The Crestone Baca Land Trust (CBLT) was formed in 2001 by people living in the Town of Crestone and the adjacent 14,000-acre Baca Grande development (referred to as “the Baca”) to create open space by restricting development of key parcels identified as desirable conservation priorities, and to focus on preserving sensitive ecosystems and the natural beauty valued by our community. CBLT relied on county-wide biological data collected by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CSU) to select the Cottonwood Conservation Site for conservation. A grant from GOCO for $129,000 was received under the auspices of The Manitou Institute. Focusing on the protection of the wetlands in the lower Grants and the preservation of corridors for wildlife migration, a total of 177 acres were obtained by purchases with GOCO funds and through contributions by private owners and Saguache County. The property was placed under conservation easement, currently held by CBLT. The land became Baca Grande Property Owners Association property to be protected and maintained for the benefit of the community. In 2005 CBLT funded a biological assessment by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CSU) specific to the Baca Grande subdivision. The purpose of this assessment was to identify important biological resources and assist CBLT with identifying focal areas for conservation action, and to offer recommendations on development that will benefit preservation of the Baca’s biological resources. In addition to the Cottonwood Creek Conservation Site, over the years the CBLT has placed under conservation easement these additional sites: Spanish Meadows, Spanish Creek Greenbelt Wetlands, the White Wing Oxbow Conservation Site, a small portion of Willow Park. (All located in the Baca Grande development).