Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Conservation Easement Monitoring Report

Name of the Easement: Wolf Mountain – Phase IV & V State: Colorado County: Routt

Easement Transaction Summary (i.e. acres, phases, amendments, sales): Pirtlaw Partners, LTD completed a purchased conservation easement (CE) on 1,330.3 acres with the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) in 2011. Funding for this purchased easement came from the Routt County Purchase of Development Rights Program and the Colorado Division of Wildlife. The grantor completed a second purchased CE on 8,658 acres in 2012, with funding from the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Both purchased CEs were bargain sales, so there was a charitable donation granted to RMEF for both CEs.

The entire Wolf Mountain Ranch is approximately 19,000 acres. The acres protected by RMEF- held CEs total 9,988.3 acres. Approximately 6,092 acres of the Ranch has been protected through easements with The Nature Conservancy.

Name of Original Easement(s) Grantor(s): Pirtlaw Partners, LTD Date of Easement(s): Phase IV: May 2, 2011 & Phase V: August 30, 2012

Contact Information on file with RMEF.

IMPORTANT NOTE: In addition to the Deeds of CE, these purchased CEs have grant agreements, monitoring protocols, and wildlife management plans.

Date Monitored: June 28, 2017 Date Last Monitored: June 29, 2016

Monitored by: Jarren Kuipers – Land Steward Services LLC

Accompanied by: Hawk Greenway – Pilot. I left email and phone messages for Brent Romick prior to the flight. We then spoke after the flight on Oct 3, 2017.

List the Conservation Values protected by this Easement:

Protection of the Property contributes to the conservation of important significant relatively natural habitat for wildlife and plants, including particularly sagebrush and mountain shrub communities, Columbian sharp-tailed grouse, and Greater sage grouse, along with substantial populations of elk, mule deer, and other big game species. Columbian sharp-tailed grouse and Greater sage grouse are Colorado species of concern. The Property also includes significant open space values. The Property contributes significantly to the scenic character of the local rural landscape in which it lies. The Property is in the valley of Wolf Creek and the high flanking slopes of Wolf Mountain and other foothill summits. The Property has a mosaic of Mixed Montane Forest, Aspen Forest, Mixed Montane Shrubland, and prominent rock outcrops. County Road 52 runs

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along the north and west Property boundaries. The sensitivity of the viewshed is considered high because of the open setting and the importance of preserving open space adjacent to other previously conserved lands. The Property has traditionally been used for agricultural purposes and is currently managed under a Ranching for Wildlife contract with the Colorado Division of Wildlife. This use is compatible with other land uses in the vicinity, as adjacent properties are also used for agricultural production and big game hunting. See the Deed of CE for additional Conservation Values.

ATTENTION EASEMENT OWNER(S):

RMEF strongly encourages you to review your Deed(s) of Conservation Easement (CE) periodically, especially the Permitted and Prohibited Uses and Practices. Some activities may require Prior Notice and Approval from RMEF, such as new building or road construction, forest management activities, farming/cultivation, riparian activities, sale of property, etc. If you need a copy of your Deed, please contact the RMEF staff/contractor who monitors your easement or call RMEF at 800-CALL-ELK and ask for the Lands Department.

Since the last monitoring visit, please identify any activities on the property, any activities planned for the future, and whether any reserved rights were exercised.

New buildings or other construction: No new construction observed or mentioned.

New road construction: There were four wildfires that occurred on the property, after the flight. As part of the firefighting effort, some firebreaks and temporary roadwork was completed in line with Section 25.J. of the Deeds.

Mineral extraction or excavation: Quicksilver Resources’ mineral lease with the ranch expired on June 16, 2016, and there are no longer any plans to drill on either Phase IV or V.

Forest management activities: As part of the firefighting effort, some firebreaks and tree work was completed in line with Section 25.J. of the Deeds.

Noxious weed infestation: They are still actively working on three patches of dalmatian toadflax. They also work on houndstongue and white top, but most of the whitetop in on the lower ground off the easement. To control noxious weeds they sprayed 76 acres and mowed many of the roads.

Cropland management: They irrigated 157 acres, which ran out of water on August 7th. They hope to eventually increase water storage capacity in order to continue irrigating beyond early August.

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Livestock use and management: They grazed 1,254 head across all of the ranch property. These were primarily breed heifers. This year was particularly good for pregnancy rates and weight gain.

