Chromatic Serenity at Red Mountain Open Space

Red Mountain Open Space ( http://www.co.larimer.co.us/naturalresources/red_mountain.cfm ) is a newly acquired 15,000 acre natural area and a real crown jewel for Larimer County. Right next door the City of Fort Collins has the 18,000 acre Soapstone Natural Area ( http://www.fcgov.com/naturalareas/finder/soapstone ) , creating a contiguous area of habitat with Red Mountain to help ensure our Front Range continues to have special places like this to captivate generations to come.

Even better, these public lands partner with private landowners in the area and land trusts, who together with the city and county have conserved over 55,000 acres in the Laramie Foothills Mountains to Plains Project ( http://www.co.larimer.co.us/naturalresources/laramie_foothills.htm ) . These lands are not only valuable ecologically, they also have a rich cultural history that will continue to be a part of the landscape. Human history in this area dates back at least to when PaleoIndians of the Ice Age left clues (like Folsom Points) at the Lindenmeier archaeological site that conclusively dates human habitation in N. America to at least 10,000 years ago. We are truly blessed to have protected this area.

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From The Variety Collection