-Colorado Department of Natural Resources LOVELAND, Colo. — In partnership with local landowners Mark and Candee Steputis, Larimer County Natural Resources has conserved an 884-acre ranch via conservation easement in northern Larimer County. The conservation easement acquisition is made possible due to a generous donation from the Steputis family as well as being a component of the Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) 2020 Laramie Foothills Expansion Grant, which bolsters the efforts of Larimer County and City of Fort Collins to conserve lands in this region. The Little Ponderosa Ranch boasts scenic rolling grasslands and ponderosa pine forest, rock outcroppings, and key wildlife habitats west of Red Mountain Open Space.