Forever Protected: Markus Family Farm & Ranch

Water, Wildlife, and Working Land: The Triple Win of Protecting the Markus Property

This week, Palmer Land Conservancy celebrates the permanent protection of the century-old Markus Family Farm & Ranch, a property that safeguards not just 3,187 acres, but the intricate web of water, wildlife, and agricultural heritage that defines Colorado's eastern plains.

A summer storm rolls across the Markus property at sunset in 2025.

A Rare Treasure: Water Rights That Sustain a Way of Life

In Crowley County, water is the rarest kind of inheritance. Decades ago, more than 80% of the water rights in the region were sold to growing cities, severing the lifeblood from the land. The Markus family made a different choice.

Their ranch holds something increasingly rare—water rights from a designated water basin—a legal priority that sustains the family's agricultural legacy even in drought years. This conservation project permanently protects these water rights, ensuring they remain tied to the land. For a region where water scarcity shapes every decision, this protection represents a commitment to keeping agriculture viable for generations.

"Water infrastructure like this doesn't just sustain crops—it creates habitat, supports wildlife, and anchors rural communities," said Rebecca Jewett, Palmer's President and CEO. "By protecting the Markus family's water rights alongside their land, we're ensuring this landscape can continue to thrive as a working ranch."

Where Working Lands Meet Wild Spaces

The Markus Ranch is more than just productive farmland—it's a critical piece of a much larger conservation puzzle.

Pronghorn and mule deer migrate across these shortgrass prairies, following routes that connect fragmented habitats. Migratory birds—including species of conservation concern like burrowing owls—and swift foxes depend on the wetlands and reservoirs created by the ranch's water infrastructure.

The property's four reservoirs and wetlands provide essential stopover habitat for waterfowl traveling the Central Flyway. These aren't accidental benefits; they're the result of agricultural practices that work with nature rather than against it.

With the completion of this conservation project, the Markus property joins more than 33,000 acres of protected land, including State Wildlife Areas, BLM lands, and more than 10,000 acres of private conserved lands within five miles of the property.

This landscape-scale approach matters. Wildlife doesn't recognize property boundaries. By protecting strategic parcels like the Markus property, Palmer and our partners are creating connected habitats that allow species to move, adapt, and thrive across southeastern Colorado.

A Family Legacy, A Community Commitment

For more than a century, the Markus family has worked this land—adapting to drought, market shifts, and the evolving challenges of agriculture in the West. Their decision to place a conservation easement on their property ensures that future generations can continue that legacy.

Photos courtesy of the Markus family.

Conservation easements are voluntary agreements that permanently limit development while keeping land in private ownership and production. The Markus family will continue ranching; their cattle will still graze these prairies. What changes is the certainty that this land will never be subdivided, developed, or dried up.

"The Markus family's commitment to protecting their ranch represents the best of Colorado's agricultural heritage," Jewett remarked. "They're ensuring that the land they've stewarded for generations will remain productive, ecologically vibrant, and a benefit for people and nature alike."

Conservation wins like these wouldn't be possible without people like the Markus family, who remain committed to loving and working the land. Palmer's community-driven approach to conservation also relies on a dedicated community of donors, whose support makes projects like this a reality. From crafting solutions that support people and nature to supporting long-term stewardship, Palmer donors invest in the vision that working lands and wild spaces can coexist—and thrive together. To support more conservation projects like the Markus Family Farm & Ranch, donate today.