Kaplan Kirsch represented Walking Mountains Science Center in conveying a conservation easement to the Eagle Valley Land Trust in Edwards, Colorado. The transaction was funded in part by Eagle County’s Open Space Program. This transaction was unique in many ways. Conservation easements often emphasize protecting large tracts of land; however, this relatively small transaction had a different focus. It aimed to conserve the pristine riparian habitat of Buck Creek Valley for public education in nature, science, and conservation. This transaction was also one of the first applications by a nonprofit entity for the Colorado Conservation Easement Tax Credit.
Our team negotiated a number of transaction and funding documents, including the conservation easement and a public access easement. We coordinated the efforts of various parties and experts; and applied for and obtained a preliminary advisory opinion for what was for us our first public education conservation easement. Kaplan Kirsch is proud to have helped protect this land under a permanent conservation easement. The easement serves the purpose of public education—a significant achievement in environmental stewardship. It supports sustainability for current and future generations.
