A portion of the eight-foot high fence along the boundary of the historic Cielo Vista Ranch in the San Luis Valley. Photo courtesy of the Denver Post, by by RJ Sangost.

The land grant land rights of Latino families who have lived in the Sangre De Cristo — San Luis Valley for generations predate the formation of the United States, or Colorado statehood. Which makes what has been going on in this Colorado valley more egregious than it might appear; prompting state legislators to act.

Representative Matthew Martinez and Senators Cleave Simpson, (both Republicans from Alamosa), and Julie Gonzales hosted a press conference this past week, to discuss new legislation to strengthen local fence construction laws in the San Luis Valley.

The legislation has been introduced partly to halt further expansion of a controversial eight-foot-tall fence topped with barbed wire that the billionaire owner of the 85,000 acre Cielo Vista Ranch has been constructing in the Sangre De Cristo – San Luis Valley. The Denver Post has done a recent article about the fencing, that can be accessed here.

The fencing violates historic land grant language that allows multi-general valley families access to that storied land known as the Sangre De Cristo. It also severely inhibits the movement of wildlife herds.

“This legislation is necessary to fight back against the negative impacts of unauthorized fence construction on our community, to protect our environment and Colorado Way of Life,” said Rep. Matthew Martinez (D-Monte Vista). “When I visited the newly constructed fence, I was appalled by the negative impact on our environment and our local community. Many San Luis Valley residents have land rights beyond the fence dating back to before Colorado’s statehood. This bill will boost local control and require individuals to submit an application before construction – further prioritizing local and environmental protections.”

“The San Luis Valley was historically both a geo-political and cultural borderlands, in which the combination and collision of Indigenous, Hispano, and Anglo peoples formed a hybrid culture that is like no other in the United States,” said History Colorado and State Historic Preservation Officer President and CEO Dawn DiPrince last fall. Just this past December, History Colorado held two sessions about its “Colorado Heritage for All” initiative in the San Luis Valley.

“As Co-Chair of the Colorado Democratic Latino Caucus, I am so proud to sponsor HB1023,” said Sen. Julie Gonzales, (D-Denver). “Ensuring local governments have a say in how San Luis Valley communities are able to access their land is simply the right thing to do. I want to uplift the leadership of Representative Martinez on this important issue and I look forward to carrying this policy when it reaches the Senate.”

HB25-1023, would require individuals to submit an application to local government officials before constructing or installing a contiguous fence of a certain size in the Sangre de Cristo Land Grant lands. Under the bill, local governments would be responsible for determining if the benefits of a fencing project outweigh the harms. Additionally, local governments may pass an ordinance or resolution opting out of these requirements altogether.

Recent fence construction on the Sangre de Cristo land grant property –the Cielo Vista Ranch — has caused environmental damage, including land erosion and limiting wildlife movement, and kept out local residents with legal access to the land grant. This bill takes aim at future, unauthorized fencing construction projects to protect the natural habitats in the San Luis Valley.