Lower Blue Basin Overview

This is a unique part of the County and has historically been an agricultural and ranching community. Today, the Basin is a mixture of national forest, wilderness areas, agriculture, natural resource extraction and processing, recreation, permanent residences, and second homes. Much of the real estate development and recreational use that has occurred in the Basin in the last several years is a result of increased tourism in the County. The Town of Silverthorne, at the southern end of the Basin, serves as a hub providing services and employment for residents of the area. North of Silverthorne, land uses shift from “urban,” or town-oriented, to agriculture, natural resource extraction and processing, dispersed recreation, and rural residential. In addition, Green Mountain Reservoir provides residents and visitors with a wide range of water-based recreational activities, some of which are not permitted elsewhere in the County, such as water skiing and swimming.