Salazar restores ‘Wild Lands’ policy

Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar gave a holiday gift to “Wild Lands” last week. In an about-face to a Bush-era policy, Salazar directed the Bureau of Land Management to designate areas with wilderness characteristics as “Wild Lands” and manage them to preserve those values.

“Americans love the wild places where they hunt, fish, hike and get away from it all, and they expect these lands to be protected wisely on their behalf,” said Salazar. “This policy ensures that the lands of the American public are protected for current and future generations to come.”

Though it manages more land than any other federal agency, the BLM has not had a wilderness policy since 2003. At that time, the BLM’s wilderness management guidance was revoked as part of a controversial out-of-court settlement between the Bush Administration and the State of Utah.

“The new Wild Lands policy affirms the BLM’s authorities under the law – and our responsibility to the American people – to protect the wilderness characteristics of the lands we oversee as part of our multiple use mission,” said BLM Director Bob Abbey.

The move picked up instant accolades from outdoor and conservation communities.

Peter Metcalf, founder and CEO of Black Diamond, joined Salazar at the annoucement and remarked, “For too long, the value of preserving these uniquely American landscapes and ensuring their integrity and availability for outdoor recreation has taken a backseat to oil, gas and mineral extraction. The value of outdoor recreation has not been properly valued and considered in land management decision making.”

The Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance also applauded the order, noting that it has the potential to give protection to 6 million acres of wildereness quality lands in Utah alone.

“This is a long overdue step to protect amazing wilderness quality lands in Utah and across the West,” said Stephen Bloch, energy program director for SUWA. “With this order, Secretary Salazar is ensuring that the nation’s wilderness resource is on equal footing with other resources such as oil, gas and mining.”

But not everyone was happy with the announcement. Durango’s new representative in Washington, D.C., Congressman-elect Scott Tipton objected loudly to the new order. He suggested that the reinstatement of the policy strips Congressional powers and will subject lands to wilderness-like restrictions without a vote of representatives.

“This decision will seriously impact the West and will add to the economic uncertainty and distress that has been hindering job creation in our area,” he said. “We all value our public lands but this is another example of Washington-knows-best mentality.”

Tipton will be sworn into office Jan. 5.

Durango artist shakes up Santa Fe

A Durango native is doing his part to shake up the Santa Fe art scene. Artist Trent Taylor, 21, recently completed a public mural on a pair of steel doors along W. Palace Ave. His effort to “bring art to the public” is mixing opinions in the nearby art capital.

Commissioned by Evan Glassman of the Eggman & Walrus Art Emporium, the mural depicts a figure meditating amid a psychedelic backdrop next to a baby hanging in a sling. The piece took Taylor 16 hours to complete.

“I could have whipped up something in an hour, but I wanted to put something cool up there,” he told the Santa Fe New Mexican.

However, the piece has raised strong emotions among adjacent owners of contemporary galleries, and one of them complained to the city. Because the mural is publicly visible, it should have been approved by the Santa Fe Historic Design Review Board, which has approved only one such mural in eight years.

Eggman & Walrus opened in September and was named in part for the Beatles song, “I am the Walrus.” Glassman, the gallery’s owner, said that the mural and his gallery are both attempts to challenge public perception.

“I’m here to push the limits,” he told the New Mexican. “If we piss off a few people, that’s really the role of good artwork.”

The company that owns that building boasting the contentious mural also objected to the piece and planned to remove it as soon as possible.  

BLM enacts seasonal trail closures

Winter’s sudden return has brought seasonal trail closures with it, and several Bureau of Land Management lands adjacent to Durango have been closed to provide safe havens for wintering deer and elk. As in past years, portions of Animas City Mountain and the Grandview Ridge area are currently closed to the public.

The Sale Barn and Big Canyon trailheads off U.S. Hwy 160 are both closed. The Carbon Junction Trail remains open from Highway 3 but only to Crites Connect. Crites is open to where it intersects with Telegraph Trail. The South Rim Trail, Sidewinder, Cowboy and other trails on BLM lands are off limits.

As for Animas Mountain, a 1.5-mile trail loop on the lower portion of the mountain remains open. This loop can be accessed at either the Birkett or 32nd Street trailheads. Signs are posted at the top of the loop indicating the extent of the closure area.

The seasonal closures will likely remain in effect until March or April, depending on how soon the snow melts and when spring forage becomes available to the herds.

D&SNG offers ‘Smokin’ Good Deal’

Durangoans have an opportunity to turn “A Smokin’ Good Deal” into improved local air quality. The Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge Railroad, Southside Neighborhood Assoc. and the Train Smoke Mitigation Task Force are hosting a fund-raiser that could lead to a new scrubber system for the railroad and cleaner air over Durango’s southside.

Discounted train tickets for the D&SNG Cascade Canyon run are currently on sale.

The train donated the tickets, and buyers can get a ride for a suggested donation of $30 (normal price is $59/adult and $34/child) and board the train anytime in January or February of 2011. The proceeds will be used to help obtain a grant to install a new scrubber system, which was recently designed by Fisher-Klosterman, Inc., at the roundhouse. Tickets can be purchased by emailing bojaxx.i@gmail.com.

A Smoke Mitigation Committee was established several years ago as a community effort to assist the train in reducing its overall smoke emissions. The membership of the committee consists of Durango residents, city and county officials, Region 9

– Will Sands