Although Marabou’s nearly 1,800 acres in Steamboat Springs already contain 14 acres of ponds, miles of spring creeks and more than two miles of the Elk River, the North Park property gives the community’s aficionados the best private fly fishing waters in the lower 48 states.

Four major waterways dissect the property: the North Platte, the North Fork of the Platte, the Michigan and the Canadian rivers. All have unique characteristics and plentiful aquatic insects, but together they create one of the few places in the world where anglers can accomplish the Rocky Mountain Grand Slam of fishing - the opportunity to catch rainbow, brown, cutthroat and brook trout all in one day.

In total, Marabou’s private water in North Park meanders more than 50 miles through lush hay fields with deep oxbow bends, and untouched wilderness areas. The property’s four lakes and several smaller spring-fed creeks traverse the meadows, creating a diversity of fishing waters that is unmatched in the country. This is Colorado’s last frontier. The great North Platte starts here, fed by spring thaws from the surrounding mountain ranges, becoming a slow moving, floatable river as it flows downstream. Anglers who like to throw a streamer or a hopper will find it particularly fruitful, while the technical dry fly fisher will be enthralled with the abundant insect hatches in all rivers.

2-2-2, Marabou adds 50 miles of private fly fishing waters

“These waters provide world class fly fishing - the enthusiast is going to think he has died and gone to heaven!” said Jeff Temple, Marabou president. “We are very excited to add 50 miles of pristine, remote, private fly fishing to Marabou. Our members will never have the same outing twice, and they’re unlikely to see another angler on any occasion.”

Marabou has hired fly fishing expert and river keeper Pat Stefanek as a fly fishing master guide. Stefanek will work full time at Marabou, and will guide members and their guests on the North Park experience. For the last seven years he has labored to improve the habitat on these rivers and, in the process, has fished every inch. Stefanek is known as one of the top fly fishing guides in the American West and is responsible for continually monitoring the fish and water quality, and assisting Marabou owners in their adventures on the water. Stefanek and his team of guides completely control these private waters and the thousands of acres of unspoiled lands around them.

“I’ve been lucky enough to fly fish in many places from Alaska to Montana, and I know our North Park waters represent one of the finest freestone wild trout fisheries in the world. These fish are my babies - I take very good care of them,” said Stefanek.

Marabou guests and owners also have full access to the 10 cabins found on the property. All are rustic, clean and comfortable, and sit adjacent to one of the streams. Set against the snowcapped Zirkel Wilderness Area and the Never Summer mountain range, the region is best known as the moose viewing capital of Colorado. Elk and mule deer are abundant in the lush river bottoms, as are antelope, hawks, eagles, wild horses and an occasional black bear. Naturalists and photographers join fishermen in their love of North Park, capturing moments on film that have made the region famous.

Marabou is a unique ranch preservation community being created in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Planned for only 62 custom homesteads on nearly 1,800-acres of active ranchland, Marabou will remain a working cattle ranch. Residents and their guests can participate, at their discretion, in all aspects of ranching from herding cattle, mending fences and baling hay on the property to caring for the horses that live there. Marabou Master Guides will lead this experience in the same way they’ll teach residents to fly fish, mountain bike, downhill and cross country ski, and hike the rolling terrain. With 1,325 acres of the ranch preserved as open space, homesteads exceed six acres and are priced from $1.8 to $5 million.

Elk River Partners - comprised of third generation Steamboat resident Jeff Temple and partners Mark Hall and Jeff Jepson - recognizes the importance of sustainability, and has developed its own set of green design and construction options for Marabou homestead owners. Each of the 62 planned homesteads meet stringent guidelines that integrate the home with the natural environment, and a $10,000 incentive will be given to owners who choose to incorporate green building techniques.

“We hope to leave behind a legacy of stewardship at Marabou that future generations will be proud of,” said Hall. “Not only is preservation a responsible choice for developers, this approach will only enhance the living environment for Marabou owners and residents.”

Owners earn points associated with various environmentally-friendly techniques, including using solar heating and wind-generated electricity, planting Xeriscape-level landscaping, building with pine beetle salvage wood, recycling construction materials on-site and insulating plumbing. This point system impacts the incentive awarded to owners, which is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

Because Marabou has demonstrated exemplary environmental leadership, the United States Environmental Protection Agency recently awarded Elk River Partners membership in the Green Power Leadership Club. Only businesses that replace significant portions of the electricity they use with green power are invited to be partners in this organization.

