Conservation Chronicles July 2012

Welcome to the July Conservation Chronicles, the monthly e-news digest of CMC Conservation.  We seek to provide meaningful opportunities for CMC members and the public to engage in conservation advocacy and stewardship projects. I hope you'll be inspired to take action in some way, whether by sending an email to a policymaker, writing a letter to the editor of your local paper, or signing up on one of our volunteer service stewardship projects. Policymakers truly listen to CMC members because we know these lands almost better than anyone. Specific comments about how you value protection of specific places that you've hiked or climbed in are tremendously helpful and given more credence. Together, we are working to keep Colorado beautiful, protect its lands and waters, and give back to places that have enriched our lives.

For the mountains,
Scott Braden

Conservation Director

Protecting Wild Places - Make Your Voice Heard

Lake Irwin and Ruby Peak in Gunnison County. Photo by Scott Braden

Central Rocky Mountains - Senator Mark Udall is still collecting public input on the possible designation of wilderness for up to 32 areas in Pitkin, Summit and Eagle counties.  It is important that the Senator receive a clear signal for public support for protection of these important mid-elevation lands that are critical wildlife habitat and popular for human-powered recreation. Please comment and view proposal maps at http://www.markudall.senate.gov/?p=form&id=52 

Browns Canyon - Sen. Udall is also listening to public input for protecting Browns Canyon of the Arkansas River.  The proposal includes designation of a National Monument for about 32,000 acres with an additional wilderness designation within that boundary.  Maps of the proposal and the public comment form can be found at http://www.markudall.senate.gov/?p=form&id=51 

Hermosa Creek - Last week Senator Michael Bennet introduced the Hermosa Creek Watershed Protection Act.  This bill would protect 108,000 acres as a Special Management Area, including designation of 37,236 acres of wilderness.  This large, roadless area is part of the San Juan National Forest, just northwest of Durango.  Maps, text of the legislation and public comment form is found at http://www.bennet.senate.gov/hermosacreek/ 

Gunnison County - Sen. Bennet is also beginning to solicit input on a possible lands protection bill for Gunnison County. It's early in the process and there is no bill or maps yet.  But let the Senator know what places you value protecting in this vast county that includes Crested Butte, Kebler and McClure Passes and Marble.  http://www.bennet.senate.gov/gunnisonpubliclands

CMC Stewardship Trips

Four Pass Loop Trail Work

August 8-11 & August 13-16

The Colorado Mountain Club will work with USFS White River National Forest and Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteer staff to repair heavily used and eroding trails at Buckskin and Willow Passes. Open to the public, but backpacking experience is required.

Ophir Fen Restoration

August 18-19 & September 22-23

The Colorado Mountain Club will work with Mountain Studies Institute, San Juan Citizens Alliance, USFS, and Durango Mountain Resorts to restore wetlands disturbed during historic mining activities. Planting and erosion control. Open to the public. Car camping.

Beaver Brook Trail Maintenance

September 15

Did you know that both CMC and Denver Mountain Parks are celebrating their Centennials in 2012? Join the CMC and Denver Mountain Parks to work on maintaining this awesome Front Range trail overlooking Clear Creek Canyon. Open to the public. Lunch provided!

Sand Wash Basin Restoration

August 25-26

CMC returns to Moffat County to celebrate National Public Lands Day with the Bureau of Land Management and a local equestrian club. Assist with trail work and clean up of Sand Wash. Sand Wash Basin is surrounded by ridges and mesas and is home to a herd of wild horses.Open to the public. Car camping.

Access Updates

 

Proposed Eldora Ski Resort Expansion

We have learned that the Eldora expansion plan has been modified from the 2011 Master Plan. This modification will have significant impacts on the Jenny Creek Trail and the access to the Arestua Hut. See the map of the proposed Eldora expansion:  http://eldoraeis.com/media/uploads/scoping_map.pdf

If you look near the top of the map, the proposed ski area expansion significantly overlays the Jenny Creek trail. This could have impacts to access to the Jenny Creek drainage and the Arestua hut. It's not clear that Eldora has plans to mitigate these access concerns. The public feedback period for the Eldora expansion, which ends on August 6th. You can learn more about the process and give feedback at the Forest Service website:  http://e2.ma/click/0v3ze/omwyhl/g8nc1. We strongly encourage your feedback to the Forest Service by August 6th.

