
Blue Valley Ranch/Courtesy photo
On Jan. 21, a week after the completion of the Blue Valley Ranch land exchange, Grand County commissioners discussed its benefits as well as next steps on the land.
The project swapped 1,489 acres of federal land in Grand County for 1,830 acres of private land in Grand and Summit counties. The private land was part of Blue Valley Ranch off Colorado Highway 9 between the two counties. The Blue River runs through the area, making it a prime fishing and recreation spot. As a result of the swap, ranch owner Paul Tudor Jones II will own land that was formerly managed by the Bureau of Land Management.
The purpose of the exchange was to address the “checkerboard nature” of ownership in the area.
As part of the agreement, the ranch owner will help pay for upgrades in the area, including a new boat ramp, wheelchair-accessible fishing platforms, trails, restrooms and parking areas, according to a county newsletter.
What is gained in the exchange
At the commissioners’ meeting Jan. 21, Blue Valley Ranch spokesperson Rob Firth presented an overview of what will change with the land swap.
The Blue River sits below Green Mountain and Dillon reservoirs. Since some previously public fishing access to the river will now become private, the exchange will add new areas for walk-in and takeout for hikers, boaters and anglers.
For example, there will be a new walk-in below Green Mountain reservoir in Summit County. Firth added that the ranch will partner with Summit County government to fund improvements for the walk-in.
Firth said Blue Valley Ranch will also assist with the creation of the Confluence Recreation Area, where the Blue and Colorado rivers meet near Kremmling. The area will include picnic tables, parking and more. The ranch will also pay to improve aquatic habitat in a 1-mile section of the Blue River near the confluence.
“With the fishery improvements, a trail system that’s planned and paid for by Blue Valley Ranch, we’re talking about almost 2 miles of accessible trail for the public for walking, leisure, hunting access waterfowl or fishing,” he said, adding that the trail will be wheelchair accessible.
A fund also will be established that the BLM can draw from to maintain the Confluence Recreation Area.
Firth invited the commissioners to tour the river with him in the summer to see where the aquatic improvements will take place.
“I think it’ll cement the idea that we’re creating a world-class fishery that’s gonna go pretty much down from Green Mountain damn all the way to the confluence, which is incredible to get in this day and age,” Firth said.
River improvements and the creation of the recreation area will likely begin in 2026.

Land exchange not without controversy
The Grand County commissioners, Summit County commissioners, Colorado River Headwaters Chapter of Trout Unlimited and both of Colorado’s U.S. senators have publicly celebrated the land exchange since it was first approved in January 2023.
Not all have approved of the exchange over the years, however. Other groups have voiced doubts that what will be gained is greater than what will be lost — notably prized fishing spots that will now be privately owned by Blue Valley Ranch.
When speaking with commissioners, Firth acknowledged that there was perception “the public was losing a pretty tremendous fishery. It’s not for us to argue their perception. If they felt they were losing something, they were.”
Notably, Colorado Wild Public Lands has been opposed. In a news release published the same day as the commissioners’ meeting, the nonprofit watchdog group stated it had an ongoing appeal filed with the Department of Interior Board of Land Appeals against the exchange.
“The BLM ignored numerous laws and policies in reaching the deal and stealthily closed on the real estate transaction before the (Board of Land Appeals) even ruled on its legality,” Executive Director Brian Lorch stated in the release. “This struggle for continued public enjoyment of the Blue River isn’t over yet. We plan to continue appealing this deal.”
Wild Public Lands stated that if the appeal fails, U.S. District Court is the next step.
“Throughout the West, multimillionaires are pursuing — and getting — sweetheart deals with the federal government to expand their vast private holdings,” the release stated. “In these deals, the public often loses not only valuable public lands but also access to surrounding recreational opportunities.”

Public had input on exchange
Despite some opposition, Firth and others — such as the Grand County commissioners — believe there will be more public access to Gold Medal waters after the exchange.
“We felt like giving back and redoing the river at the confluence, plus the walk-in by Green Mountain giving almost 2 miles of fishing access, we more than made up for the loss,” Firth said.
Commissioner Merrit Linke agreed that the methodical process to approve the exchange, with a 45-day public comment period in 2023, ensured that Grand and Summit county residents and visitors could provide input and ultimately benefit.
“Our direction as employees of Blue Valley Ranch was to promote this overwhelmingly in the public interest,” Firth said. “I think we’ve done a great job of doing just that.”
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