Hermosa plan takes shape

Fat tire recreation and wilderness preservation appear to be coming to terms just outside Durango. Last week, U.S. Rep. John Salazar announced his intentions of pursuing legislation to create a Hermosa Creek Wilderness Area. The configuration of the proposed area is beginning to take forum.

Late in 2007, the San Juan Public Lands Center released a draft forest plan to the public. As part of any forest plan revision, roadless areas must be considered as potential wilderness areas, and the local Forest Service recommended a large piece of the Hermosa Roadless Area as wilderness.

However, the original plan prompted an outcry from the mountain bike community. As originally proposed, the wilderness designation would have closed a large section of the Colorado Trail to bikes and would have completely closed the South Fork, Salt Creek, Corral Draw and Clear Creek trails to cyclists. Nearly three years and dozens of stakeholder meetings later, the Forest Service and John Salazar are pursuing a new configuration.

“I want to thank everyone here for their hard work and efforts to reach an agreement on protecting these important natural resources,” Salazar said when he announced the push on Friday. “This legislation will protect the entire Hermosa Creek watershed, and create 50,000 acres of new wilderness while respecting the existing uses of the area.”

The current incarnation of the proposed Hermosa Creek Wilderness Area stretches south from Corral Draw toward the Animas Overlook and down the drainage to Hermosa Creek. The Colorado Trail, Corral Draw and Hermosa Creek Trail would all remain open to mountain biking, and a Special Management Area would be created to preserve their wilderness qualities. However, Clear Creek, Salt Creek and South Fork would be within the new wilderness area and closed to mountain bikes.

Trails 2000 has been involved with the stakeholder process since the beginning. “Because wilderness designation closes trails to mountain bikes and the original proposal would have closed a section of the Colorado Trail, we’ve been asking how we can configure this to maintain connectivity between trails and drainages and preserve the experience of getting from town to town on bike,” said Mary Monroe, the group’s executive director.

The new configuration gets close, according to Monroe, with one exception. By eliminating mechanized access to the Clear Creek Trail, which is used by both mountain bikes and motorcycles, the proposal lacks a southern connection between two major drainages.

“We’re interested in maintaining that connection between the Colorado Trail and Hermosa Creek Trail,” Monroe said. “We’ve proposed options of creating routes that would be outside the proposed wilderness area but still preserve the link.”

On Friday, Salazar also announced a second push for local preservation. The congressman joined with local officials and announced his plan to protect Animas Mountain and the Perins Peak State Wildlife Area from oil and gas drilling.

“Now I am not opposed to drilling or production of gas, we all know that the San Juan Basin in this county is an important natural resource,” Salazar said. “But as with all things there needs to be a balance between protection of our environment and production of the resources. These areas contain land important to sportsmen, bikers, ranchers, and wildlife, and the watershed for Durango. They deserve protection.”

The mechanism for that protection remains uncertain, as the “mineral withdrawal” will either be linked with the Hermosa legislation or crafted into a separate bill. Regardless of the tool, the idea has already garnered widespread support.

“I am very supportive of withdrawing Animas Mountain and Perins Peak from mineral exploration, as this preserves these cherished areas for not only our children, but many generations to come,” said Durango City Councilor Michael Rendon.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife has big stakes in both Animas Mountain and the Perins Peak SWA and is pleased with Salazar’s

Mesa Verde to break new ground

A national park known for preservation is getting into the construction business this week. Mesa Verde National Park breaks ground on a new Visitor and Research Center on Oct. 15. The new facility will be located just off U.S. Hwy. 160 and near the current park entrance stations.  

Mesa Verde has long identified the need for some type of visitor information station at the entrance to the park. In fact, superintendent reports from as early as the 1920s and 1930s indicate such a desire. “It may have taken many years for this to come to reality, but what has now been planned and designed will be a state-of-the-art facility that meets visitor, research and sustainability objectives,” said Park Superintendent Cliff Spencer.  

The $12.1 million project will implement sustainable design features in pursuit of a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Platinum rating, the highest available.  The center will also put a special emphasis on alternative energy systems.

When complete, the structure will house a bookstore, visitor information desk, tour ticket sales, exhibits and trip planning materials.  It will also be the repository for Mesa Verde’s 3 million artifacts. A ground-breaking celebration is set for 10 a.m. on Oct. 15. Park entrance fees have been waived for that day.

Telluride finalizes plastic bag ban

Telluride became the first community in Colorado to ban plastic bags last week. Hoping to inspire other communities, the Town Council voted the new law into being Oct. 12. “We hope it allows people who live in the region, and people who visit, to realize the importance of taking every step possible to lower their carbon footprint,” Mayor Stu Fraser told theTelluride Watch.

The ban will be phased in beginning in January when the two local grocery stores must collect 10 cents for each plastic bag they issue. The full ban takes effect in March, when grocers and retailers can give out only paper bags, but again must charge a 10-cent fee. Small plastic bags for meat, produce and newspapers will be exempt.

The passage was not seamless, however. One local business owner vowed to seek a voter referendum. David Oyster, one of two dissenting council members, said he was opposed to government intruding upon the relationship between retailer and customer.

– Will Sands