High Country Conservation Advocates
High Country Conservation Advocates is a grassroots non-profit dedicated to protecting the health, integrity and beauty of the public lands, waters, and wildlife of Colorado’s Gunnison Country.
About High Country Conservation Advocates
Founded in 1977 in Crested Butte, HCCA (also known historically as High Country Citizens' Alliance) works through advocacy, stewardship, and community outreach to defend public lands, rivers, and wildlife across the Gunnison Country.
HCCA combines policy engagement, on-the-ground volunteer stewardship, and public education to influence local, state, and federal decisions that affect the region’s landscapes and watersheds.
In recent years HCCA has focused on securing durable protections for Mt. Emmons (Red Lady), advancing the Gunnison Outdoor Resources Protection (GORP) effort, expanding its stewardship program, and running regular community hikes and restoration projects.
Notable achievements
Red Lady (Mt. Emmons) protections completed
In 2024 HCCA participated with local partners to secure a complex land-exchange, mineral extinguishment, and conservation easements that permanently removed the threat of new mining on Mt. Emmons (the 'Red Lady'), concluding a multi-decade campaign.
Established and scaled Stewardship Program
Built a programmatic stewardship wing (launched 2020) that expanded volunteer restoration projects, formal partnerships with land managers, and regular community stewardship events across the valley.
Leadership on regional protection efforts (GORP)
Helped lead stakeholder engagement and consensus building for the Gunnison Outdoor Resources Protection (GORP) effort to advance long-term protections for key public land parcels in the region.
At a glance
- Total assets
- $235K
- Annual revenue
- $292K
- Tax status
- 501(c)(3)Public charity
- EIN
- 84-0772688
- Location
- Crested Butte, CO
- Website
- www.hccacb.org
- On Mahalo since
- November 2025
Financial figures from the IRS Business Master File, the IRS’s registry of tax-exempt organizations.
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