The San Miguel County Open Space Commission seeks to protect and conserve open space for people - natural habitat for flora and fauna - and agricultural lands for the farming and ranching communities throughout San Miguel County for this and future generations.

The Open Space Commission works to preserve and protect lands that it, the Board of County Commissioners and the public designate as high priorities. According to a 1998 countywide open space and recreation survey, county residents consider wildlife habitat, riparian areas, scenic corridors, high alpine basins, agricultural lands and open space buffers between populations to be most important. The Open Space Commission creates funding sources, builds cooperative relationships with owners, pursues protection for land, supports agricultural operations, promotes partnerships, coordinates with federal and state agencies, provides land conservation options, and focuses on educational opportunities. The Open Space Commission has accomplished the following with direction from the Board of County Commissions and input from the public.