Year established as a nonprofit: 2000

What does your organization do for Ouray County?

Ridgway-based Trust for Land Restoration is a specialty land trust that helps communities and local governments clean up and preserve historic mine sites that larger organizations and even government agencies are afraid to touch because of fear of getting stuck with the cleanup bill.

In 2002, TLR accepted the first conservation easement in the state covering a former mining site, helping Ouray County acquire the 130-acre Garard mining claims in Ironton Park as an open space park.

In 2006, TLR accepted the second conservation easement in the state covering a mining property, allowing the Yankee Girl head frame to be purchased by a private individual, preventing Tom Chapman from developing as a home site and preserving an irreplaceable historic landmark.

In 2016, TLR purchased 140 acres of mining claims in the Red Mountain Mining District, donating 120 acres to the U.S. Forest Service and the 20 acres containing the historic Corkscrew Turntable to Ouray County. In 2020, TLR engineered the donation of the four historic Idarado Houses near the top of Red Mountain Pass to the County of Ouray and has since raised $170,000 to fix drainage, rebuild foundations and roofs, build outside stairways and landings, install a kiosk, and keep these resources open to the public.

What do you list as your greatest accomplishments in 2024?

In 2024, TLR coordinated monitoring for more than a dozen historic sites in the Red Mountain Mining District (some on U.S. Forest Service property, some on private property and some on land owned by Ouray County), documenting conditions and advocating for their preservation.

At the historic Ironton Townsite owned by Ouray County, TLR installed a kiosk, coordinated volunteers to shore up the leaning Creek House and hauled in rocks to define a parking area. TLR also persuaded Ouray County to install gates and improve drainage and recruited the Forest Service to remove trees identified as potential falling hazards to the four historic structures there.

What are some goals or projects you have planned for 2025?

TLR projects for the upcoming year 2025 include: Finalizing donation of a mining claim in Governor Basin to trade to the Forest Service for their land under Idarado Houses 3 & 4. We are seeking a pro-bono real estate attorney to help with this.

Recruiting volunteers to monitor conditions at historic sites in the Red Mountain Mining District. Please contact Rachel Griego at trustforlandrestoration@gmail.com.

Buying more mining claims in the Red Mountain Mining District and donating them to Ouray County to be preserved as historically significant and publicly accessible open space.

TLR is on the cusp of signing a contract to buy a block of mining claims in a popular high-country area of Ouray County.

Volunteers will be needed to help study the property and solicit donations.

We currently have commitments for more than half of the expected purchase price and will have a year to perform environmental due diligence and raise the money necessary to complete the deal.

Tell us how the community can help you do more here in Ouray County.

Visit www.restorationtrust.org or contact Rachel Griego at trustforlandrestoration@gmail.com or Pat Willits at 970-626-3236 to volunteer, to donate and/or be added to our email list.

Donations may also be mailed to Trust for Land Restoration, P.O. Box 743, Ridgway CO 81432.

Thank you to Rachel Griego for providing this information.