Hawke brings love of the job to Black Canyon Land Trust

Daily Press

MONTROSE — Residents and tourists alike have known for years how beautiful the Uncompahgre Valley truly is. Barbara Hawke, who heads up the Black Canyon Land Trust, is doing her best to keep it that way.

Hawke, who took over as the executive director of the BCLT in February believes in the organization's mission of land conservation through the preservation of private property throughout four counties. The group was first formed in the early 1990s and works with landowners to create conservation easements which allow owners to work their land and maintain crucial open space, Hawke said.

"Our organization is voluntary and non-political," she said. "We work with particular land owners to place their properties into conservation easements. There are various potential benefits for the landowner and many for the locals as well. We are able to maintain farming and ranching practices while protecting open space."

Currently the group has protected just over 32,000 acres in Montrose, Delta, Ouray and Gunnison counties. They also worked with the Northern San Juan Initiative to conserve parcels of property in San Miguel County that are contiguous with BCLT- conserved properties.

The BCLT staff works projects include ranches, farms, river corridors and valuable view sheds. The largest conservation parcel the group has contracted with is 3,700 acres in Delta County and all the properties they have worked with range in size and use.

Hawke is no stranger to land conservation issues and happily accepted the executive director position after serving eight years with the Nature Conservancy.

"I was based out the Denver/Boulder area and traveled to the Western Slope for work quite frequently," she said.

"Then I heard about the position and I thought it was a wonderful coincidence for I have a real appreciation for the area."

Hawke, who grew up in a small, rural Michigan town spent many a summer in Colorado with her father, who was a science teacher. The family spent summers in the mountains while he attended special science programs offered by Colorado College.

"I loved working with the Nature Conservancy, but I really had a desire to move so I could regain that sense of a real community," Hawke added.

"I needed to put down roots and I really wanted to work on a more local scale. I wanted to invest closer to home and put in the time and effort for a local front."

Hawke said she has not had a difficult time adjusting to the community.

"I am very pleased to be living here," she said. "It's a somewhat slower pace and there is a more informal feeling. When I first moved here, so many people offered to help me do things."

In addition to her busy workload, it does not come at any surprise that she enjoys the great outdoors. She is a "big hiker" and volunteers for the Audubon Society and is very interested in the ecology of the surrounding adobe.

Since she has taken the helm, along with her 10-member board, Hawke has continued in the positive stride taken by the group for years.

"We really have a wonderful board," she said. "Some of them have a long-time involvement with the land trust and there are some newer board member who bring new ideas."

One tradition the group will continue is the annual Love Your Valley Festival which will be held this weekend in the Ridgway Town Park.

This marks the 12th year for the festival. Events will include several family activities including a 5K walk/run, fishing clinic, a youth water maze sponsored by the Division of Wildlife, historical presentations, interpretative walks and a microbrew tasting.

Eleven brewers are slated to be on hand, including: Smugglers, Carver, Ska and Steamworks from Durango, Rockslide from Grand Junction and Palisade and New Belgium.

Fort Collins-based Michael Cole will play acoustic rock music and along with families, dogs are welcome. There is a $15 fee to participate in the beer tasting. The non-profit organization also accepts donations, all of which go toward conservation efforts. Events will start at 10 a.m., with the microbrew tasting beginning at noon. For more information about any of the events, contact Brandon or Andrea at 252-1481.

"The Black Canyon Regional Land Trust really has a great staff," Hawke said. "They are so great to work with and they have a great sense of humor. It's great to be working on the projects we do. ... We have many projects and challenges but it is also nice to step back and get some perspective."