Wetlands rules could hang streams out to dry

Trout Unlimited letter to Ritter points out flaws with federal regs http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20071003/NEWS/71003004

By BOB BERWYN

Summit Daily News Summit County, CO Colorado 

October 3, 2007 SUMMIT COUNTY — New rules outlining federal control over impacts to wetlands have caused one environmental group to write a letter to Governor Ritter.

Only about 25 percent of the state’s streams and rivers flow year-round, while the rest are seasonal. Along with isolated wetlands, they could be completely stripped of protection under the new rules, Trout Unlimited wrote in July, calling on Ritter to support the federal Clean Water Restoration Act. The bill would offer crucial protection for streams and wetlands. especially in arid states like Colorado, according to Trout Unlimited.

Trout Unlimited advocates for conservation of cold-water fisheries, including reaches in Summit County that provide habitat for native cutthroat trout. These are fed by high-altitude wetlands and streams, which Colorado Trout Unlimited executive director Dave Nickum said would suffer through a “significant” decrease of federal protection — even thought the exact interpretation of the rules are still being debated.

“If we don’t protect the headwaters, how can we protect water quality downstream?” Nickum asked. The new guidance is written so narrowly that it doesn’t take into account the way watersheds work, he added. This counters the emerging trend of watershed-based planning, he added.

At issue is whether the Corps of Engineers has jurisdiction over seasonal streams that aren’t directly connected to “navigable” waterways. In a 2001 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court set new standards, essentially requiring federal agencies to consider whether a wetland or stream has a direct connection to interstate commerce. That could call into question the Corp’s ability to regulate impacts to isolated beaver ponds around areas like Montezuma or willow wetlands in the headwaters of the Blue River, south of Breckenridge.

In Summit County, “the next navigable river is the Colorado at Grand Junction,” Nickum said. In his eyes, the new guidance places the burden on federal agencies to prove that “impacts to a single draw don’t affect water quality downstream.”

As they stood before the guidance was issued, federal wetlands rules have been a “cornerstone” of the cuntry’s modern environmental protection programs. At worst, the new rules would also cut or eliminate environmental reviews and public involvement on decisions affecting wetlands, Nickum said.

One solution might come from Congress, which is considering a Clean Water Restoration Act. The bill would remove the word “navigable” to clarify that the Clean Water Act is principally intended to protect the nation’s waters from pollution, and not just maintain navigability.

The legislation would restore the regulatory status quo prior to the SWANCC ruling; it does not create “new” protective authority. The bill has been languishing in committee for several years, but has strong support from the environmental community.

Wildlife Managers Concerned About ATV Use

(AP) St. Paul A conservation group released a national survey of state wildlife and fisheries managers showing that many of them believe all-terrain vehicles destroy habitat and disrupt outings for hunters and anglers. The Izaak Walton League of America, which released the report Thursday, also said those managers indicated that more enforcement was needed. The group called on Congress to look into the issue.

"Off-road vehicles are important to many people's lifestyles both for work and recreation, including many Izaak Walton League members who ride them responsibly everyday in states across the country," said Kevin Proescholdt, director of the national group's Wilderness and Public Lands Program. "However, our survey of agency managers clearly indicates a reckless contingent of riders is harming fish and wildlife habitat and ruining hunting and fishing experiences for many people."

The survey, conducted in July and August, contacted each of the 50 state wildlife managers and each of the 50 state fisheries managers. A total of 34 agencies, representing 27 different states, responded.

About 83 percent of the wildlife managers who responded to the survey said they have seen "resource damage to wildlife habitat" from those vehicles. About 72 percent cited "disruption of hunters during hunting season" as another impact. About 60 percent agreed or strongly agreed that the machines have a negative effect on hunting and fishing and those habitats in their states.

Who’ll call shots on south slope?

Access group fears role may be limited

Fishing the reservoirs was one reason Jim Williams, a member of Trout Unlimited, signed up for the group. "I think we may have to revise the whole policy," he said. http://www.gazette.com/articles/group_27774___article.html/utilities_south.html

By DAVE PHILIPPS

THE GAZETTE

September 27, 2007 - 12:14AM

The question at the first meeting of WAAG was who's wagging whom?

