Blue Mountain Conservation Area, CO

The Blue Mountain Conservation Area, flanking the Front Range in the north-central part of the state, is home to elk, mountain lion and black bear. Culminating a six-year effort to protect open space and wildlife habitat here, the Fund collaborated with Larimer County and Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District to acquire 3,400 acres from Hewlett Packard Company. With assistance from the Great Outdoors Colorado program, the county will manage a portion of the property known as Chimney Hollow for outdoor recreation. The remainder will serve as a much-needed water reservoir in one of the state's fastest growing regions.