Water developments and water rights: No new water developments. They are looking into the possibility of increasing their water storage capacity to extend the irrigation season. However, they have no plans yet set in stone.

Describe significant wildlife management practices, habitat improvements, wildlife population trends, wildlife observations or other activities and details relating to the stewardship of the land:

Columbian sharp-tailed grouse lek count numbers held steady on the property while they declined elsewhere in the region. The Turner Meadows and Hunting Camp leks had an average of 37-43 birds, while the Phase IV Red Rock lek averaged 7-9 birds.

Big game populations have continued to do very well. More on this in the hunting section.

General property conditions and observations:

They had good early precipitation and snow pack. Then the area dried up significantly in the summer. Now in the fall they have had good precipitation again, resulting in 1.5” above average for the year. In short, it was reported that they had very good forage production.

The ranch staff notified RMEF immediately of the wildfires (as soon as they started), and remained in close communication. CPW is leading the effort to update the Wildlife Management Plans to include wildfire rehab and seeding as needed.

Owner or representative comments on any unusual or adverse influences impacting the property (i.e. trespass by neighbor’s livestock, poaching, plant or animal disease, increased human activity or habitat conversion in area): The fires this summer were obviously a major influence on the property. Some of them started on the property and others outside. All were started by lightning strikes.

Hunter trespass is limited. They have been ticketing about one person a year.

Does landowner permit public hunting on CE? Is the landowner enrolled in a state agency hunter access program (i.e. block management)? If yes, is it an annual agreement or a long- term agreement?

The ranch is enrolled in Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Ranching for Wildlife (RFW) program. 62 Private hunt tags were given to the ranch in 2016. All filled tags, with the exception of one hunter that passed on several elk. It was not known how successful the public hunters were on cow elk.

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Method of monitoring (foot, horseback, vehicle, aerial): Aerial.

Time spent monitoring: 15 min.

Weather conditions at the time of monitoring: Warm and partly cloudy.

Provide description of the area that was observed during the inspection (such as the entire property, eastern boundaries of the south road, etc.) and provide routes of travel: The entire property was viewed. See Appendix A for more detail.

Photos taken? Yes. See Appendix B.

Concerns/Violations: No concerns or violations were observed.

By signing this report below, I attest that I monitored the property on the Date Monitored above, and that all photos included in the Appendix were taken by me during the site visit, on the Date Monitored, and that the photograph is an accurate depiction of the subject photographed.

Monitor’s Signature: Date: October 2, 2017

Monitor’s Printed Name and Title: Jarren Kuipers – Land Steward Services LLC Monitor’s Mailing Address: 1505 21st St., Cody, WY 82414

IMPORTANT: RMEF must file an annual monitoring report with Routt County before January 31 of the year following the monitoring trip. RMEF must cc CPW on monitoring reports when sent to the landowner. See Contact Information document for addresses.

RMEF Headquarters│5705 Grant Creek Rd│Missoula, MT 59808-8249│(800) CALL ELK│WWW.RMEF.ORG

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Appendix A: Photo Point Map and Travel Route (Yellow Line)

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Appendix B: Photo Documentation

Looking south from the north border of Phase V, into the east portion. The bottom land is excluded. Looking south at the northern border (closest lake) of Phase V.

Looking southwest across the northcentral portion of Phase V. Looking southwest at the corrals on the north border of Phase V.

Looking northwest across the east side of Phase IV Looking west along the entire southern extent of Phase IV.

Looking north toward the excluded pond, with the northern portion of Phase IV in the foreground on the Looking north across the southwest portion of Phase V. right.

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Looking northeast along the southern end of Phase IV. Well pad excluded. Looking east at the southwest end of Phase IV.

Looking northeast through the excluded pond area, with the foreground and much of the background in the easement.

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Looking east at the southwest portion of Phase V. The lakes and foreground are in. The two pads are on Looking southwest at a well pad, just off the easement, with the border on the far left. excluded lands.

Looking southeast with easement ground in the foreground and background. The pond area and pad Looking southwest at the well pad, with the easement on the left. excluded.

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Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Conservation Easement Monitoring Report

Name of the Easement: Thorpe Mountain State: Colorado County: Routt

Easement Transaction Summary (i.e. acres, phases, amendments, sales):

In 2011, Thorpe Mountain LLC generously donated a conservation easement (CE) to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) on 417.41 acres (Phase II) of the 3,126-acre Flying Diamond Ranch. In 2012, the landowners amended the original deed of CE and donated an additional 368.83 acres to the RMEF (Phase IIIB Addition). In October 2013, the deed was amended a second time to add language requested by the Great Outdoors Colorado Trust Fund (GOCO).

