Updated by OLRTAC January 16, 2020 1
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Updated by OLRTAC January 16, 2020 1 APPLICATION FOR OPEN LANDS RIVERS & TRAILS (OLRT FUND) SPRING 2020 Funding may only be requested for projects that fit within the scope of the OLRT funding resolution, ballot language, and OLRT funding criteria. Please email completed application in PDF format by 5pm on March 13th, 2020 to Open Lands, Rivers and Trails Advisory Committee, Grand County, at: [email protected] Further information may be requested. If funds are awarded, you will be required to sign a MOU with Grand County and a final grant report will be required to be submitted within 12- months of the grant application due date. A. General Information 1. Name/Title of Proposed Project: Renegade Ranch Property Acquisition Please check type of project: Open Land River Trail 2. Applicant: (Who will receive the grant funds) Colorado Parks and Wildlife In the case of a multi-jurisdictional/agency application, please provide the names of all the participating agencies and/or individuals. 3. Name of Principal (Lead jurisdiction/agency): Name: Colorado Parks and Wildlife Title: Mailing Address: PO Box 216 Hot Sulphur Springs, CO 80451 Telephone Number: 970-725-6200 4. Who will hold the property interest? State of Colorado 5. Designated Contact Person for the Application: Name: Jon Ewert Title: Aquatic Biologist Mailing Address: PO Box 216 Hot Sulphur Springs, CO 80451 Telephone Number: 970-509-9150 6. Total Project Cost $1.0-1.5 million (do not include in- kind amounts in 6, 6a, or 6b): Updated by OLRTAC January 16, 2020 2 a) Amount of OLRT funds requested: $500,000 b) Percentage of OLRT funds request to total cost: 33% c) Date request for funds to be available to applicant: Anticipated closing date in early 2021 7. Brief Description of Proposed Project (Please limit to 100 words.) Renegade Ranch is a 20-acre parcel which borders on the Kemp-Breeze State Wildlife Area (SWA) at the confluence of the Williams Fork and Colorado Rivers. For a distance of approximately 2,900 feet in this area, half of the Colorado River (river left) is on Sate Wildlife Area and the other half is owned by Renegade Ranch. This project would incorporate Renegade Ranch into the State Wildlife Area, thus giving the public full access to the river, as well as a new access point from the Town of Parshall. 8. Why is the project needed? What are the specific goals of the project? How will project success be measured? (Please limit to 100 words.) The project is needed because it will enhance the conservation values of the State Wildlife Area at the same time that it increases public fishing access and provide economic benefit. The area of the Williams Fork confluence is highly ecologically valuable, with mature riparian cottonwood galleries providing habitat for elk, deer, river otter, eagles, herons, and countless other terrestrial species as well as being home to a highly productive Gold Medal trout fishery. Acquisition of this parcel will enable this section of the Colorado River to be included in the Kemp-Breeze Habitat Improvement Project (conceptual design document available upon request.). 9. What is the expected duration of the project? Updated by OLRTAC January 16, 2020 3 9. What is the expected duration of the project? Please attach a project timeline that includes the start and completion dates for the project. It is difficult to determine precise dates for a land acquisition project. The estimated closing date is June 2021. If OLRT funding is committed, CPW staff will work with the landowner to apply for the remainder of the funding through the Colorado Wildlife Habitat Protection Program (CWHP), which will have a deadline in May 2020. Final project approval by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission would occur in November 2020. CPW staff will begin the final acquisition process immediately following. CPW is open to alternative OLRT funding timing based on this anticipated timeline. However, an OLRT funding commitment is necessary at the outset of CPW’s internal application process. 10. If funded, how will you acknowledge receiving funds from Grand County’s Open Lands, Rivers, and Trails Fund (i.e. signage, newspaper article, social media, etc.)? Major public outreach effort including statewide press releases, social media, signage, possible ribbon cutting/grand opening event. B. Budget & Other Financial Information 1. Summary of Project Budget and Funding Sources (Cash amounts only, no in-kind): Project Activity Requested Requested Committed Funds- Total funds Funds-OLRT Funds-other other sources, please needed for sources include your project organization’s activity committed funds Purchase of $500,000 $1,000,000 0 $1,500,000 property Due Diligence $25,000 Estimate Totals: $500,000 $1,025,000 0 $1,525,000 Updated by OLRTAC January 16, 2020 4 2. How were the financial needs estimated? The application uses the property listing price. As with any real estate transaction, we anticipate negotiation based on appraisal, state tax credit benefits to the seller, and other factors. Thus, the final purchase budget is not known at this time. Due diligence estimate is based on prior CPW projects. 