Roberts Ranch, Glacier View get stewardship awards

The Roberts Ranch in Livermore and the Glacier View Meadows Ecology Committee are among those receiving environmental stewardship awards from Larimer County this year.

Now in its 12th year, the awards program honors the environmental efforts of county residents, businesses, organizations and agencies. The county's environmental advisory board reviews the nominations and makes recommendations to county commissioners.

The Roberts Ranch received recognition for granting conservation easements on its entire 16,500 acres. The Roberts family has been involved in ranching in the Livermore area since 1874. It is a working ranch that supports traditional Hereford cattle ranching. It also provides exceptional open vistas and scenery including red bluff landmarks such as Steamboat Rock and Tugboat Rock.

The ranch lies in the heart of the Laramie Foothills Mountains to Plains Project, a partnership for conservation that includes private landowners, Larimer County Open Lands Program, Fort Collins Natural Areas Program, Legacy Land Trust and The Nature Conservancy.

The commissioners noted that the Roberts family has put their passion for preservation of the land above considerations of economic gain. The result is a permanent legacy that benefits all citizens of Larimer County and serves as an example for the conservation of private working farms and ranches, commissioners said.

Glacier View Meadows Ecology Committee was honored for its educational efforts related to sustaining the long-term well-being of the natural habitat in the Glacier View Meadows residential community, located between Livermore and Red Feather Lakes.

The ecology committee has used several educational procedures to help property owners learn how they can live in and interact with the surrounding environment in a manner that does not significantly alter or degrade the environment. Over the past 10 years, the committee has constructed and maintained a demonstration garden to show residents how to select and care for plantings that are appropriate for the area; constructed a self-guided nature trail to acquaint residents with many of the important ecological features of the surrounding area; produced educational articles about issues such as noxious weeds, pine beetle and mistletoe management and encouraged fire-wise safety practices.

Other award winners are Envirofit International's two-stroke engine retrofit kit and the Timnath Education and Charitable Association's community garden.

Envirofit International's two-stroke engine retrofit kit uses partnerships at the local and international level to reduce air emissions from two-cycle motorcycle engines. The original technology grew from a clean snowmobile competition by Colorado State University students to a full-blown operating corporation that has the backing of the Philippine government.

Envirofit developed from research work undertaken at the CSU Engines and Energy Conversion Laboratory. This locally produced technology has important practical applications for developing nations like the Philippines where serious air pollution from two-cycle engines is occurring. "We are very proud that this synthesis of intelligence, technology and business springs from our county," the commissioners said.

Timnath Education and Charitable Association's Timnath Community Garden was honored for efforts to preserve the rural and gardening heritage of the area. This 2.5-acre garden is in the heart of town.

During this first year of operation, it helped to promote a sense of community by bringing together groups and individuals to learn about organic gardening. Two of the garden plots were planted by Traut Core Knowledge School kindergarteners, who later harvested tomatoes, peppers and cilantro to make fresh salsa. More than 550 pounds of produce from the garden were donated to the Larimer County Food Bank. The garden has brought together members of the community, educated people, created beauty and fed people in need.

More information on the annual environmental stewardship awards and a list of previous winners is available at the Larimer County web site www.larimer.org/boards/eab/Awards/env_awards_winners.htm.