Annual Report
Douglas Land Conservancy
President's Letter
Dear Supporters of Douglas Land Conservancy,
We were blessed with another glorious Colorado autumn—that special, sepia-tinged light, warm, clear days, crisp nights. Tramping across the landscapes on Sandstone Ranch, Spruce Mountain and other preserved open spaces, one encountered the yellows, reds, oranges and browns of the changing aspen, Gambel oak, mountain mahogany and other plants preparing for winter, and could not help but be awestruck by nature’s brilliant pallet.
As the winter snows arrive, if you haven’t already done so, I highly recommend you take a hike on one of our public open spaces. The colorful deciduous leaves may have fallen from the trees, but the land, covered in fresh snow, is every bit as spectacular. I promise an unforgettable experience.
2023 has been another exciting year for Douglas Land Conservancy. As the number of conserved properties stewarded by DLC grows and we expand our community involvement, DLC has added staff to ensure that we continue to thrive as an organization and accomplish our critical mission. Joining Executive Director Laura Sanford, Advancement Director Amy Graziano and Stewardship Coordinator Sarah Corliss, we welcome Kaitlyn Stabell as our new Community Outreach and Engagement Coordinator. Kaitlyn brings a strong educational background, including a Master's degree in Conservation Leadership from Colorado State University, energy and enthusiasm, and is making an immediate impact towards the success of DLC.
We have completed development of DLC’s new, five-year Strategic Plan. This comprehensive document lays out important goals for the organization going forward and a path to accomplishing all our objectives, laying the groundwork for the success of DLC far into the future. Some of the key areas addressed in the Strategic Plan include growing the pipeline of new conservation projects, expansion of our regional impact and collaboration with conservation partners, building our financial strength to sustain DLC in perpetuity, and ensuring that our staff and board of directors are second to none.
DLC continues to work with landowners and our conservation partners to identify and establish new conservation easements on special properties of important conservation value. Look for updates in the new year as some of these projects come to fruition. The addition of new conservation easements to our portfolio is so significant, as it guarantees that the viewscapes, plant and animal habitats and, in some cases, public access offered by these properties will always be there.
Thanks to the foresight and generous support of a donor, a new conservation opportunity fund has been established to encourage and facilitate approaches to conserving land that may not have been available to DLC in the past. We look forward to growing and leveraging this fund to enhance our conservation capabilities.
And finally, a huge thanks to all our donors, volunteers, landowners and other partners. Without your involvement, none of what DLC does would be possible. You are the lifeblood of the organization and will ensure that DLC continues to succeed and accomplish great things.
Best wishes for the new year,
Alan Clarke
President, Douglas Land Conservancy Board of Directors
What We Do
Conserve for our future.
We collaborate with private landowners and local governments to establish and hold conservation easements to forever protect these beautiful lands. DLC currently holds more than 84 separate conservation easements.
Enhance stewardship of local land.
DLC commits to monitoring conservation easement properties in perpetuity to ensure that terms of the easements are upheld and defended, and the conservation values are maintained or enhanced over time. Nearly 27,000 acres are currently protected under conservation easements held by Douglas Land Conservancy and monitored annually.
Create opportunities for public recreation.
With conservation easements on nearly 14,000 acres open to the public, we provide unique opportunities for visitors to explore nature close to home and develop a deep appreciation of the land and natural ecosystems. Douglas Land Conservancy organizes over 40 guided hikes and open space activities each year, highlighting such topics as native flora and fauna, geology, history, and dark night skies.
Protect invaluable wildlife habitat.
Preserving open spaces protects and enhances animal habitats and connects wildlife migration corridors. Elk, mule deer, bobcats, mountain lions, bluebirds, and many other species benefit from protected land. DLC-conserved properties are also known to host rare and threatened flora and fauna, including Campanula aparinoides (marsh bellflower or bedstraw bellflower), thought to no longer inhabit Colorado until rediscovered during a biological survey of Sandstone Ranch Open Space.
Encourage awareness and appreciation of the natural world.
DLC conducts a diverse education program to enhance the public's awareness and appreciation of the natural wonders around us, as well as to inform landowners who may be prospective conservation easement donors of the value and benefits of protecting their land. The education program strengthens public and landowner support for our mission, crucial to building financial strength through donations and acquiring new conservation easements.
Collaborate for a stronger community.
By developing positive, transparent relationships and strong partnerships with the broad community, including landowners, donors, volunteers, government agencies, the land trust community and other conservation supporters, DLC establishes itself as a trusted organization, worthy of receiving financial support, holding new conservation easements, and collaborating on new conservation projects.
Watch this video from Beef. It's What's for Dinner. to learn how cattle producers, land conservationists, and recreators work together to benefit from our protected open spaces.
2023 Volunteer Stats
Volunteer Hours by Category
We couldn't do it without our amazing volunteers! DLC volunteers put in over 3,419 hours of work to help us accomplish our goals.
Admin/Tech- 256 hours
Articles/Blogs- 16 hours
Bluebird Program- 642 hours
Board/Committee Meetings- 771 hours
Events/Speakers- 624 hours
Hikes- 175 hours
Monitoring- 94 hours
Photography- 80 hours
Other- 761 hours
Total- 3,419 hours (and many more unlogged!)