Crestone/Cottonwood Creek Trail

The Cottonwood Creek Trail south of the town of Crestone, and the historic west side pathway to the Crestones & other peaks, is open for the summer. Prospective climbers are asked to contact the manager of the Baca Grande Water & Sanitation District, Steve Harrell (steve@bacawater.com) in advance of arrival. Since the available parking is on Water/San property, they need to know who is climbing in case there is a need for search/rescue service. He can also update climbers in case something changes later in the summer. Continue Reading....

Cottonwood Creek Trail / Crestone Open for the Summer

The Cottonwood Creek Trail south of the town of Crestone, and the historic west side pathway to the Crestones & other peaks, is open for the summer. Prospective climbers are asked to contact the manager of the Baca Grande Water & Sanitation District, Steve Harrell in advance of arrival. Since the available parking is on Water/San property, they need to know who is climbing in case there is a need for search/rescue service. He can also update climbers in case something changes later in the summer.

Camping is not allowed at the trailhead. There is a portable toilet in place, courtesy of the Cottonwood Study Group (CMC is a part of the Group). There also is an informational kiosk at the trailhead erected by the Forest Service. There may be a survey box near the kiosk, and climbers are asked to complete one. The surveys will assist in further deliberations about trail access after 2012. Please practice Leave No Trace principles along the trail and up to the peaks as Cottonwood Creek is a key source for local drinking water.

Colorado Roadless Rule Published

Today the USDA published the Colorado Roadless Rule in the Federal Register, meaning it is now in effect for Colorado's National Forests. 

CMC has released a statement, which reads, in part: “The Colorado Roadless Rule has some strong conservation components we like a lot, and a few exceptions for industry we are not thrilled about,” said Scott Braden, Conservation Director.  “But on balance, this rule protects millions of acres for wildlife habitat, sustains our large recreation economy and our Colorado quality of life.”

 Quick facts:

• Colorado Roadless Rule (CRR) manages 4.2 million acres of national forest land in CO
• The CRR manages 1.2 million acres in an "upper tier" with higher protections

• The CRR includes some exceptions to the rule to allow for certain state-specific concerns: managing for the bark beetle epidemic, ski area expansion, access to water infrastructure and coal mine expansion in the North Fork Valley

Links:

USFS CO Roadless Rule page (with maps and supporting documents)

Summit County Voice

What does a 'Service Project' entail? Check out Uncle Bud's Hut Service Project....

Ever wonder what goes on with a CMC 'Service Project'? Here's a brief synopsis from our recent Uncle Bud's Hut Service Project. If you're looking for a fun way to give back to the trails you enjoy, visit www.cmc.org/stewardship and sign up for a project today!

June 22 thru 24 six members of the CMC teamed up with the 10^th Mountain Division Hut staff and completed maintenance projects, painting, staining, cleaning and wood stacking~ lots of wood stacking ~ at Uncle Bud’s Hut near Leadville. We had great dinners (thanks CMC Stewardship) and beautiful evening hikes (thanks Mother Nature). If you are ever lucky enough to participate in a 10^th Mtn Hut project you will work hard with a organization that has their objectives for the Hut totally dialed in… they have done this a few times! And they, like our member volunteers, love the mountains and the opportunity to be part of what makes Colorado such a great place to live, play… and work.

Jan M.

CONSERVATION BRIEFS

Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) funds new river-enhancing projects, including a trail up Clear Creek Canyon from Golden.  Lottery dollars in Colorado are spent to enhance outdoor recreation opportunities and protect open space.  Often there are attempts to divert this lottery revenue to other areas of need. 

CMC works to protect GOCO and the lottery funding so it continues to enhance our outdoor environment, so important to our health, environment and economy.   

What do you think?

"Colorado leaders launched eight new greenspace projects aimed at drawing more people to rivers and creeks, awarding nearly $30 million in state lottery grants. Five are in Front Range urban areas. Three are in urbanizing mountain areas. All rely on the lure of water for play, walking, kayaking, biking and fishing."

Read more at the Denver Post: http://bit.ly/MwkpTV