WAAG is the Watershed Access Advisory Group, appointed by Colorado Springs Utilities to make recommendations on how to regulate recreation in the long-forbidden south slope watershed. But would Utilities call the shots, or would the people?

"I don't have a problem with calling the group WAAG, just as long as it isn't ambiguous who is the dog and who is the tail," member and avid hiker Eric Swab said Wednesday at the group's meeting.

It was the start of a twoyear process to open a set of seven reservoirs on the south side of Pikes Peak to the public while ensuring the long-term safety of the water supply. The group expects to submit a plan to the Colorado Springs City Council in August 2009. There is no timeline for when hikers could hit the trail.

The 45,000-acre south slope has been closed to the public since 1913. For almost as long, locals have lobbied unsuccessfully to gain access. Robert Ormes, the pioneer of local hiking, tried for decades, then adopted a motto he called the Ormes Prayer: "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those we trespass against."

Colorado Springs has gradually opened a number of reservoirs to the public without incident, but has repeatedly balked at opening the South Slope, even after hinting it would open it twice.

WAAG was formed after heated watershed access meetings last winter in which Colorado Springs Utilities made an about-face after saying repeatedly it would not consider opening the south slope.

Wednesday, members of the newly formed group, made up almost entirely of hikers, bikers, fishermen and equestrians, made it clear they wanted to be the lead dog.

A mission statement drawn up by Utilities said the group should focus on creating four trails, including one that already exists and has been used openly for a century, and one that is 30 yards long. Several in the group immediately said the mission was too limited.

"Are we talking about a few trails, or are we talking about access to the whole watershed?" asked Friends of the Peak president Mary Burger.

The mission statement also said motorized recreation, hunting and fishing would not be considered.

Fishing the reservoirs was one reason Jim Williams, a member of Trout Unlimited, signed up for the group.

"I think we may have to revise the whole policy," he said.

Utilities staff assured them it was only a draft, and "everything is still on the table."

"We need to strive for a balance though - today's access versus tomorrow's water," said Scott Campbell, Utilities director of operations.

High flying: National Fly Fishing Championships return

http://dailycamera.com/news/2007/sep/27/national-fly-fishing-championships-return/ By Zak Brown Thursday, September 27, 2007

When Jay Alipit steps into the rushing waters of the National Fly Fishing Championships next week, the cool Colorado flows will feel mighty familiar.

The Boulder angler will be one of more than 150 competitors at the Boulder-based championships, the largest fly fishing competition in America. At stake are individual and team gold, silver and bronze medals. And as a local angler, he has homestream advantage.

"I've fished these rivers for a long time and feel like I know them like the back of my hand," Alipit said. "When you step into the waters, you immediately know what's going to work, how spooky the fish are. (The competition stretches) are not the most popular sections, but I think they're probably the more challenging on the waters."

Five-member teams from the U.S., Canada, Great Britain and Ireland will assemble in Boulder for the championships, which are being held in northern Colorado for the second consecutive year. The competitors will fish for three days on the Big Thompson River, the Poudre River, Dowdy Lake and Parvin Lake. The lakes are part of the Red Feather Lakes area.

The areas around the fishing venues are open to the public, and spectators are welcome to watch. It is a chance to pick up some pointers from some of the best fishermen - or women - in the country. The competition is coed.

The winner will be determined by total centimeters after the three days of competition, and the species of trout caught has no bearing on who wins. There are two sessions on Oct. 3 and 4 and one session on Oct. 5. Anglers' assignments, or beats, are determined randomly, and that's why total centimeters won't determine who gets spots on the U.S. national team.

The 55 American anglers, who earned their spot in Boulder through qualifiers, are vying for a chance to be considered for one of the 15 spots on Team USA. The qualifications are not objective. An angler's skill and competency are also factored in when invites for the 2008 World Championships in New Zealand are handed out.

