Blue Agate Ranch

• Over 2 miles of East Bijou Creek and 120 acres of wetlands.
• Two ponds covering approximately three acres provide excellent wildlife habitat and have historically been stocked with various species of trout. 
• Densely vegetated with cottonwoods, russian olives and willows; the creek bottom provides exceptional habitat for whitetail, mule deer, elk, antelope, turkey as well as multiple bird species, allowing for great hunting and wildlife viewing.
• There is an estimated 261 acre-feet per year of non tributary groundwater available from the Fox-Hills Aquifer.  
• Agate Reservoir is an off-stream reservoir with a capacity of 7,727 acre-feet of adjudicated water storage. The entire reservoir sits within the property boundary and is a valuable resource for cattle, waterfowl, mule deer & white tail. Note that this water availability and storage is based upon seasonal flood waters, rights include  irrigation for 70 acres and up to 605 ac-ft of water could be developed on an annual basis.  An additional solar well on the southeast quarter of the property provides water for livestock.
• Numerous grasses including Alfalfa, Brome, Millet, Buffalo Grass, 5-seed Grass Crop, and Timothy Grass.
• The ranch offers a mixed terrain of secluded lowlands and rolling hills with views of both the Front Range and Eastern Plains.
• The neighboring property consisting of 140 acres is also available for sale. Contact broker for information and pricing.

Located within an hour east of Denver,  Blue Agate Ranch stands as a unique Front Range gem. Boasting nearly two miles of  tree-lined creek frontage, 200+/- acres of wetlands, a large seasonal storage reservoir, and multiple ponds. This expansive property offers extraordinary habitat for wildlife. White-tail deer, mule deer, waterfowl, turkeys, and various species of upland game are consistently seen throughout the ranch and can be enjoyed by recreational users and nature enthusiasts alike. The property is not encumbered by any conservation easements but it has substantial conservation values and thus is an ideal candidate for a conservation easement should the next buyer be interested.  Mirr Ranch Group provides conservation and management services to interested client.

Improvements

The ranch is fully fenced and contains a corral and livestock handling facilities. The city of Agate provides water to the ranch and power lines are easily accessible, allowing for the ability to connect to telephone and high speed internet. The property also includes a modest shed with living quarters on the second level. 

There are multiple wells on the property that are utilized for cattle as well as for refilling water in the two primary ponds. Various ditch structures are also in place but have gone unused in recent years. With some work, the ditches could be improved to provide irrigation to up to 70 acres on the property.

Location

Blue Agate Ranch is located just west of the town of Agate and only an hour east of  Denver. The property is accessible off two well-maintained county roads and  has easy access to I-70.

Views

Unencumbered views of the Front Range and Eastern Plains.

Wildlife

A mixed terrain of cottonwood lined creek beds, wetlands, and rolling hills provides an excellent habitat for animals.  The diverse ecosystem attracts numerous species of wildlife including but not limited to:  white-tail deer, mule deer, antelope,  migrating waterfowl, and over 200 species of birds.

Recreation

Big Game Hunting, Upland Birds, Waterfowl and Fishing:

Blue Agate Ranch is located in GMU 105 and offers multiple recreation opportunities for the outdoor enthusiast. The ranch qualifies for the Landowner Preference program through CPW and the 1,137 acres of mixed terrain offers a premiere habitat for mule deer, white tail deer, and the occasional plains elk. Turkeys are commonly found foraging along the creek bed and multiple species of waterfowl are often seen on the two primary ponds and the stock reservoir. Additionally, the two primary ponds on the property have historically been stocked with trout and have potential to be improved by the next owner.

Agriculture

The property is home to numerous grasses including; Alfalfa, Brome, Millet, Buffalo Grass, 5-seed Grass Crop, and Timothy Grass.

• HISTORICALLY: wheat, millet, alfalfa, oats, clover, sunflowers, and sorghum

The property is leased to an adjoining rancher for grazing, the carrying capacity of the ranch is about 100 head seasonally.

Water Rights

• ALLUVIAL GROUNDWATER RIGHTS:
  • Two ponds consisting of 2.8 acres.
  • Exempt well with solar panels used for watering livestock (1 acre-foot)
• AGATE RESERVOIR SURFACE STORAGE RIGHT:
  • 7,727 acre-feet of absolute storage and 1,135 acres for irrigation (NOTE estimated yield averages 605 ac-ft)
  • 70 acres have been used historically for irrigation
  • 1,065 acres with conditional rights to irrigate when water is available
• DENVER BASIN GROUNDWATER:
  • Groundwater is limited solely to the Laramie Fox-Hills aquifer. An estimated 261 ac-ft/year would be available with the installation of an additional well.  The depth of the aquifer is estimated to be 325 to 375 feet deep.