This proved to be the driving force that directed the refuge to its current remote location. Over the years, visitors and volunteers have upheld the idea that a place like M:W is essential. Not only does the refuge provide sanctuary for wolves and education for people, but it offers a unique environment where people can personally experience a connection with nature. Now that the facility is nearing completion we find ourselves in a race to secure adjacent land for conservation before it is developed and threatens the wolves future. After years of discussion we have organized these visions and dreams into a proposal that protects existing wildlife habitat, watershed, and will help secure the long-term future of the wolf refuge.

Below is essay that was created, in part, as a vision of what the refuge means to one of our past staff members. In response to her article we have received comments and support from many people.

What, in this age of rapidly increasing human population, is more rare and sacred than a large area of primitive wilderness set aside for its natural diversity? And what, in that land, is the ultimate source of purity and life? Water. It is water that cleanses impurities and renews vitality in all life. However, in the arid West, the value of this essential life source is overlooked as watersheds continue to be developed into a mere commodity.

Mission: Wolf has created a proposal to protect the nearby watershed that runs onto thousands of acres of the San Isabel National Forest. In one of the most remote parts of Colorado, Mission: Wolf is located between the Sangre de Cristo and Greenhorn Wilderness areas. This land is a unique mountain grassland and forest ecosystem that is home to thousands of species that are being pushed from their native habitats. This includes black bear, mountain lion, badger, bobcat, deer, elk, and countless other species of mammals, birds, and plants.

By securing the relatively few tracts of land as proposed by Mission: Wolf, the watershed which supplies thousands of acres within the National Forest can be kept pristine for future generations of animals and people alike. Since its formation in 1988 with 36 acres, Mission: Wolf and friends have slowly and painstakingly secured a total of 410 acres. The entire project has been divided into three phases. Mission: Wolf seeks to obtain over 2,500 acres to protect the precious watershed and wildlife habitat from the increasing development in the area. This still undeveloped acreage has the potential to hold over 70 houses, and thus the same number of wells and septic tanks. These would have direct and dire effects on the water that flows into San Isabel National Forest from this area. All of these sites are likely to be developed into "ranchettes" in the next few years. Catherine Eckhouse Co-author

A notebook has been prepared to help the Mission:Wolf refuge define and explore the potential opportunities available regarding land conservation. This project has been divided into three phases based on geography and land use.

PHASE I is nearly complete and includes a 450 acre nature center dedicated to wolf and wildlife education. This is supported by a 50 acre wolf refuge and Visitor Facility with Staff quarters. All buildings are designed for optimal solar gain, function with solar and wind energy and have been constructed by volunteers using a majority of recycled, discounted, and donated materials.

PHASE II is a land conservation project that includes nearly 1,300 acres of private land bordering the San Isabel National Forest. This land, known as the Promitory Divide, lies south of the refuge and provides watershed for five drainage's into the national forest. This divide is known to be a corridor for wildlife migration between the Wet Mountains and the Sangre De Cristo Mountains.

PHASE III is a 1,000 acre land conservation project designed to preserve the Williams Creek Drainage north of the refuge. This land bordering National Forest is partially developed and has an active year round stream with ponds. It is likely to be more expensive than phase II and is expected to be our biggest challenge.

The conservation of this land may be achieved in several ways. Obviously the most preferred is to place this land in the name of Mission:Wolf with with the use of tax deductible contributions. Donations will be used to pay off our current land debt and to secure more land. Other ways include purchasing the land as an individual and then deeding it into conservation through Mission:Wolf. A more complicated yet feasible way for M:W to achieve this goal is to simply encourage individual land owners to retain title, yet take the benefit of a tax deductible donation by placing the land into a conservation trust. This may allow for perpetual future private use by landowners and their heirs as well as preserve the natural qualities of this area indefinitely.

Currently Mission:Wolf and partners have secured as much land as our credit limits and assets allow. This vision is the result of several dedicated people that have offered their precious time and money to achieve a common goal. The staff and directors of Mission:Wolf encourage you to become a partner and help us realize a vision that will survive long after we are gone.