Ophir Valley

Colorado San Miguel County Congressional District: 03 Member: Scott Tipton

Location 12 Miles southwest of Telluride, CO.

Found within the Ophir Valley surrounded by high mountain peaks.

Acquired to Date

Method Acres* Cost ($)

Purchase 747 $4,262,644 Purpose Conserve and enhance significant

scenic, recreation, rich historic mining culture, and several endangered species of wildlife/plant resources within the project area.

Exchange 0 0 Donation 0 0 Other 0 0 Partners 0 0

President’s Budget FY2011 Method Acres* Cost ($) Purchase Opportunities

The Trust for Public Land (TPL) is offering to sell the remainder of Ophir Valley (Phase V). TPL acquired the remaining property in 2009.

Purchase 100 $1,000,000 President’s Budget FY2012

Method Acres* Cost ($) Pending 398 $4,040,000 *Includes fee and conservation easement interest

Partner The Trust for Public Land. Cooperators Local county and municipal support, San Miguel County Commissioners, Colorado Division of

Wildlife, San Miguel Conservation Foundation, and the Nature Conservancy. Project Description

The Ophir Valley Project was developed in 2006. The Town of Ophir along, with the Trust for Public Land brokered an agreement with a private land owner who owns almost the entire Ophir Valley. Other lands within the area have been acquired through exchange, donation, and purchase. The Federal acquisition project originally consisted of approximately 1200 acres. Of this total, approximately 747 acres have been acquired in LWCF appropriations. To date, four phases have been completed, including Phase IV, which was completed utilizing non-LWCF funds, indicating the importance of this project. It is also part of a larger effort which includes other public and private conservation property acquisitions and easements This project could be considered a natural extension of the successful Red Mountain Project ($9.6 million LWCF funding), located just three miles to the north and east. The Ophir Valley currently lies immediately adjacent to the proposed Northern San Juan’s Wilderness. The valley and surrounding hillsides are home to the endangered Canadian Lynx and Uncompahgre Fritillary butterfly. Continued acquisition would protect breathtaking mountain vistas, including a portion of the Howards Fork drainage some 2,500 feet below the top of Ophir Pass, Phase V would complete the project. Recreational access for hunting and four-wheel drives, fishing, rock climbing, sightseeing, camping, hiking, and horseback riding would be significantly enhanced. Phase V would result in $60,000 savings in landline maintenance alone. Acquisition into Federal ownership will provided significant watershed protection to the Howard’s Fork of the San Miguel River.

O&M Cost Estimated “start up” cost: $0 Estimated “annual” maintenance: $0

History Costs to date: FY 2008 $ 835,000 FY 2010 3,427,644 Total $4,262,644 Strategic Goal

Provide for a quality recreation experience, including access, and enjoyment of natural and cultural resources on Forest Service managed and partnered lands and waters.

Basin

Staatsburg

Silver Mountain

Chapman

Swamp

Canyon

Sprin

gGu

lch

HowardFork

CreekWaterfall

1126111321

12936

Suffolk Mine

11792

1260012408

12890

11503

9529

10176

9527

9583

9974

10840

BM9756

Ophir

Badger Mine(Active)

11882

11036

10603

10252

10454

9974USLM Waterfall

UNCOMPAHGRE

1127512010

10520

11702

Gold KingMine

CarboneroMine

GertrudeMine

R 9 W R 8 W

Iron Spring

LenaBasin

San

Joaq

uinRid

ge

Silver MountainKing

Basin

11249 11651

1282512271

119861252313319

1282213165 13446

12815

13470Silver King Mine11851

Black Warrior Mine

PalmyraMine

Turkey CreekMineCrown Jewel

Mine

PalmyraPeak

R 9 W R 8 W

12515

12557

11323

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OklahomaArizona

file: c:\(data\lwcd2012\r2\maps\ophir \ Arlene Heap

0 0.25 0.50.125Miles

State of ColoradoForest Service Region 2

Uncompahgre National Forest

Map Creation Date - 01/03/2011Map Revision Date -

Ophir Valley Mining ClaimsFY 2012 LWCF

This map depicts USDA Forest Service Land Status Record dataand the approximate location of the proposed purchase parcel.

The USDA Forest Service Makes no warranty, expressed or implied,regarding the data displayed on this map, and reserves the right tocorrect, update, modify, or replace this information without notification.

Township 41/42 North, Range 9 West, NMPM

LegendProposed Acquisition ParcelsLand Trust Or Private Easement National Forest System Lands

Vicinity Map

Ophir Valley Mining Claims

Land Trust Or Private Easement Parcels

U n c o m p a h g r e U n c o m p a h g r e N a t i o n a l F o r e s tN a t i o n a l F o r e s t