Land Stewardship
Teams of scientists have completed a baseline ecological assessment of plant and animal life and are currently evaluating the health of the ranch’s wide variety of animals and habitats. We are measuring predator effects in this wild landscape, which involves using remote cameras and radio-collaring cougars. This exemplary science will help inform land managers, influence land-use planning, and create sustainable local economies, working hand-in-hand with state and federal natural resources agencies. This is a long-term investment in stewardship, and is will take a decade to complete. Objectives include improving our understanding of the flora and fauna of the ranch and creating a healthier ecosystem. This will help conserve threatened and endangered species, like Gunnison sage-grouse, lynx, and Colorado River Cutthroat Trout.
Another perfect example is the stream restoration of North Dry Fork and Kimball Creek. The goal? Seven miles of a degraded North Dry Fork trout stream restored as well as 14 miles of Kimball Creek. These 21 miles of spring creeks were originally part of the native range for the Colorado River strain of cutthroat trout. These projects are perfect examples of how the combined efforts of the public, private, corporate, and scientific sectors can work cooperatively towards a common goal.
The Colorado Division of Wildlife’s Regional Sage Grouse Working Group is another example. It comes as no surprise to any western wing shooter that sage grouse populations are low. The High Lonesome Ranch is working with state agencies to improve them. The first order of business is to identify breeding leks. Once they are marked, selective planting of cover and food crops on both public and private lands can begin.
And then there are The High Lonesome Ranch’s aspen stands, which provide priceless habitat for thousands of species of plants and animals—from songbirds to butterflies to elk. Aspen are at risk throughout the West due to drought and other factors. Here on The High Lonesome Ranch we are studying their ecology and applying revolutionary tools to restore this iconic species. This involves doing ground-breaking ecological restoration on these aspen, using exclosures, and treatments that involve cutting trees to stimulate growth. The resulting experiment, which involves multiple exclosures and treatments in half-acre plots, distributed throughout the ranch, provides an inspiring example of stewardship in action.
Tour around The High Lonesome Ranch and you will see original homesteading cabins and buildings. 18 homesteader families left their mark on the North Dry Fork Valley, and significant efforts are being made to collect information that charts out the history of these original settlers. Take one look at the recently restored one-room Schoolhouse or the McKay Fork Cow Camp and you will see what we’re talking about. The ranch is creating a small museum that pays homage to our heritage and pioneer spirit as well as our stewardship efforts.
There are many more examples of both new as well as ongoing conservation and preservation partnerships. We will continue to add more. After all, conservation is integrated into every decision that is made at The High Lonesome Ranch. Our science stewardship vision comes from the legacy of legendary American conservationists Theodore Roosevelt, Aldo Leopold, and others, who envisioned sustainable living on mixed-use landscapes—a vision that included hunting, ranching, and science.
Guests have the exciting opportunity to learn about, participate in, and become as engaged as they want to be in our vital science. To enrich your experience of this wild Western landscape, all guest accommodations are superbly stocked with a natural history library that contains classics such as A Sand County Almanac and newer volumes, such as our Science Director’s recent natural history and ecology book, The Wolf’s Tooth, along with essential field guides to birds, plants, and wildlife. Plant and bird species lists are available at Ranch Headquarters for those who wish to go on naturalist forays, and a self-guided interpretive nature trail accessible to persons of all ages and physical abilities enables guests to learn more about the ranch’s flora and fauna.
