected forever. To have these open spaces to get out to and see the incredible wildlife living there is a really special thing. It’s pretty amazing to live in a place where nature is all connected and so close and accessible.”

It’s no surprise that, during their free time, the Mahoneys can be found enjoying the beautiful and natural surroundings of the area. Both John and Conni enjoy running – John has run several 100- mile races, and Conni leads a local chapter of the Trail Sisters running club. “You’ll find us on the trails, fishing, hiking, or biking. Our daughter is especially into mountain biking and running,” says Conni. “We’re usually out exploring.”

“The Mahoneys are down-to-earth, kind, and thoughtful people. They have a voice for wildlife and are community school parents, and many of their extended family members have moved and settled here. They are demonstrating a version of living off the land, a critical concept that still exists in our community and valley,” says Crested Butte Land Trust Executive Director Jake Jones. “All of those values are so closely aligned with our conservation mission, and their level of engagement is so critical to the Land Trust Board. These are great people working in our community and contributing to our conservation efforts.”

Crested Butte Land Trust Board of Directors

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Events
We hope to see you soon at one of our field trips, the Starry Evening Gala, the Caddis Cup Fly Fishing Tournament, and more! Visit cblandtrust.org or contact Development Director Ashley UpChurch at ashley@cblandrust.org or 970-349-1206 to learn more.