"Sometimes the competitors will draw bad beats (their fishing assignments) for the entire tournament and struggle," said Paul Prentiss, chairman of the championships. "Then some will do really well, but draw good beats the whole time. So the coaches look for things like a competitor's focus and skill and heart."

Alipit competed at last year's tournament and qualified for the tournament this year in Fresno, Calif. After seeing the type of competition he's up against, he expects to be more prepared for this year.

"We were surrounded by great anglers. It was a learning experience for all of us, with the exception of the guys who were already on the team. It was great fun," he said. "To have those type of anglers competing on our local waters, it's pretty intense."who gets spots on the U.S. national team.

The 55 American anglers, who earned their spot in Boulder through qualifiers, are vying for a chance to be considered for one of the 15 spots on Team USA. The qualifications are not objective. An angler's skill and competency are also factored in when invites for the 2008 World Championships in New Zealand are handed out.

"Sometimes the competitors will draw bad beats (their fishing assignments) for the entire tournament and struggle," said Paul Prentiss, chairman of the championships. "Then some will do really well, but draw good beats the whole time. So the coaches look for things like a competitor's focus and skill and heart."

Alipit competed at last year's tournament and qualified for the tournament this year in Fresno, Calif. After seeing the type of competition he's up against, he expects to be more prepared for this year.

"We were surrounded by great anglers. It was a learning experience for all of us, with the exception of the guys who were already on the team. It was great fun," he said. "To have those type of anglers competing on our local waters, it's pretty intense."

Gunnison River diversion successfully installed

Another partner in the project was the Gunnison Angling Society, a chapter of Trout Unlimited. Spokesman Mern Judson said the chapter has worked for 10 years to get the old dam replaced and even though the work was scheduled during the chapter's annual Superfly fundraiser, there was no question the work had to be done. http://www.gjsentinel.com/sports/content/sports/stories/2007/09/12/091207_OUT_db_gunny_dam_WWW.html

By DAVE BUCHANAN The Daily Sentinel

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

GUNNISON - An irrigation diversion on the Gunnison River that promises to be fish-, boater- and irrigator-friendly was completed last week after a decade of wrangling among concerned parties.

The new structure, actually three separate smaller dams, was designed by the Colorado Division of Wildlife to replace an earth-and-rock diversion that effectively blocked upstream fish passage during low water and also posed some hazards to boaters.

With Pagosa Springs-based stream rehabilitation contractor Dale Hockett of Elk Ridge Construction doing most of the heavy lifting and with water flow cooperation from the Bureau of Reclamation and the Uncompahgre Valley Water Users, the project was completed inside four days and within the $50,000 budget, said DOW aquatic biologist Dan Brauch.

"I'm very happy with the way it turned out," Brauch said. "From our initial design we put something together that would meet all the purposes of what we are trying to achieve in the project, which included easing kokanee passage upstream and improved boating safety downsteam."

Also vital was maintaining water availability for irrigators and Brauch said the new structure, built largely from large boulders donated by the Colorado Division of Highways from one of its projects near Gunnison, will not only provide water to ditches but also not need the annual maintenance the older dam required.

"The design met all those objectives and then Dale came in and did some slight modifications on-site to make it better," Brauch said. "We ended up with a much more natural-looking structure."

Hockett has worked extensively with stream-rehabilitation guru Dave Rosgen and does most of Rosgen's projects, Brauch said.

Hockett "is great at placing rocks and knows how they need to be built for stability," Brauch said.

That talent is critical, since the new diversion is built to be inundated during spring runoff without washing away, as the old structure did each year.

"Most of the structure will disappear during high water, the only part you'll see is right off the bank," Brauch said. "It's going to be more efficient than the old structure."

Another partner in the project was the Gunnison Angling Society, a chapter of Trout Unlimited. Spokesman Mern Judson said the chapter has worked for 10 years to get the old dam replaced and even though the work was scheduled during the chapter's annual Superfly fundraiser, there was no question the work had to be done.

