--- title: North Fork Poudre Conservation Easement | Unique Places to Save description: Our first Colorado conservation easement protects over a mile of the North Fork Cache la Poudre River near Livermore in Larimer County. image: https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/featured-projects/north-fork-poudre/north-fork-poudre-12.jpg --- [![Unique Places to Save logo](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/logo%20horizontal-1.png?width=1254&height=380&name=logo%20horizontal-1.png "Unique Places to Save logo")](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/) - [PROJECTS](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/projects) - SERVICES - [FOR MITIGATION BANKERS](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/conservation-mitigation) - [FOR LAND MANAGERS](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/land-planners-managers) - [FOR LANDOWNERS](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/conservation-for-landowners) - [FOR RESTORATION PARTNERS](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/dam-removals) - ABOUT - [OUR GOALS](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/our-goals) - [OUR VALUES](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/our-values) - [OUR TEAM](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/team) - [CAREERS](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/careers) - [CONTACT US](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/contact) - UPDATES - [CONSERVATION EASEMENTS](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/news/tag/conservation-easements) - [MITIGATION BANKING](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/news/tag/mitigation-banking) - [WORKING LANDS](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/news/tag/working-lands) - [RIVERS, WETLANDS & DAMS](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/news/tag/rivers-wetlands-dams) - [CONSERVATION & DEVELOPMENT](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/news/tag/conservation-and-development) - [CONSERVATION STORIES](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/news/tag/conservation-stories) - [ORGANIZATION NEWS](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/news/tag/organization-news) - [ALL POSTS](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/news) [Donate](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/wetland-keepers) [Donate](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/wetland-keepers) This is a search field with an auto-suggest feature attached. - There are no suggestions because the search field is empty. # North Fork Poudre ### Protecting over a mile of the North Fork Cache la Poudre River near Livermore, Colorado **Here you can edit the background of the section** ![service 1 d\_tall](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/service%201%20d_tall.png) ![service 1 m](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/Image%20Dividers/service%201%20m.png) ![Conserve, Restore, and Habitat impact badges](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/con%20res%20hab%20badge.png "Conserve, Restore, and Habitat impact badges") ## OUR FIRST CONSERVATION EASEMENT IN COLORADO The North Fork Poudre conservation easement permanently protects 29 acres and over a mile of the North Fork Cache la Poudre River in Larimer County, Colorado. It is the first conservation easement Unique Places to Save holds in the state. The North Fork runs about 59 miles through the foothills northwest of Fort Collins, from the Roosevelt National Forest to the main Cache la Poudre near the mouth of Poudre Canyon. The property sits along it near Livermore, in the Laramie Foothills, where red rock cliffs and mesas rise out of open grassland. Unique Places to Save holds the easement and is the long-term manager of the site, which is home to the North Fork Poudre Mitigation Bank. ### 29 Total Acres Conserved ### 5,400 Linear Feet of River Corridor Protected ### 21 Acres of Wetlands Protected ![project 2 d](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/Image%20Dividers/project%202%20d.png) ![project 2 m](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/Image%20Dividers/project%202%20m.png) ![Conserve badge, with Restore and Habitat outlined](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/conserve%20res%20hab%20badge.png "Conserve badge, with Restore and Habitat outlined") ## CONSERVE The conservation easement, recorded in July 2026, permanently protects the river corridor and its floodplain from development. As easement holder and long-term manager, Unique Places to Save monitors the property every year, enforces the easement terms, manages invasive plants, and reports on site conditions. The landowner chose Unique Places to Save for its national experience with mitigation properties and its approach of pairing permanent protection with active stewardship. ![acres-conserved](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/acres-conserved.png?width=64&height=64&name=acres-conserved.png) Conserved Land ![land-management](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/land-management.png?width=64&height=64&name=land-management.png) Long-Term Management ![floodplain-protection](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/floodplain-protection.png?width=64&height=64&name=floodplain-protection.png) Floodplain Protection ![The North Fork Poudre River curving past a gravel bar and green floodplain meadow below red rock bluffs](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/featured-projects/north-fork-poudre/north-fork-poudre-09.