3. Describe the project’s in-kind support including estimated value. This project is proposed as a funding partnership between Grand County OLRT and CPW. If OLRT funding is granted, CPW staff will pursue funding the remainder of the cost of the acquisition through our internal Colorado Wildlife Habitat Program property acquisition RFP process. CPW will invest further funds through staff time to secure the property including local staff, Real Estate, Regional office, Water Specialists, and Attorney General’s Office staff. 4. What future work will need to be completed for this project and what will the associated cost be? CPW staff will work with the landowner to apply for CWHP funds to cover remainder of acquisition costs in May 2020. The RFP process is highly competitive with statewide applications for land protection, which annually exceed the program’s budget. Local CPW staff previously supported the nomination of this parcel in 2011 for purchase through CWHP but it was denied. It is imperative that partner funds such as OLRT are secured to increase the attractiveness of the project during the CPW ranking process. The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission makes the final project funding decisions typically in November. Acquisition of this property will create a new access point to the State Wildlife Area off County Road 3 in the Town of Parshall. Associated infrastructure (signage, restrooms, parking, etc.) and access development work is anticipated and will be completed through CPW’s property management budget. Estimated cost is unknown at this time. What ongoing operational obligations will be required for this project? The property will be incorporated into CPW’s normal property management activities and budget for the Kemp-Breeze State Wildlife Area. How does the applicant plan to address these additional costs? CPW manages over 15,000 acres in Grand County for public access and conservation values. We employee Property Technicians that are responsible for the property management and develop annual budgets to maintain the public and conservation values. Updated by OLRTAC January 16, 2020 5 5. Please describe in detail exactly what OLRT funds will be used for. OLRT funds will be used as a match to finance fee-simple acquisition of this parcel. 6. What percentage of the funds requested are for direct project management and what is being funded in regards to direct project management? The OLRT funds requested would be strictly dedicated to property acquisition. All project management will be conducted in-house by CPW personnel. 7. Please attach to this grant application your organization’s profit and loss statement and balance sheet. Please limit this to one page for each document. C. Other information 1. Describe local support for the project not included with in-kind information above. See attached letters of support. 2. How does this project meet the OLRT fund criteria? The project as proposed fulfills OLRT funding criteria to the greatest possible extent. Not only will the project provide a new public access point that has the potential to greatly benefit the Town of Parshall economically, but it also permanently protects a parcel with major ecological and wildlife values that is in imminent danger of being privately developed in a way that may negatively impact the State Wildlife Area. Public river fishing access is extremely limited in Grand County. Although the public has access to the middle of the river from the SWA side this acquisition would provide an additional half-mile of fishing access. In 2019 the existing river reach on SWA received 347 angler-days of guided use by permitted fishing guides. Based on a 1997 survey to determine recreational angling use, the Kemp-Breeze SWA hosted an estimated 7,682 angler trips totaling 36,878 hours of angling effort. CPW does not currently track the number of public anglers accessing the area for fishing but the 1997 numbers should be considered a minimum estimate and reasonable to assume the number of angler hours has substantially increased over the last 20 years. This is one of the most heavily fished river sections in the County and is easily accessible off of Hwy 40. The property will also provide additional wildlife viewing and hunting opportunities. CPW is aware of constantly increasing demand for river access in Grand County and throughout Colorado. One concerning trend is the increasing cost of private river access, which can have the effect of pricing new anglers out of the market. In 2007, BBC Research and Consulting found that recreational angling has an annual economic impact of more than $34 million in Grand County, supporting hundreds of jobs.