"They were nice enough to call me and ask if we wanted to postpone the work since it meant lowering the water level in the Taylor River," Judson said. "But I said, ‘Heck no, we've worked 10 years to get this done.' "

The work earlier had to be postponed because of high water levels. The Uncompahgre Valley water users and the Burec agreed to lower flows in the Taylor by 75 cubic feet per second to assist the construction.

Also helping in the project was Ray Trucking of Gunnison and a grant from the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District paid $25,000 toward the work.

"Without their help this would not have happened," Brauch said.

The DOW paid another $20,000 with the remainder coming from water users

CTU Leads Great Colorado Rivers Cleanup Sept. 15

http://denver.yourhub.com/Boulder/Stories/Environment/Cleanups/Story~358219.aspx BOULDER, Colo. - Sept. 6, 2007 - Colorado Trout Unlimited (CTU), a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring Colorado's coldwater fisheries, will lead the fourth annual Great Colorado Rivers Cleanup on Saturday, September 15, to remove trash and debris from river banks and channels throughout the state. CTU members and volunteers will scour designated river stretches near Aspen, Basalt, Boulder, Buena Vista, Carbondale, Colorado Springs, Denver, Durango, Evergreen, Fort Collins, Glenwood Springs, Idaho Springs, Granby, Leadville, Lyons, Pueblo, Silverthorne, Salida and Winter Park to remove trash and elevate the health of Colorado's water sources.

"We rely on Colorado's clean water supply everyday - it is one of our most precious natural resources," said David Nickum, executive director of Colorado Trout Unlimited. "It is vital for people to work together to keep Colorado's rivers clean. The Great Colorado Rivers Cleanup is a way for people in the community to get involved and make a difference. By picking up trash along the rivers, volunteers can help restore and protect the water sources we use everyday."

The majority of the Great Colorado Rivers Cleanup events are planned for the morning of Saturday, September 15, with a few events taking place on September 8, September 29 and October 13. With most of the cleanup efforts on a single day, CTU hopes to attract hundreds of volunteers for a large-scale, coordinated cleanup effort. CTU plans the Great Colorado Rivers Cleanup for the fall season because river flow is generally lower, making access to the rivers and cleanup efforts easier and safer.

"Last year, the Great Colorado Rivers Cleanup attracted hundreds of volunteers," said Nickum. "We have no doubt that this year will be an even bigger success. We encourage people to find the event in their local community and get involved."

Fifteen CTU chapters across the state will host cleanup events on 13 Colorado river stretches, including: Animas River, Arkansas River from Leadville through Salida, Arkansas River near Pueblo, Bear Creek, Blue River, Boulder Creek, Cache la Poudre, Clear Creek, Roaring Fork River (in cooperation with Roaring Fork Conservancy), South Platte near Elevenmile Canyon, South Platte in Denver (in partnership with the Greenway Foundation), St. Vrain River and the Upper Colorado River. For more information about the Great Colorado Rivers Cleanup or Colorado Trout Unlimited, visit www.cotrout.org.

About Colorado Trout Unlimited

Colorado Trout Unlimited is dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring Colorado's coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. The statewide organization has nearly 10,000 members and is part of the national Trout Unlimited organization. Colorado Trout Unlimited fulfills its mission through advocacy and education efforts regarding the impact of drought and pollution on water-based ecosystems, and by engaging volunteers in hands-on projects to improve and rehabilitate Colorado's river systems. For more information about Colorado Trout Unlimited, visit www.cotrout.org.

Wild, scenic and free

"I think the notion of trying to get people to sit down and come to an agreement about a vision for the future of a river is a good thing to do," said David Nickum, executive director of Colorado Trout Unlimited. "It gets people out of the mode of drawing battle lines. http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5692976,00.html

By Jerd Smith, Rocky Mountain News

September 8, 2007

Hundreds of Colorado streams are being analyzed for possible protection under the federal Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, the largest such review in more than 30 years.

The study comes as cities and water districts race to develop water in many of those same streams, efforts that will be much more difficult - and, in some cases, impossible - once the federal protective process is under way.