In 2013, the RMEF completed a third phase with Thorpe Mountain LLC. This was a purchased CE protecting an additional 237 acres (Phase III). Both GOCO and Routt County provided funding and support for this Phase III.

In 2015, RMEF completed Phases IV and V with Thorpe Mountain LLC protecting an additional 449+ acres. Both GOCO and Routt County provided funding support for Phase IV, 293 acres. Phase V was donated to RMEF on 156 acres.

In summary, RMEF holds 4 total Deeds of CE on approximately 1,472+ acres in CE on the Flying Diamond Ranch.

Note: 365 acres of the Ranch are protected by a CE with the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust. A second parcel of 540 acres is protected by an easement with the Colorado Division of Wildlife. These two CEs together are referred to as Phase I.

Name of Original Easement(s) Grantor(s):

 Phase II & IIIB – Flying Diamond (Colorado) Trust, signed by Wesley John Adams, Joel Robert Adams, Trace Thomas Adams, and Daniel K. Newell, as Trustees

 Phase III – Thorpe Mountain LLC, signed by John R. Adams as LLC Manager

 Phase IV - Thorpe Mountain LLC, signed by John R. Adams as LLC Manager

 Phase V – Wesley John Adams, Joel Robert Adams, and Trace Thomas Adams as tenants in common

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Date of Easement(s):

 Phase II – 417.41 acres – Recorded on November 4, 2011 (donated)

 Phase IIIB – 368.83 acres – Recorded on June 15, 2012 (donated), amending the November 4, 2011 deed

 Phase II & IIB – Recorded on October 18, 2013, amending the June 15, 2012 deed, protecting a total of 786.24 acres (417.41 acres (II) + 368.83 acres (IIIB).

 Phase III – 237 acres – Recorded on October 18, 2013 (purchased CE)

 Phase IV – 293 acres – Recorded on July 2, 2015 (purchased CE)

 Phase V – 156 acres – Recorded on June 26, 2015 (donated CE)

Landowner and Ranch Manager Contact Information on file with RMEF.

Date Monitored: 06/28/2017 Date Last Monitored: 09/19/2016

Monitored by: Jarren Kuipers – Land Steward Services LLC

Accompanied by: Hawk Greenway – Pilot. I left emails and phone messages for Brent Romick before and after the flight. I spoke with Cody McHaffie by phone after the flight.

List the Conservation Values protected by this Easement The Property remains in a substantially undisturbed, natural state, and therefore in addition to its agricultural value, has significant ecological, open space, and wildlife habitat values, and also important values for hunting and other outdoor recreational values. The Property is located on the north slopes and summit ridge of Thorpe Mountain in the south-central portion of Routt County and has aspen forest, coniferous forest, oak shrubland and riparian ecosystems. One hundred yards of Grouse Creek passes through the Property. These ecosystems provide fall concentration habitat for black bear, summer range and winter concentration for elk, and summer range for mule deer. Riparian habitat provides potential habitat for the northern leopard frog. Oak shrubland and aspen forest provide winter and transitional habitat for sharp-tailed grouse.

See Deed of CEs for additional Conservation Values.

ATTENTION EASEMENT OWNER(S): RMEF strongly encourages you to review your Deed(s) of Conservation Easement (CE) periodically, especially the Permitted and Prohibited Uses and Practices. Some activities may require Prior Notice and Approval from RMEF, such as new building or road construction, forest management activities, farming/cultivation, riparian activities, sale of property, etc. If you need a copy of your Deed, please contact the RMEF staff/contractor who monitors your easement or call RMEF at 800-CALL-ELK and ask for the Lands Department.

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Since the last monitoring visit, please identify any activities on the property, any activities planned for the future, and whether any reserved rights were exercised.

New buildings or other construction: No new buildings or other construction observed or mentioned on any of the phases.

New road construction: No new road construction observed or mentioned on any of the phases.

Mineral extraction or excavation: No mineral extraction observed or mentioned on any of the phases.

Forest management and Habitat Enhancement activities: None observed or mentioned on any of the phases.