Elk River Partners hired consultant Lyn Halliday with Environmental Solutions Unlimited, LLC to help bring the Marabou conservation vision to life. “Having worked as an environmental professional for nearly 30 years, I have found the entire Marabou team’s commitment to sustainable development to be incredibly impressive,” said Halliday. “Marabou provides an excellent model for creating a sustainable community where the naturally beautiful ranchland is preserved - a model that is unmatched in the industry”.

The 1,717-acre Marabou community will feature clustered buildings, preserving an abundance of pristine river corridor, meadows and wildlife areas. Approximately 1,325 acres, which is roughly three quarters of the community, will remain permanent open space and active farm/ranchland.

Additional land stewardship components at Marabou include a wildlife management plan. The plan, designed with input and support from the Colorado Division of Wildlife, ensures that important animal habitats are preserved. Certain habitats were enhanced through the protection of sensitive areas and the creation of bio-islands, ponds, and other biodiversity-enhancing inclusions.

Because Marabou is contiguous to 2.5 miles of the Elk River, special consideration has been given to protecting riparian areas, improving fish habitat, and preserving the sustainability of cottonwood growth along the river banks. Improvements to the river habitat alone are estimated to cost more than $1 million.

The 11 Marabou amenity buildings are Built Green Certified, including an equestrian center made of local salvage wood. The contractors who worked on these buildings were also required to be Built Green Certified. Requirements for the certification include the incorporation of recycled building materials; energy efficiency; use of electricity from clean, renewable wind power; use of materials that promote improved indoor environmental quality; and environmentally-conscious landscaping practices.

“Mankind historically has been harsh on the environment,” said Temple. “Perhaps our most meaningful legacy at Marabou is to create a new sustainability model for other developments to consider.”

A unique feature of Marabou can be found in the educational opportunities that it offers its residents and the community. Through the Master Guide program, land stewardship and environmental appreciation is encouraged by providing highly interactive outdoor activities at the property and around the Steamboat Springs region. Master fly fishers, horsemen, craftsmen, skiers and mountain bikers bring authenticity, excitement and adventure to everyday life at Marabou.

Marabou is reaching out to the Steamboat community to get involved in conservation on the property, inviting local children and nature enthusiasts to visit the ranch for nature hikes and bird watching excursions. This not only improves the environment for wildlife, but instills a sense of environmental stewardship in the community.

Marabou’s support of the Sustainable Steamboat Expo is further evidence of the developer’s desire to share environmentally-sound building practices with the community. The second annual expo will focus on the “Economics of Sustainability,” and took place in May 2007 at the Grand Resort Hotel in Steamboat.

Marabou is a unique ranch preservation community that was created in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Planned for only 62 custom homesteads on 1,717 acres of active ranchland, Marabou remains a working cattle ranch, producing grass-fed, hormone- and antibiotic-free beef. Residents and their guests can participate, at their discretion, in all aspects of ranching from herding cattle, mending fences and baling hay on the property, to caring for the horses and cattle that live there. Marabou Master Guides lead this experience in the same way they teach residents to fly fish, mountain bike, downhill and cross country ski, and hike the rolling terrain. With 1,325 acres of the ranch preserved as open space, homesteads exceed six acres and are priced from $2.9 to more than $5 million.

Marabou also hired Environmental Solutions, Unltd. to serve as a sustainability consultant throughout the development process. The organization regularly monitors the construction and operations of Marabou, offering suggestions to improve energy efficiency, reduce waste and employ preservation practices. Environmental Solutions recently performed extensive research to evaluate the project’s carbon footprint.

“Marabou wanted a third party to execute a quantitative evaluation of its carbon emissions to measure just how they were delivering on their promise to be a sustainable community,” said Lyn Halliday, president of Environmental Solutions.

Based on methodology and guidelines provided by the EPA, World Resources Institute and the United Nations, Halliday’s research showed Marabou’s net carbon emissions to be approximately negative one million pounds of carbon per year - meaning the project actually reduces more carbon emissions than it creates.

“The research process was extremely helpful, generating new ideas for additional ways to conserve energy and protect the environment,” said Halliday.

