$1 million goes to parks, Waldo burn rehab

More than $1 million in state lottery money will go to conservation projects in El Paso and Teller counties, including rehabilitation work in the Waldo Canyon burn scar.

Great Outdoors Colorado, the agency that distributes lottery revenue, voted Tuesday to award $650,000 to the Palmer Land Trust for conservation easements on the Chapman Ranch, along Shelf Road near Cripple Creek. It’s the third purchase of easements at the 4,000-acre ranch, and it will be used to protect the final 1,000 acres from development and to buy old mining claims where development could occur.

Surrounded by U.S. Bureau of Land Management land, it’s important habitat for bighorn sheep and other animals on the south side of Pikes Peak, according to the Palmer Land Trust. The project is part of the land trust’s effort to protect a contiguous ring of public and private lands around the peak. The Chapman family has worked the ranch since 1921 and will continue there.

The GOCO board also voted to award the city of Victor $350,000 to renovate its “aging and highly popular” outdoor ice-skating rink, which is used as a soccer field in warm weather.

In and around Colorado Springs, the agency will provide $85,411 for several projects to be carried out by the Mile High Youth Corps in 2013.

Workers will spend six weeks in spring on erosion control and weed management in the Blodgett Peak Open Space, which was burned severely in the June wildfire.

Another project will involve trail building in Bear Creek Regional Park.

The third project will be fire risk mitigation in the Iron Mountain Open Space in Manitou Springs.

The Mile High Youth Corps employs workers ages 18 to 24, teaching skills and helping them to earn high school or college credits. Those interested in applying should visit milehighyouthcorps.org.

GOCO awarded $6.2 million in grants for 45 projects in Colorado.