In the decades since Congress passed the law, Colorado water utilities and the Colorado Water Conservation Board have often fought use of the scenic rivers act because they fear it will limit their ability to deliver much-needed water to cities and farms.

Since its passage in 1968, just one stream segment in the state - on the Poudre River north of Fort Collins - has been formally protected under the act.

Several other streams have been recommended for wild- and-scenic status but have never been formally listed by Congress in part because of Colorado's opposition.

But the state's position may be shifting, said Mike King, deputy director of Colorado's Department of Natural Resources.

"It is not this administration's perspective to say carte blanche that wild and scenic is not something that should be considered. We think, under some circumstances, it is appropriate," King said. "We think you need site-specific analysis on potential impacts . . . and we will be involved closely in those discussions."

Water utilities, though, are deeply worried about the reviews by the Bureau of Land Management - particularly about a provision that says stream segments initially identified as eligible have to be managed to protect stream flows and shorelines until Congress makes a decision on whether or not to include them under the act.

And Congress can delay action for decades, creating what water providers view as a hellish, legal limbo.

River advocates, however, believe the reviews will provide much-needed stream protection, as Colorado seeks water projects to offset the effects of chronic droughts, global warming and population growth.

"I'm hopeful that we'll get some new (wild-and-scenic) designations in Colorado," said Andrew Fahlund, vice president of conservation programs at Washington, D.C.-based American Rivers.

"When folks think about Colorado, they think about its outstanding, remarkable values and its rivers. Designating a few of them shouldn't be as controversial as it has been."

Water crunch

Still, the reviews have begun at a time water demands in the state are skyrocketing. Studies indicate Colorado will need 53 percent more water in pipelines and reservoirs by 2030.

Last year, Russell George, then director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, urged the BLM not to do reviews in the Yampa River Basin until the state had finished its own water planning, a process that may result in a new water project on the Yampa.

But the BLM is required by law to do the studies.

As a result, a segment of the Little Snake River, a tributary of the Yampa, is now close to being listed as suitable by the BLM, a move that water utilities, including the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, adamantly oppose because it could hamper any new project there.

Roy Smith, who is spearheading the BLM reviews, said the wild-and-scenic analyses don't automatically mean rivers can't be tapped for additional water supplies.

"People need to understand that we've gone through this process in lots of places and the world did not blow up," he said.

Colorado's water utilities are on edge, though, because the reviews are under way in critical Western Slope hot spots such as the Blue and Colorado rivers, as well as segments of the Eagle and Yampa rivers.

All have potential water projects that will require federal permits if they move forward.

"We share a concern that a lot of water users share about what a designation means for the future management of that stream," said Eric Wilkinson, manager of the water conservancy district, which serves Greeley, Fort Collins and Boulder, among other cities.

"What we need for the future is as much flexibility as we can get. Our chief concern on the Yampa is the development of water supplies that are available right now. This really could bind our hands."

Last week, water utilities from the Front Range met with the BLM to urge a slower approach to the reviews and looking at other ways to protect the streams rather than designating them as wild and scenic.

"This puts us in a challenging position," Smith said. "It may be a couple more years before the state and the water utilities decide where they want to build projects. In the meantime, we have our own deadlines to meet. It puts us in a really, really challenging position."

Alternatives are possible

In the meantime, river advocates say they're willing to consider alternatives to wild-and- scenic designations if strong protections for stream flows and shorelines can be negotiated with the water utilities.

"I think the notion of trying to get people to sit down and come to an agreement about a vision for the future of a river is a good thing to do," said David Nickum, executive director of Colorado Trout Unlimited. "It gets people out of the mode of drawing battle lines.

"When Congress passed the act," Nickum said, "it said it was to establish a national protection policy for rivers to balance the policy of dam building. The idea was to not look at these rivers as workhorses only. But we've had so much development on these streams that it's important to look at the best of what we have while we still have it. That the Poudre River is the only one that's ever been formally designated in our state is a sad statement."

This month, more talks are planned among the state, water utilities and the BLM to look at, among other things, how to preserve what's left of the Colorado River as it flows through Grand County, Gore Canyon and down into Glenwood Springs.

