Highlights of new conservation projects receiving Legacy grants Monday from Great Outdoors Colorado:
— The Northeast Greenway Corridor Project received $5.25 million for the first phase of a greenway and open space network with 150 miles of trails around the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge and in Denver, Brighton, Commerce City and Aurora, including the South Platte River. It will protect three farms comprising 300 acres, expand an open space park by 30 acres and build trails and pedestrian bridges. Sponsored by Adams County.
— The South Platte Greenway Project received $5.25 million to develop recreation and habitat along the South Platte from Englewood to the Arapahoe County line south of Littleton. The money will be used to acquire open space, expand trail space and restore riparian habitat. Sponsored by Arapahoe County.
— The Rio Grande Initiative received $7.38 million for conservation easements on 5,682 acres in working ranches along the Rio Grande in the San Luis Valley. About 54,000 acres of private land remain in parcels of 80 acres or larger along the Rio Grande, and the project hopes to eventually protect at least half of that. Sponsored by Rio Grande Headwaters Land Trust.
— The Crystal Watershed Project received $5 million to preserve open space, build the first leg of a trail and open new access points to the Crystal River and climbing areas in Pitkin County. Sponsored by Pitkin County.
— The Peak to Prairie Conservation Initiative received $4.75 million to start a 10-year project to protect about 250,000 acres along Fountain Creek in El Paso, Pueblo, Lincoln and Crowley counties. The area features both riparian habitat and shortgrass prairie. Sponsored by Colorado Open Lands
— The Upper San Juan River Watershed Project received $4.15 million to protect two ranches in the watershed in Archuleta and Mineral counties. Protecting the land would secure wildlife linkages and habitat, watershed buffers and scenic areas. Sponsored by The Conservation Fund.