Value of Volunteer Time
Our volunteers contributed over $117,000 in value and time to our organization this year. Thank you!
3,419 hours x $34.36/hour* = $117,476.84
*value/hour calculated for Colorado by independentsector.org
Why do you volunteer?
Terry Fox, our 2023 JA Ranch Sunset BBQ Committee President, shares why she volunteers with DLC.
"My husband and I purchased our Douglas County ranch in 2016. The ranch property was subject to a Douglas Land Conservancy easement.
This was all new to us, but as we learned about the protections of the wild animal population, we became fully engaged. Visitors to our property include elk, deer, pronghorn, bear, fox, coyote and many more.
After attending several DLC annual barbeques, I decided to volunteer and help organize and deliver a "best in class" event. The barbeque took place on August 19th and was deemed a huge success!"
2023 Events
Plein Air Community Day
Plein Air Community Day. Click to expand.
DLC hosted a one-day community event at Sandstone Ranch, where folks from all over the region joined us to enjoy some fresh air, open spaces, stunning vistas and art!
Hike and Paint
Hike and Paint. Click to expand.
DLC volunteer Jody Walker led our Hike and Paint series, a combination of a short hike, observing the scenery, and learning a few watercolor and nature journaling techniques. Here at DuPont Open Space in Louviers, their group hiked down to Plum Creek and enjoyed the beauty of the warm fall weather, but also made observations about how to look at a landscape and stream with an artistic eye.
JA Ranch Sunset BBQ
JA Ranch Sunset BBQ. Click to expand.
Giddy up! One of our most exciting events each year, the JA Ranch Sunset BBQ was our most successful yet. Complete with a silent auction, western-themed games like cornhole and horseshoes, and great food, this evening gathering was the embodiment of summer fun.
Oak Leaf Benefit
Oak Leaf Benefit. Click to expand.
Each year, DLC has the privilege to honor someone who has contributed a lifetime to conservation in our region. This year, DLC honored Jane and Steve Boand for their significant impact on the community and their outstanding contribution to decades of land conservation in Douglas County. Read this article by Board member Rich Bangs on the honorees, or check out the Youtube Video that our Faces of Conservation team put together.
Dawson Butte Wildflower Hike
Dawson Butte Wildflower Hike. Click to expand.
Just one example of our nearly 40 guided hikes this year, DLC volunteers Elizabeth Taylor and Curt Frankenfeld led a hike at Dawson Butte in June to appreciate the beauty of the smaller things in life. They set out to identify 35 species of plants, including wildflowers, using the Colorado Wildflowers app, and build knowledge of native plants in our community.
Reptiles Under the Rock
Reptiles Under the Rock. Click to expand.
DLC and the Town of Castle Rock invited local wildlife experts, rehabilitators, and organizations to present family-friendly programs about our slithery and scaly friends. Visitors learned what they eat, how they hunt, where they live, and how they benefit our local ecosystems.
DLC Updates
Five Year Strategic Plan
This year, DLC approved a new 5-year strategic plan. As we look to the future, we must decide how we will embrace change, while protecting what needs to remain the same. Our plan includes goals in the advancement of local land conservation, building up our community through outreach and engagement with new audiences, and organizational growth through fundraising and events.
2023 Nonprofit of the Year
DLC is honored to have been named the Castle Rock Chamber of Commerce's 2023 Nonprofit of the Year. We view this as a testament to our commitment to collaboration and the wellbeing of our community and our open spaces.
Stewardship and Legal Defense funds
With the implementation of DLC's new Strategic Plan, we are setting an interim 5-year goal of $3,000,000 for our Stewardship fund. We have $1,386,000 now and will be working diligently to increase the amount to $3,000,000 between 2024 and 2028. The growth of our financial base, especially through our Stewardship and Legal Defense funds, enables DLC to steward our lands with excellence long into the future.
Five-year growth of DLC's Stewardship fund.
Five-year growth of DLC's Legal Defense fund.
Welcome Kaitlyn!
DLC welcomed a new staff member to the team, Kaitlyn Stabell, as our new Community Outreach and Engagement Coordinator. Born and raised in the Pacific Northwest, with multiple degrees in wildlife biology and conservation, Kaitlyn is fitting right into the outdoor lifestyle here in Douglas County. She enjoys skiing, hiking, exploring new places, and going on nature walks with her cat.
Land Trust Alliance Accreditation Renewal
Every five years, DLC applies to renew our accreditation through the Land Trust Alliance (LTA). LTA holds their land trust members to the highest standards in areas such as ethics, accountability, legal compliance, easement stewardship, and fundraising. DLC is proud to have been accredited by LTA since 2013.
Legacy Circle
Make a lasting commitment to preserve the open space and natural habitat of our area.
"Douglas Land Conservancy's promise to fulfill its conservation mission in perpetuity is powerful. As natural landscapes and habitats continue to shrink, it is more important than ever that DLC remains strong to defend currently protected places and find opportunities to protect additional lands. I am honored to include DLC in my estate plans, helping ensure that DLC has critical resources needed for years to come. Generations far in the future will look back with gratitude to the commitments we make now."
Legacy Circle benefits include:
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