[an error occurred while processing this directive]

LATEST SUBMISSIONS

Protecting roadless areas

Tuesday, February 27 at 12:01 AM

This Speakout has not been edited

By Matt Kenna, Colorado Backcountry Hunters and Anglers

New political climate, same old roadless plan?

Throughout 2006, hunters and anglers worked diligently to gain the attention of a legislatively created task force convened to decide the fate of our state’s last undeveloped swaths of pristine fish and wildlife habitat. The outcome, while palatable given the political climate in which the Roadless Areas Review task force found itself, would substantially weaken the protection of much of Colorado’s designated “roadless” backcountry and concede far too much to the moneyed interests that profit from their development.

Now, just a few months later, the political climate has changed. Roadless lands in our state, thanks to the federal court system, enjoy protection under the pre-Bush rule which essentially prohibits roading and other development of backcountry public wildlands, except in certain specific cases of public health and safety. The final recommendations from the task force suddenly don’t look that great. For instance, excessive concessions to the coal mining and ski industries seem like unnecessary give-aways, and would remove from roadless protection status tens of thousands of acres of fish and game habitat.

The good work of the task force is greatly appreciated, and the exhaustive process served to remind lawmakers that more than 90 percent of Coloradans who cared enough one way or another to comment, want the backcountry left just as it is. The same is true of 100 percent of the Division of Wildlife’s field officers, who believe that protecting the backcountry from roading, development, and increased motorized invasion is in the best interest of the state’s big game herds and native fisheries. Thanks to the 2001 Roadless Rule, Colorado’s untracked wild country is, for now, off limits to future development, with minor exceptions.

But the political pendulum, sooner or later, may well swing the other direction again, and it could happen rather quickly. Now is the time for outdoorsmen and women who understand the value of intact habitat and its value for fishing and hunting to let Gov. Ritter know that an avenue exists for him to cement the protection of Colorado’s roadless land for the benefit of future generations of hunters and fishers, while also honoring the work and process that lead to the Owens petition. As backup in the event the 2001 Rule is again overturned, he should convene not another task force, as we’ve already done, but a small working group to prepare a fresh Colorado roadless rule, based closely on the 2001 Rule but also customized for Colorado to honestly and prudently address the legitimate needs of grazing, ski industry, coal mining, and fire and insect control. This can be readily accomplished by looking to the true and fair compromises that were drafted, considered, but which ultimately lost out to industrial task force champions to produce the flawed Owens petition.

With new faces and open minds in the state Capitol, we have the first opportunity in years to carry out the strongly expressed will of the people of Colorado * hunters, anglers, hikers, campers, backcountry skiers, outfitters, the Division of Wildlife and others who value the wild nature of public lands that give our state its fame and primary identity. It’s in Gov. Ritter’s hands now, and I for one am convinced he wants to do the right thing. But politically, that’s only possible if we the people show our support. Drop him a note today * it needn’t be fancy or lengthy * at governor.ritter@state.co.us.

READER COMMENTS