ASPEN, Colo.—Colorado Sen. Mark Udall is expected to help celebrate the completion of a land exchange between the U.S. Forest Service and local governments in Pitkin County.
The celebration planned Saturday in Aspen will mark the preservation of 35 acres near the ghost town of Ashcroft outside Aspen. Udall sponsored the land exchange when was in the U.S. House.
The parcel is now part of the White River National Forest. Pitkin County and the Aspen Valley Land Trust bought the land in 2000 at the urging of the Forest Service.
The Forest Service will also take over 18 acres of private land surrounded by national forest on Smuggler Mountain.
In exchange, Pitkin County receives 40 acres along the Crystal River, 12 small parcels on Smuggler and a 8.4-acre cabin site east of Aspen.
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Information from: The Aspen Times,
