Village at Wolf Creek back in the spotlight

The Village at Wolf Creek is back on the table and going on public display next week. The Rio Grande National Forest is working on an environmental analysis of a land exchange that would open access to developer Red McCombs’ landlocked parcel atop Wolf Creek Pass. As part of the process, the agency is hosting a public field trip Sept. 20.

The swap would exchange 178 acres of McCombs’ property for 204 Forest Service acres abutting U.S. Hwy. 160. If approved, it would give the Village a total of nearly 324 acres and enable McCombs to construct a development for 8,000-10,000 people near the top of Wolf Creek Pass.   

“There is significant public interest and enough potential benefit to the proposed land exchange over the previous right-of-way application to merit a full environmental analysis,” RGNF Supervisor Dan Dallas said this spring.

Opponents of the “Village” fail to see the positives of the exchange. Paul Joyce, of Rocky Mountain Wild, argued that the public would be the biggest loser if the deal goes forward.
“We have concerns about Red McCombs trading his worthless, inaccessible, undevelopable land for developable land with access,” Joyce said. “The property Red currently has is wrought with challenges.”

Rocky Mountain Wild has an additional concern that the Rio Grande National Forest feels bound by federal law to provide access to McCombs’ inholding. The group is asking the agency to fairly consider all of the options, including denying any and all access. “We are asking for a fair, transparent process with a real ‘no action’ alternative,” Joyce said. “We believe that such a process will identify the inappropriateness of the proposed city of 8,000-10,000 people atop Wolf Creek Pass. We hope to bring this property back into the public domain and end the conversation of the proposed Village at Wolf Creek once and for all.”

The public can now decide for itself if the exchange adds up. District Ranger Tom Malecek is leading a public field trip to the parcels from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Tues., Sept. 20. Forest Service specialists, the third-party contractor writing the analysis and representatives for McCombs will all be on hand to answer questions.

A draft environmental impact statement on the exchange is expected to be released in early 2012. The Forest Service noted that while the scoping period has passed, public input is always welcome and will help ensure a more thorough analysis.

Additional information about the proposed land exchange can be found at: www.fs.usda.gov/riogrande.

Bear season returning to the region
The switch in seasons means more than changing leaves and falling mercury. Black bears are now entering the binge-feeding season, and residents are encouraged to take additional measures.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife managers are urging residents and visitors to take special care to secure trash, birdseed and other easy sources of food.

Bears that learn to find meals around homes and businesses often become problem bears that end up being destroyed.

“It’s just amazing how much one bear needs to eat,” said Watchable Wildlife Coordinator Trina Romero. “And that’s the only thing bears care about right now – eating nearly everything in sight.”

While supplies of natural food – mostly berries and acorns – are abundant this year, bears will often take advantage of poorly secured food and trash.

The consequences of eating that easy meal can often be fatal for bears. Because a wildlife manager’s priority is human safety, problem bears are tranquilized and relocated only once. The second time they get in trouble, they are destroyed.

CANM?closing unauthorized routes
The Durango-based Southwest Conservation Corps. is helping to undo decades of damage in the nearby Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.

Later this month, crews will work to close unauthorized routes and safeguard archeological resources in the monument.

Located 45 miles west of Durango, the Canyons of the Ancients encompasses 164,000 acres and represents the highest density of archeological sites in the country. In order to protect this resource, two crews from the SWCC will manually block “redundant routes” to protect cultural and natural resources that were identified in the CANM travel management plan. Reseeding, signs and gates will also bar access to the newly closed routes.

“The BLM hired the SWCC crews to ensure adequate resource protection and achieve the Monument’s recreation and transportation objectives,” said Marietta Eaton, CANM manager.

Cross country travel remains open to foot and horse travel everywhere except the Sand Canyon/Rock Creek areas, where foot, bike and horse travel are restricted to designated routes only.

Schools mark Colorado Proud Meal Day
Durango students bellied up to a local spread this week, when School District 9-R celebrated Colorado Proud School Meal Day on Sept. 14.

“We are very happy to join other school districts in celebrating our local farmers who are committed to providing our schools with wonderfully nutritious foods on a daily basis,” said 9-R’s Supervisor of Student Nutrition, Krista Garand. “Colorado Proud School Meal Day helps us acknowledge their contribution.”

Garand noted that local produce is harvested and delivered immediately. Spending less time in transport means fresh products are allowed to ripen on the trees and in the fields – ensuring the best flavor and nutritional value. 9-R has made a significant commitment to local food in recent years, and 9-R students regularly see locally grown offerings on the menu.

The spread for “Colorado Proud School Meal Day” included a natural beef hamburger from Ranch Food Direct (Colorado Springs), roasted organically grown potatoes and salad greens from Farm-I (Durango), and organic pears and apples from Chimney Rock Farm (Bayfield).
9-R cafeterias serve approximately 2,200 lunches each day.
– Will Sands