DENTRY: Nature lovers ride to rescue

The Rocky

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

A cavalry made up of sportsmen, conservation groups and San Luis Valley residents have charged to the rescue of public lands along the upper Rio Grande just days before those lands were to be sacrificed to energy development.

Faced with a public outcry and 100 formal protests, the U.S. Bureau of Land Management on Friday backed down from leasing 144,000 acres in the Rio Grande National Forest to oil and gas corporations.

BLM had planned to lease the public land May 8 in two large blocks flanking the Rio Grande where it flows from the town of South Fork to Del Norte.

Big-game hunters know the area as Game Management Unit 79 and GMU 80. Anglers know it for its quality river trout fishing and 10 Rio Grande tributaries designated Wild Trout Waters.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife strongly protested the lease plans. In an eight-page letter to BLM, Tom Rem- ington, DOW director, said the Forest Service gave the nod to development based on outdated wildlife research.

Remington said plans to develop the corridor also violate an agreement the Forest Service signed with the state to protect streams that are home to Rio Grande cutthroat trout.

The proposed lease parcels provide critical winter range for elk, deer and desert bighorn sheep. The area also is prime production range for the elk and sheep. It also contains sensitive habitat for Canada lynx and Gunnison prairie dogs.

Joining the protesters were Sen. Ken Salazar and Rep. John Salazar. Local entities objecting to the leases included the San Luis Valley Water Protection District, Rio Grande County Oil and Gas Accountability Alliance and the town of Del Norte.

The San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council said the potential for thousands of wells and accompanying traffic and development could doom the area's sustainable agricultural economy, water quality, fish and wildlife-related tourism and its unspoiled mountain landscapes.

Saguache and Rio Grande county commissioners also objected to the BLM leases, which they said would threaten water quality in two watersheds.

Sportsmen's groups joining the battle included Trout Unlimited, Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, the Colorado Wildlife Federation and the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership. The latter described the protests as "a blistering wave of criticism."

"Sportsmen, local representatives and citizens deserve our thanks," Steve Belinda, TRCP's energy initiative manager, said in a statement.

"Without a comprehensive strategy to moderate the effect of energy development, we run the risk of irreversibly altering these valuable public lands, along with the habitat they provide fish and wildlife populations and the outdoor opportunities they offer hunters and anglers."

It wasn't the first time conservation- minded sportsmen have stymied the Bush administration's mad dash to turn as much public wildland as possible over to private industry before the next election.

Objections from Colorado sportsmen and residents also prompted the BLM to back off from drilling plans along headwaters of the Colorado and North Platte rivers.

Hunters and anglers also pressured the BLM to withdraw several public parcels from energy auctions in Montana, Wyoming, Utah and New Mexico.

The protesting groups repeatedly have pointed out that BLM has ignored its legal obligation to protect wildlife habitat and recreation.

BLUE QUILL EVENT: Evergreen's Blue Quill Angler fly shop is turning 20 years old, which explains why the iconic shop near the traffic circle in Bergen Park has planned a "Fly Fishing Extravaganza and Celebration of 20 Years" from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday.

The event will bring together factory reps to demonstrate new rods and gear. Seminars will highlight fishing spots and techniques. Sage's electronic Casting Analyzer will help fly casters perfect their loop.

Information: 303-674-4700.

• May 7, 2008

  10:04 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  kmcconnon writes:

  Gas patch Democrats and Republicans better watch out. Sportsmen and women in Colorado are catching on to what is happening nationally and locally to our wild places. Hunting, fishing, and enjoying the outdoors is a renewable industry that brings billions to Colorado year after year. I look at the gas in the Colorado's ground like money in the bank. Why wreck something that is generating revenue for Colorado(the outdoors)now when the gas isn't going anywhere, will be worth more in the future, and with improved technology could be extracted without wrecking the land.

  The Sportsmen's Caucus is getting stronger and the old school organizations like the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation are being replaced by organizations that fight for the habitat. When the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Trust, Trout Unlimited, Colorado Bowhunter's Association and Colorado Wildlife Federation target an issue, know that fur is going to fly and things are going to change. Republicans like Rep. McNulty, Rep. Sonnenberg, Sen. Brophy, Rep. Musgrave, Sen. Allard, Bob Schaeffer and others can't hide behind the 2nd Amendment anymore. They need to actually step up and serve Sportsmen instead of voting at the State and Federal level to wreck habitat.

  Most Democrats are taking a hands off approach to the 2nd amendment and are Sportmens' best ally when it comes to protecting habitat are the Democrats. If the Democrats keep doing what they are doing, they will keep getting my vote. Unaffiliated until 2002 and now a yellow dog Democrat. The Democrats have changed and I'm with them. The Republicans paid lip service to me and my issues and until they show some change in the way they approach wilderness issues, hunting, and fishing I'm not giving them my vote.

• May 7, 2008

  11:33 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  deerman writes:

  I agree with your comments kmcconnon,the republicans and their second amendment approach will not get the sportsman's vote. It is about preserving wildlife habitat that in the end protects the hunting and fishing heritage. This current administration in DC has destroyed vast acreages in the West to access natural gas and oil. Unless energy extraction can be done right, it should not be done at all. All sportsman and women should vote for democrats, both nationally and in Colorado if they want to preserve wildlife habitat and the hunting heritage.

• May 10, 2008

  8:56 a.m.

  Suggest removal

  jbowen43 writes:

  The history of the Bush administration is full of examples where they chose oil, industry, and powerful ag interests over wildlifeand nature and in nearly every instance time has proven them wrong. Take a look at the results of choosing hay over salmon on the Klamath River. Luckily for Colorado and America they chose differently this time. Laws need to be passed that prevent future Dubyas from using "sue and settle" to avoid the intent of congress and the people.