Marabou does emit some carbon. The study compared the amount of carbon generated by Marabou’s amenity buildings, on-site activities, and routine maintenance, to the amounts of carbon reduction resulting from voluntary investments on the part of the Marabou development and management teams. The evaluation was based on the entire 1,717-acre ranch, including Marabou’s 12 amenity buildings, as well as four additional structures used by maintenance and on-site management staff. It did not include private residences, as none have yet been constructed.

Marabou’s agricultural practices and soil sequestration practices were the largest contribution to carbon reduction. According to the new Farmers Union Carbon Credit Program, carbon can be stored in soil through no-till crop production, long-term grass seeding practices, native rangeland enhancement, and methane capture projects. Marabou’s grass-fed beef program, as well as its riparian, grassland and wildlife preservation efforts, results in the reduction of more than 2.5 million pounds of carbon each year.

Marabou is a model for green agricultural ranch operations by incorporating rotational grazing, which is better for the land and yields healthier cattle. Riparian zones have been carefully mapped to avoid cattle intrusion. A wildlife management plan provides for the protection of an elk calving area and a Columbian sharp tail grouse lek, as well as the creation of bio-islands and habitat improvement for the ranch’s abundant wildlife.

Some key management practices that reduce Marabou’s carbon emissions include the use of on-site solar panels and wind-generated power purchased from Colorado-based wind farms. Marabou also employs an extensive recycling program to reduce waste transported to landfills each year. These energy conservation practices more than offset the fuel used for Marabou’s agricultural activity, landscaping, and other maintenance-related practices.

Marabou’s amenity buildings are designed for the common use of homestead owners and their guests. They include the River House Lodge and Dead Horse Saloon; the Downstream Spa; the Casting Room Theater; the River’s Edge Fitness Center; the Outfitter’s Cabin; an equestrian center; and six well-appointed Owners’ Cabins, which can be reserved by homestead owners for four weeks per year.

The buildings are clustered together to reduce the impact the buildings have on the native wildlife. Marabou requires all contractors and subcontractors to be Built Green® certified, and all Marabou amenity buildings have achieved a Built Green® average of 140 points. The minimum requirement is 70 points.

The structures feature insulated foundations; low-E windows; zoned thermostats; Energy Star rated appliances, lighting and exhaust fans; structured insulated panels for room insulation; low flow shower heads; and furnaces with a 90 percent or higher efficiency rate.

Construction teams also used engineered lumber - which is made of recycled material and creates far less waste than conventional lumber - throughout 90 percent of the buildings. The siding on Marabou’s horse barn is salvaged wood from Wyoming fencing, and the River House Lodge interior features rescued cherry wood from 100 percent sustainable sources. The Casting Room Theater building has a “living roof”; home to native grasses that provide natural insulation.

All private residences, ultimately 62 at full build-out, will be custom homes, several of which have recently completed a design review process. Construction on the first owners’ residences is slated to begin by spring 2008. Marabou’s design guidelines were crafted using Built Green® principles and provide an appendix of sustainable building criteria for owners.

“All homestead owners are required to incorporate a minimum level of green building practices, and if an owner embraces a high enough level of ‘built green’ in their home, they are eligible for a $10,000 payment from Marabou,” said Temple. “We were encouraged to discover that owners are choosing to go above and beyond that requirement to embrace energy efficiency, indoor air quality, water conservation and wildlife preservation as a way of life.”

Marabou has attracted national attention for its exemplary environmental leadership. The EPA recently awarded Marabou membership in the Green Power Leadership Club. Only businesses that replace significant portions of the electricity they use with green power are invited to be partners in this organization. In October 2007, Marabou received the first annual Sustainable Business of the Year Award at the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association’s Centennial Celebration, in recognition of its vast achievements in sustainable business practices. Marabou was selected from a pool of more than 30 members of the Sustainable Steamboat Business Program, created in March 2007.

About Marabou
Marabou is a unique ranch preservation community in Steamboat Springs, Colo. Planned for only 62 custom homesteads on 1,717 acres of active ranchland, Marabou remains a working cattle ranch. Residents and their guests can participate, at their discretion, in all aspects of ranching from herding cattle, mending fences and baling hay on the property to caring for the horses that live there. Marabou Master Guides lead this experience in the same way they teach residents to fly fish, mountain bike, downhill and cross country ski, and hike the rolling terrain. The ranch is 1,717 acres, of which 1,325 are preserved as open space forever. Homesteads exceed six acres and are priced from $2.9 million.