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=north-fork-poudre-09.jpg) ![The North Fork Poudre River flowing past root wads and rocks below a red rock hillside](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/featured-projects/north-fork-poudre/north-fork-poudre-02.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=north-fork-poudre-02.jpg) ![Green floodplain meadow and cottonwoods below a red rock mesa on the North Fork Poudre property](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/featured-projects/north-fork-poudre/north-fork-poudre-16.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=north-fork-poudre-16.jpg) ![The North Fork Poudre River curving past a gravel bar and green floodplain meadow below red rock bluffs](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/featured-projects/north-fork-poudre/north-fork-poudre-09.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=north-fork-poudre-09.jpg) ![Restore badge, with Conserve and Habitat outlined](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/con%20restore%20hab%20badge.png "Restore badge, with Conserve and Habitat outlined") ## RESTORE The North Fork Poudre Mitigation Bank is designed to restore stream, wetland, riparian, and floodplain functions affected by past agricultural and water-management practices. The work reconnects the river with its historic floodplain, reactivates relic swales, enhances native wetland and riparian vegetation, and improves in-stream habitat. Better floodplain connection helps slow and spread high flows, reduce erosion, and hold sediment and nutrients. Together, these changes are designed to improve water quality downstream in the Cache la Poudre watershed and add flood protection for downstream landowners. ![riparian buffer](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/riparian%20buffer.png?width=64&height=64&name=riparian%20buffer.png) Riparian ![wetland](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/wetland.png?width=64&height=64&name=wetland.png) Wetlands ![river-delta](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/river-delta.png?width=64&height=64&name=river-delta.png) Reduced Sediment ![Newly seeded floodplain with rows of young plants and cottonwoods beyond, on the North Fork Poudre property in Colorado](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/featured-projects/north-fork-poudre/north-fork-poudre-01.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=north-fork-poudre-01.jpg) ![Shallow riffles and new grasses along the North Fork Poudre River below a red rock hillside](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/featured-projects/north-fork-poudre/north-fork-poudre-13.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=north-fork-poudre-13.jpg) ![Clouds reflected in a calm stretch of the North Fork Poudre River below a red rock slope](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/featured-projects/north-fork-poudre/north-fork-poudre-04.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=north-fork-poudre-04.jpg) ![Newly seeded floodplain with rows of young plants and cottonwoods beyond, on the North Fork Poudre property in Colorado](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/featured-projects/north-fork-poudre/north-fork-poudre-01.jpg?width=1200&length=1200&name=north-fork-poudre-01.jpg) ![Habitat badge, with Conserve and Restore outlined](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/con%20res%20habitat%20badge.png "Habitat badge, with Conserve and Restore outlined") ## HABITAT The river corridor supports mule deer, elk, bighorn sheep, and birds of prey, including golden eagles that nest in the surrounding foothills. The landowner also reports a resident mountain lion. The restored wetland and riparian areas add habitat along the river. ![bird](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/bird.png?width=64&height=64&name=bird.png) Birds of Prey ![habitat](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/habitat.png?width=64&height=64&name=habitat.png) Healthy Habitats ![bottom green 1 d](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/bottom%20green%201%20d.png) ![bottom green 1 m](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/bottom%20green%201%20m.png) ## Project Gallery - ![The North Fork Cache la Poudre River winding through a wide green valley below red rock hills near Livermore, Colorado](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/featured-projects/north-fork-poudre/north-fork-poudre-12.jpg?width=1920&height=1440&name=north-fork-poudre-12.jpg) - ![The