Few expect solutions that satisfy the federal law and Colorado's water utilities to emerge quickly.

"This process is always controversial in the West," said Steve Glazer, president of the High Country Citizens Alliance, an environmental group active on the Western Slope.

"The only place it ever goes smoothly is east of the Mississippi."

Rebuttal aimed at misinformed

http://www.denverpost.com/charlie/ci_6801667 By Charlie Meyers
Denver Post Outdoors Editor

Article Last Updated: 09/04/2007 10:54:03 PM MDT

It's not often that an outdoor column is spawned by the editorial pages, particularly where it involves a letter to the editor.

In this case, inspiration came in response to last week's musings of a partially misguided soul named Marcy Anne Roeder of Nederland. Ms. Roeder kicked off squarely enough, defending the contributions of nonconsuming watchers to the welfare of wildlife.

Not satisfied, she then wandered onto the shaky ground that so often swallows the logic of those who harbor - overtly or not - resentment toward hunting and fishing.

"I don't contribute to Ducks Unlimited or the National Wildlife Federation, which work primarily to expand populations of 'game' animals that hunters like to kill."

Then the earth really begins to tremble.

"I spend weekends maintaining hiking trails and improving animal habitat (which includes taking down unsightly deer platforms and duck blinds and removing animal carcasses that hunters leave in the woods)."

Oh, my. What a woman. As one who wanders the woods regularly both in and out of hunting season, I can't recall finding an animal carcass that hadn't been well-masticated by a predator, most likely a mountain lion. How Ms. Roeder determines that all these carcasses she removes (she also must be exceptionally strong) have been "left by hunters" is beyond me.

Such shallow vitriol has become the misinformed mantra of those who allow a hatred of hunting to cloud the realities of the management of wildlife and who truly contributes most to its welfare.

Roeder's disdainful mention of Ducks Unlimited is particularly worthy of rebuttal. Coincidentally, her letter came in concert with a salute to the wetlands conservation organization on the front page of USA Today.

In conjunction with its 25th anniversary, the newspaper recognizes what it determines to be the nation's top 25 charities. Not incidentally, Ducks Unlimited is the first mentioned - scarcely surprising when one considers that it converts an astonishing 86 percent of contributions to actual on-the-ground wetlands restoration. DU projects benefit not only the waterfowl that hunter/contributors pursue, but hundreds of other nongame wildlife species.

So it is with all other hunting and fishing conservation organizations: Trout Unlimited, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Mule Deer Foundation and Pheasants Forever, to name a few. Members collectively contribute hundreds of millions of dollars that not only directly preserve habitat, but finance effective campaigns against destructive development.

But, alas, they never seem to find the money or time to remove animal carcasses.

Those who harbor hatred for hunting make much of their eagerness to contribute to wildlife. Statistics don't bear this out. For example, the inauguration of the Colorado Habitat Stamp last year was hailed as an opportunity for wildlife watchers and the like to subscribe to various Division of Wildlife environmental initiatives.

During 2006, the sale of 665,608 stamps netted almost $3.4 million. Nonlicense buyers - those like Ms. Roeder - purchased just 4,902 stamps and spent $34,115, a smidgen over 1 percent of the total. It appears the nonlicense percentage will increase slightly in 2007, but scarcely enough to reflect this claim of undying dedication to wildlife.

Maybe this reluctance is because none of the money will be spent to tear down duck blinds.

Groups launch ads for ban on Roan drilling

http://www.aurorasentinel.com/main.asp?SectionID=8&SubSectionID=8&ArticleID=17013&TM=6344.481 By The Associated Press

DENVER | With Congress back in session, groups opposed to gas drilling on top of the Roan Plateau were ready to launch a TV ad backing a provision in the federal energy bill to bar development on public land atop the western Colorado landmark.

The 30-second spot was set to start airing on western Colorado television and cable stations Wednesday, Sept. 5. The ad, paid for by the Colorado Environmental Coalition, thanks Colorado Reps. Mark Udall and John Salazar, both Democrats, for sponsoring an amendment in the House version of the energy bill that would bar energy development on federal land on the plateau's top.