We’re vulnerable and the amount of what we use is unsustainable.

First, we’re using twice the energy we did before the first oil embargo of the 1970s which makes us vulnerable to pricing, speculation and gouging. Despite the lessons of the mid-70s when lines formed at the gas station and the nation’s president asked the country to do without Christmas lights, energy use is 50 percent greater today than it was back in 1970.

“Second, much of the way business is done in the United States has been based on the availability of low-cost energy. This ranges from delivering all manner of goods across the country to transporting people from one place to another, whether by ground or by air,” writes economist Irwin Kellner of Marketwatch.

An obvious example of how cheap energy has affected our way of life, says Kellner, is the proliferation of the suburbs. “Single-family homes use more energy than apartments, and require more than one vehicle per household, since schools, shopping, places of business and entertainment are spaced far apart.”

As he points out, there are not only more houses today than there were 38 years ago, they are larger as well. “In 1970 the average new house was about 1,500 square feet; today it is nearly 60% bigger!”

Other industries are already adjusting to high gas prices. American Airlines is eliminating eight percent of management and support jobs and furloughing 900 flight attendants in August. Smaller carriers are cutting back service to smaller communities.

But housing isn’t so nimble. Right now, many homeowners are stuck with homes they can’t sell that are too expensive to operate, that are too far from work centers. They can’t even get rid of their SUVs.

This is a situation that is going to take some imagination and guts, and some long-term planning by the major cities that lost population to the suburbs in the first place.

And the cities, thanks to record mortgage defaults, have less money to create miracles.

As our population grows, the joint problem of housing and transportation will only become more urgent.

And that’s why now is the time for our cities to act.

From extending public transportation to the suburbs, to clearing inner city brownfields for mixed-use redevelopment, our cities have the power to reroute our commutes.

But with tax revenues dropping, cities aren’t in the position to do as much as homeowners need to turn things around. They can make some headway with homebuyer and corporate tax incentives but cities can do more — like creating safe bike routes and rezoning for more mixed use developments. The rest is going to have to come from personal and corporate volunteerism to include mentoring and community support for schools and small business development, trash cleanups, festivals, crime watch groups, matching grants for home improvements, and incentives for ride-sharing and home officing.

Take the latest home resale report: Sales were up by 2 percent nationally in May, and up 5.5 in the Midwest and 4.6 percent in the Northeast.

Condo sales also jumped 5.5 percent nationwide.

Sales of existing homes were up even in some of the hardest hit local markets — Sarasota on the Gulf Coast of Florida, for example, and Sacramento California and Battle Creek Michigan.

Big deal! You might say in response. A lot of that activity is attributable to severely depressed home prices, short sales, and banks dumping foreclosures.

No question that’s true. But the down cycle has to stop somewhere, and in the toughest local markets that means deeply-discounted and distressed properties coming out of foreclosure now look like excellent deals to bargain hunters.

So yes absolutely: Houses with slashed prices are selling fast and pushing up sales numbers. That’s the way cycles work. The cyclical rebound gets rolling on the wreckage left over from the boom.

But there are other signs of light as well: The federal government agency that tracks home price movements — based on multiple sales of houses financed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — found home values actually increased in two major regions in the U.S. last month.

Prices continue to rise in Texas, Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi. Dozens of metropolitan markets in the mid section of the country never participated in the boom, and they are showing steady increases in prices.

Still another plus: Mortgage rates took a surprise dip last week — reversing the previous week’s sharp increases. Thirty year fixed rate loans are back down to 6.4 percent and fifteen year rates are under six percent again.

And here’s one more positive sign to add to the mix: Personal consumption — an important indicator of the economy’s underlying rate of expansion — rose by four tenths of a percent in May. That’s the largest gain since December of 2006.

Are developments like these enough to push us into a full blown housing recovery or keep us out of recession? Not by themselves. But keep your eyes on home sales and prices in the hardest hit local markets. If enough of them start going positive — then yes, we could be on the verge of a turnaround in the months ahead.

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