Western Land Group, Inc. 

Public Lands Specialists

In March 2000, working on behalf a Joint Venture which included the Towns of Frisco and Breckenridge as well as Summit County, WLG closed the Summit Land Exchange. The trade provided for the conveyance of 196 acres of National Forest System lands in exchange for over 2,100 acres of backcountry properties. Acquisition of the non-federal lands will enable the Forest Service to consolidate fragmented ownership in the area, protect access to backcountry recreation opportunities and preserve the Middle Fork of the Swan River riparian and wetlands area. Of the 196 acres of federal lands conveyed to non-federal ownership, 82% will experience no future change in use and were conveyed to entities with similar resource management objectives, such as the Town of Breckenrige and Summit County open space programs. About 10% were incorporated into adjacent private residential ownership and the remaining 8% were exchanged to Summit County for potential expansion of community facilities on adjacent county-owned land.

WLG was instrumental in the Eagle Pass Ranch (aka Blue Valley Ranch) Land Exchange, near Kremmling, Colorado. Under this exchange, the public received eight parcels of land totaling 2,520 acres. The valuable natural resource and recreational assets conveyed to the public included: three miles of frontage on the Colorado river which will provide key access for whitewater kayaking; fishing, wetlands and waterfowl habitat; critical big game winter range; and habitat for rare and sensitive plant species. In return, Eagle Pass Ranch acquired scattered federal parcels located within and adjacent to its boundaries totaling 2,352 acres and 6,153 acres of subsurface mineral rights beneath Eagle Pass fee lands. Several of the parcels acquired by Eagle Pass will be conveyed to neighboring landowners. The exchange received widespread support from numerous groups, including whitewater and fishing enthusiasts.

Snowbasin Land Exchange

WLG helped draft and facilitated the passage of the Snowbasin Land Exchange Act in 1996 as part of the Omnibus Lands bill. The Act mandated the exchange of federal lands to Snowbasin Ski Area and identified a set of projects that were deemed necessary for the resort to host the 2002 Olympic Winter Games Downhill and Super G competitions. In exchange for the 1,377 acres of federal land, the Forest Service obtained over 11,757 acres of private land across four counties in northern Utah. The new federal lands provide increased recreational access for the public, as well as additional habitat for wildlife and threatened and endangered species.

On behalf of Crown Butte Mines, Inc., WLG helped to secure $65 million in federal funding to purchase the New World Mine site outside Yellowstone National Park. Funds were made available through a unique Land and Water Conservation Fund appropriation that was ultimately supported by the Montana Congressional Delegation and the Clinton Administration.

Bar T Bar Acquisition

WLG was the primary consultant and lobbyist for the Congressional appropriation of $5 million (to date) to enable the Forest Service to begin acquisition of the Bar T Bar Ranch inholding near Flagstaff, Arizona. Part of this effort included securing National Resource Conservation Service and Arizona Game & Fish revenue commitments to assist with the purchase. Once acquired, the 6,500-acre Bar T Bar Ranch will become part of the Coconino National Forest.

Macmillian Small Tracts Act Purchase

WLG facilitated the acquisition of 2.65 acres of federal land interspersed with Mr. Macmillian’s mining claims in Dolores County, Colorado. Acquisition of this parcel will allow Mr. Macmillian to construct a driveway across the parcel without having to acquire an easement from the Forest Service that would require Forest Service time and money to administer every year.

Snowbird-Mineral Basin Small Tracts Act Interchange

Snowbird Ski Area has offered snocat skiing in Mineral Basin for several years. Snowbird owns all of the mining claims in the area, however it became concerned that fragments of federal land (federal mining survey fractions) still existed in the basin. Under this action, Snowbird conveyed a 6.71-acre patented mining claim in Utah County, Utah to the Forest Service in exchange for the remaining federal lands in Mineral Basin which total less than 6 acres. None of the federal parcels were accessible to the public.