North Fork Poudre River flowing past root wads and rocks below a red rock hillside](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/featured-projects/north-fork-poudre/north-fork-poudre-02.jpg?width=1920&height=1440&name=north-fork-poudre-02.jpg) - ![The North Fork Poudre River curving past a gravel bar and green floodplain meadow below red rock bluffs](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/featured-projects/north-fork-poudre/north-fork-poudre-09.jpg?width=1920&height=1440&name=north-fork-poudre-09.jpg) - ![Wild sunflowers growing along the North Fork Poudre River](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/featured-projects/north-fork-poudre/north-fork-poudre-07.jpg?width=1920&height=1440&name=north-fork-poudre-07.jpg) - ![Green floodplain meadow and cottonwoods below a red rock mesa on the North Fork Poudre property](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/featured-projects/north-fork-poudre/north-fork-poudre-16.jpg?width=1920&height=1440&name=north-fork-poudre-16.jpg) - ![Water running over red rocks in a riffle on the North Fork Poudre River](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/featured-projects/north-fork-poudre/north-fork-poudre-05.jpg?width=1920&height=1440&name=north-fork-poudre-05.jpg) - ![Rocky stream channel lined with green grass and cottonwoods on the North Fork Poudre property](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/photo%20of%20north%20fork%20poudre%20conservation%20easement%20colorado.jpg?width=1200&height=900&name=photo%20of%20north%20fork%20poudre%20conservation%20easement%20colorado.jpg) - ![Still water reflecting clouds, with root wads along the bank of the North Fork Poudre River](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/featured-projects/north-fork-poudre/north-fork-poudre-03.jpg?width=1920&height=1440&name=north-fork-poudre-03.jpg) - ![The North Fork Poudre River running through a green meadow toward a red rock mesa](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/featured-projects/north-fork-poudre/north-fork-poudre-11.jpg?width=1920&height=1440&name=north-fork-poudre-11.jpg) - ![Newly seeded floodplain with rows of young plants and cottonwoods beyond, on the North Fork Poudre property in Colorado](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/featured-projects/north-fork-poudre/north-fork-poudre-01.jpg?width=1920&height=1440&name=north-fork-poudre-01.jpg) - ![Wooden gate frame beside a pool in the North Fork Poudre River below sandstone cliffs](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/photo%20of%20conservation%20easement%20in%20colorado.jpg?width=1200&height=900&name=photo%20of%20conservation%20easement%20in%20colorado.jpg) - ![Shallow riffles and new grasses along the North Fork Poudre River below a red rock hillside](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/featured-projects/north-fork-poudre/north-fork-poudre-13.jpg?width=1920&height=1440&name=north-fork-poudre-13.jpg) - ![A bend in the North Fork Poudre River with cottonwoods and a red rock outcrop in the foreground](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/featured-projects/north-fork-poudre/north-fork-poudre-15.jpg?width=1920&height=1440&name=north-fork-poudre-15.jpg) - ![Clouds reflected in a calm stretch of the North Fork Poudre River below a red rock slope](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/featured-projects/north-fork-poudre/north-fork-poudre-04.jpg?width=1920&height=1440&name=north-fork-poudre-04.jpg) - ![Cottonwoods along the North Fork Cache la Poudre River in a grassy foothills valley near Livermore, Colorado](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/photo%20of%20north%20fork%20poudre%20conservation%20easement.jpg?width=1200&height=900&name=photo%20of%20north%20fork%20poudre%20conservation%20easement.jpg) - ![The North Fork Poudre River winding through tall grass below a juniper-covered hillside](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/featured-projects/north-fork-poudre/north-fork-poudre-06.jpg?width=1920&height=1440&name=north-fork-poudre-06.jpg) - ![Clouds reflected in the North Fork Poudre River beside a red sandstone ledge](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/featured-projects/north-fork-poudre/north-fork-poudre-10.jpg?width=1920&height=1440&name=north-fork-poudre-10.jpg) - ![The North Fork Poudre River flowing through open grassland toward the foothills](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/featured-projects/north-fork-poudre/north-fork-poudre-14.jpg?width=1920&height=1440&name=north-fork-poudre-14.jpg) - ![Green floodplain meadow below wooded ridges on the North Fork Poudre property in Colorado](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/photo%20of%20north%20fork%20poudre%20mitigation%20conservation%20easement%20in%20colorado.jpg?width=1600&height=1200&name=photo%20of%20north%20fork%20poudre%20mitigation%20conservation%20easement%20in%20colorado.jpg) - ![Logs and rocks along the North Fork Poudre River under cottonwood