Almost $4.4 million in lottery money is headed to Southwest Colorado to pay for land conservation along the San Juan Skyway. An additional $4.2 million will pay for protection of two ranches on the Upper San Juan River in Archuleta and Mineral counties. The awards are part of $75 million in grants announced Monday by Great Outdoors Colorado and Gov. Bill Ritter. GOCO distributes money raised by the state lottery to pay for parks and open space. The grants will focus on three areas: the Mancos River valley, including the Thompson Park area in La Plata County; the Dolores River between Dolores and Rico; and the stretch of land between Ouray and Ridgway, said Nina Williams of Montezuma Land Conservancy.

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