Wolf ruling draws widespread praise

Wolves will be welcomed with open arms if they happen to stray into the San Juan Mountains or elsewhere in Colorado. Conservationists are lauding a recent decision by the Colorado Wildlife Commission to allow wolves to roam freely in Colorado.The decision comes in response to the recommendations of a diverse working group that included ranchers, hunters, conservationists and biologists.

Rob Edward, of Sinapu, a wolf advocacy organization, called the decision an important first step, saying, "This decision is remarkable, and it cracks the door for wolves that might wander into the state on their own." However, Edward said more needs to be done to ensure that wolves again roam Colorado's high country in meaningful numbers. "We've cracked the door," he said, "but we must open it wide to ensure that we've met our obligation as stewards."

Dyanne Singler, of the National Wildlife Federation, agreed, saying, "Now, this group needs to press on with developing a recovery plan for wolves in Colorado."

Mark Pearson, of Durango's San Juan Citizens' Alliance, was also a member of the working group. He related scientific evidence that suggests that wolves will need to be reintroduced to ensure their sustained presence in the state."Science tells us there's plenty of excellent habitat for wolves in Colorado," Pearson said. "The Colorado Division of Wildlife should now empower this group to ensure that all of that great habitat plays host to wolves."

Edward and Singler both emphasized the fact that the working group recommendations were reached by full consensus. "This is how endangered species stewardship should look," Singler said.

Through their actions, the Colorado Wildlife Commission transformed the working group recommendations into an official management plan that will guide state wildlife policy. In addition to allowing wolves to roam Colorado freely, the plan mandates that wolves that prey on livestock be dealt with incrementally, and that ranchers be fairly compensated for their losses.

The Division of Wildlife has yet to make a decision regarding re-engaging the working group to explore reintroduction.

Red Mountain project makes strides

Steadily and somewhat quietly, thousands of acres of privately owned land in the San Juan Mountains are being preserved as open space. In the triangle between Silverton, Ouray and Telluride, a consortium of local governments, the federal government and nonprofit groups has acquired nearly 8,000 acres in an effort called the Red Mountain project.

One of the prime movers in this effort has been the Trust for Public Land, which does the complicated work of determining prices and setting up the purchases. In turn, the organization sells the land to the federal government as Congressional appropriations become available. So far, Congress has spent more than $14 million on patented mining claims in the area.

Recently, the Trust for Public Land announced the purchase of 2,500 acres of patented mining claims in the San Juans east of Telluride. The claims had been owned by the Idarado Mining Co., a subsidiary of Denver-based Newmont Mining Corp.

Doug Robotham, Colorado director of the Trust for Public Lands, said the Red Mountain project is trying to curb what he describes as "backcountry sprawl." Robotham noted that Trust for Public Land would like to prevent the spread of cabins that has plagued similar areas.

"We are seeing development pressure that 20 years ago I never would have imagined," he said. "We decided there was no better time than now to get out in front of this increasing trend toward development in Colorado's backcountry."

The Trust for Public Lands also is turning its attention to Colorado's Mosquito Range, in the general area of Breckenridge, Fairplay and Leadville. The range includes a cluster of four 14,000-foot peaks that, unbeknownst to most of the peak-bagging hikers, are blanketed with private plots.

County monitoring for mudslides

Officials are keeping a close eye on the potential for mudslide activity on a section of Florida Road. The La Plata County Office of Emergency Management and the La Plata County Sheriff's Office have been closely monitoring the stretch of the road between Helen's Store and the Lemon Reservoir dam, known as County Road 243. The area was severely burned in the Missionary Ridge Fire in 2002, leaving the ground particularly susceptible to mudslides.

"Conditions created in the aftermath of the Missionary Ridge Fire, coupled with heavy winter snows, spring runoff and recent rains, have resulted in five small slides along the hillside, and we are watching this three-quarter mile stretch of hillside north of Helen's Store and south of Lemon Dam very carefully for indications of potentially larger mudslide activity," explained Butch Knowlton, Director of the Office of Emergency Management.

La Plata County is consulting with numerous experts to better understand the existing conditions. "We have engaged landslide experts from the U.S. Geologic Survey and the Colorado Geologic Survey to monitor ground movement in the slide areas," Knowlton said. "We will continue to work closely with these agencies over time in an effort to anticipate and be prepared for potential mudslides that might occur."

Knowlton urged caution when driving, bicycling, horseback riding or walking along the southern, paved portion of County Road 243, particularly during or after rainfall.

Environmental law office opens

Local and regional conservation groups have gained a new ally. The Western Environmental Law Center recently opened its newest office in Durango and brought local environmental attorneys Matt Kenna and Geoff Hickcox on board. The Western Environmental Law Center is a nonprofit organization that uses the tools of law to help protect and restore the environment.

"Colorado faces unique challenges when it comes to protecting its wildlands, water and the health of its communities," said Greg Costello, executive director of the Western Environmental Law Center. "Bringing Matt and Geoff onboard will give us greater presence on the ground in the Rockies and throughout the West at a critical time for our natural resources."

Kenna and Hickcox have operated a two-person law firm in Durango for the past 10 years, litigating environmental cases in the western United States. Together, they received the Kerry L. Rydberg Award in 2003 for excellence in the field of public-interest environmental law. Their diverse client list includes the Southwest Center for Biological Diversity, Colorado Wild, Forest Guardians and the San Juan Citizens Alliance, among others.

- compiled by Will Sands