trees](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/featured-projects/north-fork-poudre/north-fork-poudre-08.jpg?width=1920&height=1440&name=north-fork-poudre-08.jpg) ![home 5 d](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/Image%20Dividers/home%205%20d.png) ![home 5 m](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/Image%20Dividers/home%205%20m.png) ## ![Wooden gate frame beside a pool in the North Fork Poudre River below sandstone cliffs](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/photo%20of%20conservation%20easement%20in%20colorado.jpg?width=564&height=423&name=photo%20of%20conservation%20easement%20in%20colorado.jpg)The North Fork Poudre Project The North Fork starts in the Roosevelt National Forest, east of the Medicine Bow Range. It flows east past Virginia Dale, then turns south past Livermore before joining the main Poudre. From there its water moves on to the South Platte, the Platte, and eventually the Mississippi. The valley has been a travel route for a long time. The Cherokee Trail and the Overland Trail both ran through it between the Colorado plains and the Laramie Plains of Wyoming, and U.S. Highway 287 follows much of the same path today. The river takes its name from the main Cache la Poudre. French trappers caught in a snowstorm in the 1820s buried part of their gunpowder along its banks, and "cache la poudre" means "hide the powder." Landowners, public agencies, and conservation groups have protected more than 140,000 acres across the Laramie Foothills. North Fork Poudre adds to that work and marks the start of Unique Places to Save's work in Colorado. Unique Places to Save completed the project in partnership with the landowner and mitigation partner Naturion. ## Project Partner [![Naturion logo](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hs-fs/hubfs/naturion-1.png?width=240&height=240&name=naturion-1.png "Naturion logo")](https://naturion.com/) ![service 3 d](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/Image%20Dividers/service%203%20d.png) ![service 3 m](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/Image%20Dividers/service%203%20m.png) ## WHEN CONSERVATION & MITIGATION WORK TOGETHER [![Blackberries ripening on a bramble at the edge of a young pine forest.](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/photo%20of%20poes%20landing%20conservation%20easement.jpg)](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/news/poes-landing-conservation-mitigation-easement) ##### [Poe's Landing | Conservation Mitigation Easement](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/news/poes-landing-conservation-mitigation-easement) [Learn More ![](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/arrow-right%20copy.png)](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/news/poes-landing-conservation-mitigation-easement) [![A slow stream winds through an open wetland meadow lined with cattails and shrubs, with a band of trees on the horizon under a golden evening sky.](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/image%20of%20wetlands%20conservation.jpg)](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/news/mitigation-bank-long-term-management) ##### [What Happens After a Mitigation Bank is Complete?](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/news/mitigation-bank-long-term-management) [Learn More ![](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/arrow-right%20copy.png)](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/news/mitigation-bank-long-term-management) [![A salt marsh at dusk, with tidal pools reflecting a pink and blue sky.](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/photo%20of%20galveston%20texas%20wetland.jpg)](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/news/pelican-island-mitigation-conservation-easement) ##### [Pelican Island | Mitigation Conservation Easement](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/news/pelican-island-mitigation-conservation-easement) [Learn More ![](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/arrow-right%20copy.png)](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/news/pelican-island-mitigation-conservation-easement) [![A slow, shaded creek running through bright green summer woodland.](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/photo%20of%20monkey%20wrench%20mitigation%20conservation%20easement%20in%20north%20carolina.jpg)](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/news/monkey-wrench-mitigation-conservation-easement) ##### [Monkey Wrench | Mitigation Conservation Easement](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/news/monkey-wrench-mitigation-conservation-easement) [Learn More ![](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/arrow-right%20copy.png)](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/news/monkey-wrench-mitigation-conservation-easement) ![wave5](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/wave5.svg) ![Sin título-5](https://uniqueplacestosave.org/hubfs/Sin%20t%C3%ADtulo-5.svg) ## 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