The State Land Board owns approximately three million acres of land and four million acres of mineral estate. This land is held in trust and not publicly accessible.
Though the State Land Board is a landowner, our agency isn't an operator. Instead, we lease the assets to other operators, and the rent and royalties we collect flows to public schools. In 2023, oil and gas leases earned $209 million via approximately 830+ contracts.
Lowry Ranch is a 26,000-acre trust land property in Arapahoe County. Previously, Lowry Ranch was a Department of Defense military installation. Oil and gas development has occurred on parts of the Ranch since the 1920s. Currently, more than a dozen different operators ranging from agriculture, renewable energy, recreation, and mineral extraction hold leases at Lowry Ranch. Specifically, Civitas holds an oil and gas lease on the majority of the Lowry Ranch that was issued in 2012.
Comprehensive Area Plan (CAP)
The Civitas Comprehensive Area Plan (CAP) is 33,440 acres of mineral estate spanning multiple owners. The State Land Board, as the landowner of Lowry Ranch, is the surface owner for all of the proposed surface locations in the Lowry Ranch CAP.
Mineral ownership of the minerals within the CAP boundaries is split between federal minerals, state minerals, and private owned minerals. The map pictured right depicts the boundaries of Lowry Ranch relative to the boundaries of the CAP.
The Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) is the regulatory agency for oil and gas development in the State of Colorado. The ECMC’s mission is to regulate the development and production of oil and gas in a manner that protects public health, safety and welfare, including protection of the environment and wildlife resources. Because the CAP process supports this mission, ECMC is encouraging oil and gas operators to develop and submit CAPs for review, rather than taking the traditional approach of permitting one oil and gas location at a time.
Development Authority
ECMC and Arapahoe County have decision making authority regarding oil and gas development at Lowry Ranch.
The State Land Board is Constitutionally required to comply with all local land use regulations. The pertinent local county government has final decision-making authority regarding what uses are permitted -- or not -- on a trust land parcel.
That's why obtaining a lease with the State Land Board is the first step of a multi-step, public process that occurs before development. Lessees -- including Civitas -- must comply with all local, state, and federal regulations, and lessees are required to obtain necessary local, state, and federal permits. Though Civitas holds a lease with our agency, development can only occur after Civitas has obtained local and state permits.
Question & Answer
Q: I have questions/comments about the proposed CAP. Who should I contact?
Answer:
Contact the Energy and Carbon Management Commission (ECMC) if you have questions about the state permitting process, please ECMC is the state's regulatory entity for oil and gas development.
Contact Arapahoe County if you have questions the local approval process. As noted above, obtaining a lease with the State Land Board is the first step of a multi-step, public process that occurs before development. Lessees must comply with all local, state, and federal regulations, and lessees are required to obtain necessary local, state, and federal permits. Arapahoe County has decision-making authority about all land use and mineral estate development at the property because the State Land Board is Constitutionally required to comply with local land-use regulations and land-use plans. Read more about land use authority.
If you have questions about the Ranch, please contact Rachel Turner, North Central District Manager or you may use our online public comment form.
Q: Is trust land publicly accessible?
A: No, trust land is not publicly accessible. Trespassers will be subject to all fine and penalties. The public can access trust land only when the property is leased for public recreation. Read more about public access on trust land.
There is no public access at Lowry. In particular, a portion of Lowry Ranch was formally owned by the Department of Defense and used as a bombing range. The DOD is still remediating portions of the property that may have unexploded ordnances (UXO).
Q: What is the difference between surface land ownership and mineral estate ownership?
A: A landowner may or may not own the mineral estate beneath the surface. It's called 'severed estate' when the landowner is not also the mineral estate owner. Learn more about severed estate.
Updated as of 3/4/24.