However, they are still planning to do some oakbrush thinning where stands are the densest. The intent will be to open up some small (1/4 to 1/3 acre) meadows for wildlife forage. They will also be mulching some downed timber, the majority of which is aspen. Specific locations were not mentioned, but aspen stands are mostly on Phase III and IIIb lands.

The ranch may also decide to do some sagebrush control using similar means on the top of the hill of Phase III. RMEF suggests that sagebrush treatments should be done in a mosaic pattern vs. strips in order to avoid creating “predator lanes” for coyotes and foxes. Due to the property’s close proximity to a Columbian sharp-tailed grouse lek, the treatment should be planned to maintain enough of a sagebrush component to provide adequate habitat for nesting grouse, as well as critical food source for big game, specifically mule deer, during extreme winters.

Limited treatments to reset the succession oakbrush and sagebrush habitat may benefit big game species. Any treatment plan should also consider big game as well as grouse habitat objectives and address the anticipated heavy use on new sprouts. Treatments may include using controlled burns, roller chopping and other mechanical treatments and should take place July 16 – March 1 in order to minimize impacts to nesting migratory birds and Columbian sharp-tailed grouse.

The Wildlife Management Plans address these activities under Section 2.a, and the Deeds of CE address these activities under Section 7.o., which requires RMEF prior approval. Prior to implemented above proposed activities, please contact RMEF with specifics for review and approval.

Noxious weed infestation: They treated lupine, larkspur, houndstongue and some thistle this year.

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Cropland management: All of the irrigatable ground was irrigated. They hayed it, but the crop was not as good as years past due to the very dry summer. It typically produces 3 tons per acre with one cutting per year.

Livestock use and management: They are grazing 74 pairs that came on in early July will come off in late October.

Livestock grazing is in line with the Wildlife Management Plans on file, which outline the recommended stocking rate and annual grazing season for the ranch.

Water developments and water rights: No new water developments mentioned or observed on any of the phases.

Describe significant wildlife management practices, habitat improvements, wildlife population trends, wildlife observations or other activities and details relating to the stewardship of the land: They have had no new stewardship activities this year. However, now that their mulcher is fixed, they plan to start opening up meadows for wildlife forage, as mentioned above.

It was reported that elk and deer numbers have been good. There have been very few bucks around, but quite a few does and fawns.

General property conditions and observations: Due to the very good early precipitation, annual forage production was high, particularly in the upland rangeland. However, the summer was very dry, which reduced productivity in the wet meadows and woodlands.

During the flyover, some conifers with red needles were observed in the highest areas, but it appears the tree disease issue is not currently widespread.

Does landowner permit public hunting on CE? Is the landowner enrolled in a state agency hunter access program (i.e. block management)? If yes, is it an annual agreement or a long- term agreement? The ranch provides guided hunts from archery through the second rifle season. It was tough hunting last year, with enough animals to fill tags but few big bulls. They harvested 11-12 elk, including some cows.

Method of monitoring (foot, horseback, vehicle, aerial): Aerial.

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Time spent monitoring: 15 min.

Weather conditions at the time of monitoring: Warm and partly cloudy. Some smoke.

Photos taken? Yes. See Appendix B.

Concerns/Violations: No concerns or violations were observed or mentioned.

Monitor’s Signature: Date: October 2, 2017

Monitor’s Printed Name and Title: Jarren Kuipers – Land Steward Services LLC Monitor’s Mailing Address: 1505 21st St., Cody, WY 82414

IMPORTANT: RMEF must file an annual monitoring report with Routt County before January 31 of the year following the monitoring trip. See Contact Information document for addresses.

RMEF Headquarters│5705 Grant Creek Rd│Missoula, MT 59808-8249│(800) CALL ELK│WWW.RMEF.ORG

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Appendix A – Map Borders (black) and GPS tracks (yellow). This map does not show Phases IV and V, which connect Phase II and IIIb with III.

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Appendix B – Photos

Looking southwest at the building area on Phase III. Closeup of the building area in Phase III, looking northwest.

Fenceline contrast, looking northwest at the stream riparian corridor on Phase III. CE on the left. Looking northwest at the highpoint on Phase II. Some dead red trees.

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Looking northwest along the east border of Phase II. CE on the left slope. Looking northeast in the center of Phase II as the large aspen stands.

From Phase II, looking north toward the Phase III building area and Phase IV and V between. Aspen in the center of Phase II with diseased conifers.

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Looking southeast at a road cut on the north border of Phase IIIb. Looking south at the access road entering the north side of Phase II.

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