Blog Post

Colorado’s state trust lands are teeming with life, potential, and purpose. At the State Land Board, we’re proud to oversee the responsible management of nearly 3 million acres of these lands, ensuring they generate lasting benefits for Colorado’s schoolchildren and future generations. Our lessees play a vital role in that mission—advancing innovative, community-driven projects that make a difference both on the land and beyond.

The vast, open skies above Chico Basin Ranch are often filled with the graceful movements and cheerful songs of North America’s migratory birds. These feathered travelers find refuge and sustenance in the ranch’s mosaic of grasslands, wetlands, and mature cottonwoods—habitats that make this one of the most ecologically significant working landscapes in Colorado. Their seasonal return is more than a spectacle of nature; it’s a reminder of how the State Land Board’s trust lands sustain both wildlife and people.

Earlier this year, a handful of our Colorado State Land Board staff had the opportunity to visit an incredible state trust property, State Forest State Park—one of Colorado’s crown jewels of outdoor recreation and conservation. Nestled along the Medicine Bow Range, the park showcases the beauty and purpose of state trust lands, offering both public enjoyment and sustainable management of natural resources.

This summer, the Colorado State Land Board had the honor of hosting the 2025 National Association of State Trust Lands (NASTL) Summer Conference in Denver. The four-day event, held July 20–23 at History Colorado, brought together more than 150 participants from 16 states and over 30 organizations under the theme “Resilience & Stewardship: Managing an Intergenerational Trust.”

The Colorado State Land Board is excited to announce Lindsey Brandt as our first-ever Biodiversity Program Manager. In this newly created role, Lindsey will lead efforts to identify biodiversity hotspots and  protect and enhance biodiversity across Colorado’s state trust lands. Her work will help advance the Land Board’s commitment to responsible land management and stewardship of diverse ecosystems statewide.

The Colorado State Land Board is taking a big step forward in supporting sustainable land management with the addition of Jesse Price as the agency’s first Regenerative Agriculture Manager. As of February 3, Jesse has stepped into this newly created role to work closely with agricultural lessees across the state, helping to implement regenerative grazing and crop production strategies that enhance soil health, improve land value, and create economic opportunities for producers.