The Senate didn't include the provision, which will be part of the discussion as Congress reconciles the differences between the two chambers' versions.

"Thanks to Congressmen John Salazar and Mark Udall, we're on track to protecting the Roan for generations to come," the spot's narrator says.

The ad features a family from Glenwood Springs, Ken Neubecker of the Colorado chapter of Trout Unlimited and Silt Mayor Pro Tem Tod Tibbetts.

"Protecting the Roan Plateau means our economy and quality of life stay in balance," the narrator says.

A plan approved by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management in June would open some of the 73,602 acres of federal land on and around the plateau to oil and gas development. The plan, issued after about six years of study, hearings and comments, projects 193 well pads and 1,570 wells over 20 years, including 13 pads and 210 wells on top.

There's already drilling on private land on top of the plateau about 180 miles west of Denver.

Energy industry officials say the plan is the most restrictive ever issued by the BLM. It calls for drilling to be done in stages, limiting disturbance to 1 percent of the federal land at any time, and no disturbance of the surface in other areas.

But environmentalists, hunters, anglers and area residents say the energy development would endanger the millions of dollars communities reap from hunting, fishing and recreation on the Roan Plateau. Some critics of drilling on top say improving technology will allow companies to reach the gas from the bottom while others argue against any more development on federal land around the Roan because the bottom is crucial winter range for elk and mule deer.

Curves ahead in roadless debate

“The state told us they essentially wanted to move forward with a very protective rule that would safeguard roadless area values and character,” said Chris Wood of Trout Unlimited, a member of the Roadless Area Conservation National Committee, which reviews each state’s roadless petition and recommends to the USDA whether to accept or reject the state’s desires for the fate of its roadless areas. http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/content/news/stories/2007/09/02/090207_1B_Roadless_areas.html

By BOBBY MAGILL The Daily Sentinel

Sunday, September 02, 2007

Another round of wrangling over roadless areas is in store for Colorado.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture has approved how Colorado wants some of its most pristine wildlands to be managed in the event a federal court ruling protecting 58 million acres from development is ever overturned.

Colorado has about 4 million acres of roadless areas in its national forests. The bipartisan Colorado Roadless Area Review Task Force has debated the fate of those areas for the past year.

The task force, and later Gov. Bill Ritter, recommended that most of that land be protected from road building and other development, with some exceptions. Those roadless areas include swaths of land on the Uncompahgre Plateau, Battlement Mesa and the Flat Tops and other areas throughout western and central Colorado.

The task force’s final recommendations were accepted with some modifications by the USDA this past week. The next step is for the government to create a rule for managing Colorado’s roadless areas, a planning and public comment process that could take more than a year.

A Colorado roadless rule would turn out to be unnecessary should a federal court decision protecting all the nation’s roadless areas withstand legal challenges and not be overturned by a higher court. The court decision upheld then-President Bill Clinton’s roadless rule for the 58 million acres nationwide.

“The state told us they essentially wanted to move forward with a very protective rule that would safeguard roadless area values and character,” said Chris Wood of Trout Unlimited, a member of the Roadless Area Conservation National Committee, which reviews each state’s roadless petition and recommends to the USDA whether to accept or reject the state’s desires for the fate of its roadless areas.

Trout Unlimited supports the Clinton roadless rule “100 percent,” Wood said.

Former Roadless Task Force member Sen. Josh Penry, R-Grand Junction, called the USDA’s decision to accept Colorado’s roadless petition “a rare bipartisan win.”

Penry credited former Gov. Bill Owens for allowing Coloradans to speak out about roadless areas when it would have been just as easy to ditch the Clinton rule altogether. Penry also credited Ritter for sticking with the task force’s recommendations despite “strident voices” in the environmental community.

Former task force member Steve Smith, assistant regional director of the Wilderness Society, said roadless areas should remain protected by the Clinton rule.

But, he said, “I think any effort that leads toward enduring protection for roadless areas is a good thing.”