On February 17, 2021, Douglas Land Conservancy (DLC) and Douglas County partnered to protect 2,558 acres with perpetual conservation easements on two Douglas County open space properties.  Sandstone Ranch (2,038 acres) and the Schmidt Construction Open Space (520 acres) were both acquired by Douglas County in cooperation with the Chatfield Reservoir Mitigation Company to provide mitigation for the Preble’s meadow jumping mouse as part of the Chatfield Storage Reallocation Project.  The purchase of Sandstone Ranch was also completed with funding from Great Outdoors Colorado. 

Sandstone Ranch is a historic cattle ranch located near Perry Park on the west side of Highway 105 and is open to the public with new trails and a trailhead constructed by the County.  More trails and other public recreation opportunities are planned for Sandstone in the future, including guided hikes led by DLC.  A large portion of the riparian areas of Sandstone are protected by a mitigation plan for the Preble’s meadow jumping mouse, a species listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act.

Schmidt Construction Open Space, Photo by Patricia Hostetler

Schmidt Construction Open Space is located near West Jackson Creek Road and the Pike National Forest boundary.  The County plans to construct trails on the property in the future, and the property will be open to the public.  The Schmidt property also includes areas protected by a mitigation plan for the Preble’s meadow jumping mouse.

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Photo of Melinda Beck Melinda Beck

Melinda Beck is a real estate and land use attorney who has more than two decades of experience.  Melinda’s conservation law expertise includes the donation and purchase and sale of conservation easements to land trusts and local governments by private landowners throughout Colorado …

Melinda Beck is a real estate and land use attorney who has more than two decades of experience.  Melinda’s conservation law expertise includes the donation and purchase and sale of conservation easements to land trusts and local governments by private landowners throughout Colorado and nationally. She represents land trusts and private landowners regarding all issues related to conservation easement transactions and stewardship, including obtaining discretionary approvals and amendments to conservation easements. She is an emeritus member of the Land Trust Alliance Conservation Defense Advisory Council. Melinda has a degree in Economics from Pomona College and a law degree from the University of Denver, Sturm College of Law.

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