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List of supporters for the   Burial Tree Ranch preservation:

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Seldom does the opportunity arise for a rich piece of Colorado history to come under the stewardship of state government as would the purchase of the Burial Tree Ranch by the Colorado State Parks and the Division of Wildlife.

The Burial Tree Ranch, in Ouray County, is located 15 miles south of the City of Montrose and 10 miles north of the Town of Ridgway . The property has recently come on the market with an asking price of $4,975,000. It includes 268 acres (m/l) of pasturage with priority water rights, steep canyon walls with access to adjoining public lands and 1 1/4 miles of the Uncompahgre River . Of historical note are the presence of the old Mayfield Schoolhouse, the railroad right of way and trestles of the Rio Grande Southern Railroad and a holy site of the original native inhabitants, the Ute Indians.

The Friends of the River Uncompahgre (FORU) is taking an active role by joining in community support for the direct purchase of this property by the State of Colorado for public use and protection by accessing our lottery dollars.

The opportunities for our community are great:

•  The entire property and river access will be added to the very popular Ridgway State Park .

•  Under the management of Colorado State Parks restrooms, historical/cultural/environmental interpretative areas and trails for hiking and biking will be added.

•  Increased visitor days will boost the local tourist economy.

•  A 1 ¼ mile of pristine Uncompahgre fishing and rafting will be open for public use.

•  Public access to currently land locked BLM lands will be open.

•  Fish and game management in the area will be improved.

•  River protection from soil erosion and the loss of riparian habitat will improve through proven stewardship of the Colorado State Parks.

•  The property is contiguous to Billy Creek State Wildlife Area through Chaffee Creek.

The threats are real:

•  This historic ranch most likely will be broken up into 35 acre ranchettes for trophy homes.

•  Access to the river and public land will be lost forever.

•  The possible rails to trails link from Montrose to Ridgway will be eliminated.

•  Over crowding of Ridgway State Park will get worse during peak use times.

•  There will be no public oversight of important cultural and historic areas on the property.

This will be money well spent:

•  This investment by the State of Colorado on the western slope will buy more than on the Front Range .

•  Many of our tourists are from the Front Range and seek recreation opportunities in the beautiful valleys of the San Juan Mountains .

•  Ridgway State Park is one of the busiest full service facilities in the state park system. It makes sense to use our lottery dollars to improve a well managed and popular regional recreation asset.

If you believe, as we do at FORU, that this purchase is important for preserving this unique property for future generations, please join us by encouraging our state leaders to move forward with the purchase and preservation of the Burial Tree Ranch.

CONTACT: Jim Haugsness at 970-249-3062 or jrhaugsness@earthlink.net if you would like your name added to our list of supporters.

FRIENDS OF THE RIVER UNCOMPAGHRE