Ophir Valley
Colorado San Miguel County Congressional District: 03 Member: Scott Tipton
Location 12 Miles southwest of Telluride, CO.
Found within the Ophir Valley surrounded by high mountain peaks.
Acquired to Date
Method Acres* Cost ($)
Purchase 747 $4,262,644 Purpose Conserve and enhance significant
scenic, recreation, rich historic mining culture, and several endangered species of wildlife/plant resources within the project area.
Exchange 0 0 Donation 0 0 Other 0 0 Partners 0 0
President’s Budget FY2011 Method Acres* Cost ($) Purchase Opportunities
The Trust for Public Land (TPL) is offering to sell the remainder of Ophir Valley (Phase V). TPL acquired the remaining property in 2009.
Purchase 100 $1,000,000 President’s Budget FY2012
Method Acres* Cost ($) Pending 398 $4,040,000 *Includes fee and conservation easement interest
Partner The Trust for Public Land. Cooperators Local county and municipal support, San Miguel County Commissioners, Colorado Division of
Wildlife, San Miguel Conservation Foundation, and the Nature Conservancy. Project Description
The Ophir Valley Project was developed in 2006. The Town of Ophir along, with the Trust for Public Land brokered an agreement with a private land owner who owns almost the entire Ophir Valley. Other lands within the area have been acquired through exchange, donation, and purchase. The Federal acquisition project originally consisted of approximately 1200 acres. Of this total, approximately 747 acres have been acquired in LWCF appropriations. To date, four phases have been completed, including Phase IV, which was completed utilizing non-LWCF funds, indicating the importance of this project. It is also part of a larger effort which includes other public and private conservation property acquisitions and easements This project could be considered a natural extension of the successful Red Mountain Project ($9.6 million LWCF funding), located just three miles to the north and east. The Ophir Valley currently lies immediately adjacent to the proposed Northern San Juan’s Wilderness. The valley and surrounding hillsides are home to the endangered Canadian Lynx and Uncompahgre Fritillary butterfly. Continued acquisition would protect breathtaking mountain vistas, including a portion of the Howards Fork drainage some 2,500 feet below the top of Ophir Pass, Phase V would complete the project. Recreational access for hunting and four-wheel drives, fishing, rock climbing, sightseeing, camping, hiking, and horseback riding would be significantly enhanced. Phase V would result in $60,000 savings in landline maintenance alone. Acquisition into Federal ownership will provided significant watershed protection to the Howard’s Fork of the San Miguel River.
O&M Cost Estimated “start up” cost: $0 Estimated “annual” maintenance: $0
History Costs to date: FY 2008 $ 835,000 FY 2010 3,427,644 Total $4,262,644 Strategic Goal
Provide for a quality recreation experience, including access, and enjoyment of natural and cultural resources on Forest Service managed and partnered lands and waters.
Basin
Staatsburg
Silver Mountain
Chapman
Swamp
Canyon
Sprin
gGu
lch
HowardFork
CreekWaterfall
1126111321
12936
Suffolk Mine
11792
1260012408
12890
11503
9529
10176
9527
9583
9974
10840
BM9756
Ophir
Badger Mine(Active)
11882
11036
10603
10252
10454
9974USLM Waterfall
UNCOMPAHGRE
1127512010
10520
11702
Gold KingMine
CarboneroMine
GertrudeMine
R 9 W R 8 W
Iron Spring
LenaBasin
San
Joaq
uinRid
ge
Silver MountainKing
Basin
11249 11651
1282512271
119861252313319
1282213165 13446
12815
13470Silver King Mine11851
Black Warrior Mine
PalmyraMine
Turkey CreekMineCrown Jewel
Mine
PalmyraPeak
R 9 W R 8 W
12515
12557
11323
Colorado
Utah Wyoming
New Mexico
Nebraska
Kansas
OklahomaArizona
file: c:\(data\lwcd2012\r2\maps\ophir \ Arlene Heap
0 0.25 0.50.125Miles
State of ColoradoForest Service Region 2
Uncompahgre National Forest
Map Creation Date - 01/03/2011Map Revision Date -
Ophir Valley Mining ClaimsFY 2012 LWCF
This map depicts USDA Forest Service Land Status Record dataand the approximate location of the proposed purchase parcel.
The USDA Forest Service Makes no warranty, expressed or implied,regarding the data displayed on this map, and reserves the right tocorrect, update, modify, or replace this information without notification.
Township 41/42 North, Range 9 West, NMPM
LegendProposed Acquisition ParcelsLand Trust Or Private Easement National Forest System Lands
Vicinity Map
Ophir Valley Mining Claims
Land Trust Or Private Easement Parcels
U n c o m p a h g r e U n c o m p a h g r e N a t i o n a l F o r e s tN a t i o n a l F o r e s t