Fort Union Ranch

Grassland and Wetland Conservation in the Northeast Shortgrass Prairie

Just north of the quiet community of Watrous lies an integral partner in our strategic endeavor to protect the northeast grasslands and the significant Rio Mora watershed. The Fort Union Ranch stretches for miles across the horizon – from the Rio Mora to the Turkey Mountains. The mix of grasslands, wetlands, pinyon-juniper woodlands, and higher elevation coniferous forest provides habitat for a variety of wildlife including pronghorn, elk, deer, black bear, mountain lion and wild turkey.

NMLC began assisting the landowners – The Union Land and Grazing Company – in 2014, using conservation easements as a tool to protect this iconic ranch which has remained in the ownership of the descendants of the  original owner, General Benjamin Butler, since shortly after the Civil War. The 95,000-acre ranch provides the uninterrupted view-shed for the Ft. Union National Monument, which is completely surrounded by the ranch, as well as a significant stretch of the front range corridor along I-25.

By the end of 2017, FUR had placed more than 10,000 acres under easement, and in 2018, another 3,800 acres were added – increasing the ranch’s protected land to a grand total of more than 14,000 conserved acres, representing 15% of the ranch’s total acreage.

North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) Grant Awarded

Also, in 2018, NMLC was awarded a $100,000 grant from U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service through the North American Wetlands Conservation Act (NAWCA) to protect critical waterfowl loafing and migration habitats on Dry and Wheeler Lakes, and the remaining reach of Wolf Creek on the ranch. The 3,800-acre ” Wolf Creek” easement was completed by year’s end 2019, and the accompanying in-stream restoration, coordinated by the Hermit’s Peak Watershed Alliance, is wrapping up in 2020 to bring the riparian corridor back to full-function.

In 2020, an additional 3,500 acres were combined into a newly named Eastern Pastures easement, and in July 2021, 3,570 acres were added to the easement, bringing the total number of acres conserved on the ranch to 24,941.

Fort Union Ranch is building a strong conservation legacy beyond its own borders as it evolves into a leadership role among land stewards in New Mexico and the West. NMLC is proud to be a partner in this work to conserve one of the most important vestiges of native shortgrass prairie in North America.   #

See Special Report 2018: Conserving New Mexico’s Northeast Grasslands

8/2021 SH