Weminuche to require registration
Changes are afoot in the Weminuche Wilderness.
Starting spring 2014, the San Juan National Forest will implement a registration system for the local wilderness in an attempt to get a handle on usage patterns and numbers of visitors. The information will be used to help the Forest Service develop strategies to address problems of overuse, abuse and damage to the high alpine landscape.
“There’s been an increase in impacts to the wilderness resource, and the Forest Service is required under the Wilderness Act of 1964 to address these impacts,” San Juan National Forest Wilderness Program Manager Brian White said. “It’s not optional.”
The Forest Service has been monitoring conditions in the Weminuche for 14 years as part of a 1998 management plan. While conditions have not deteriorated dramatically, several areas are exceeding preset limits.
For example, take campsites. Under the Wilderness Act, here are standards for size, number of trees, amount of litter and how far the site can be from a stream or water source. “If the site exceeds those standards, then actions kick in to bring the campsite into better condition,” he said.
The wilderness is divided into zones according to usage capacity. Over the years, several zones have exceeded the number of “social encounters” that rangers have in any given day, indicating more visitors than a particular zone can accommodate.
White said the goal is to educate the public to steer away from more popular and/or damaged camps and trailheads in order to better disperse the crowds and protect resources. However, the Forest Service first must get a better idea about who is using the backcountry, where they are going, and for how long. Right now, there is no way to gauge this information, let alone the number of people who visit in any given year.
“We can’t answer that, which is part of the reason we’re doing this,” he said. “Even though we spend a lot of time out there, it’s a 500,000-acre area, and we might have only five people out there at a time.”
Exactly how the registration system will work is still up in the air, but White said it will likely entail some sort of “tag” that visitors will be required to carry, with wilderness rules and regulations on the back. A number of meetings have been held throughout the region, including in Creede, Durango, Silverton and Lake City, to get public feedback and let people know about the upcoming changes.
“Part of the outreach effort is to make sure people aren’t caught off guard next spring. We’re trying to get the word out ahead of time,” said White.
Ideas gathered from the meetings and other public input will be taken into consideration in the implementation plan, which White hopes to release in the fall. “We want feedback to make it the best program possible,” he said.
One criticism White has heard is that the registration is a precursor to a fee or a way to impede access to public lands. “We want to make it abundantly clear, this does not require a fee and there are no restrictions on use,” he said. “It’s just information collecting.”
Jimbo Buickerood, Public Lands Coordinator for the San Juan Citizens Alliance, said the registration system is “good management” and will offer the Forest Service ideas on how to proceed with protections. “Some areas are beat up badly. We need to address the ‘red zones’ and terminate the deterioration; help stem the tide.”
White agreed, invoking the Wilderness Act’s original “nonimpairment” edict. “We need to take action before it gets bad so 100 years down the road, generations can enjoy the same wilderness as we did.”
For more information or to offer feedback on the registration system, visit the Weminuche Registration Webpage at: www.fs.usda.gov/sanjuan and click on “Quick Links.”
Colorado charges into 2nd in bike friendliness
Colorado is closing in on the lead. Last week, the League of American Bicyclists awarded the state second place on its 2013 Bicycle Friendly Ranking List, up from fourth last year. Washington took the top spot on the podium, with Oregon coming in third. Rounding out the top five was Minnesota (fourth) and Delaware (fifth.)
The Bicycle Friendly program ranks states on their progress toward promoting bike riding for transportation and recreation. Colorado was given top marks in the areas of legislation and enforcement (five out of five stars) as well as policies and programs (four stars.) The ranking is a far cry from the state’s middle-of-the-pack ranking of 22nd at the list’s beginning in 2008.
The state demonstrated nine out of 10 “signs of success,” including having more than 1 percent of people commuting by bike, a Share the Road campaign and an active state advocacy group. It also got kudos for a new law that increases penalties for hit-and-run.
“Colorado’s progress in bicycle-friendly laws over the years is definitely impressive,” said Dan Grunig, executive director of Bicycle Colorado, the state’s bike advocacy organization. “I think we can credit that to our bipartisan work with state legislators to improve laws that protect people who ride bicycles, great relationships with transportation officials and the support of our 7,000 members.”
Benefits of bike accessibility include improved safety for all users of the roads; improved health; less traffic congestion and carbon emissions; and savings for individuals and communities, according to the League.
Despite Colorado’s rise in the rankings, the state is at risk for a drop without consistent funding for bicycle infrastructure, education and planning. “Every state struggles in these areas,” he said. “We’re still pretty far behind Washington state, and there’s a group of other states nipping at our heels. We must focus on how to advance.”
However, Gov. John Hickenlooper vowed to keep up the pace. “We’re proud that our bicycle-friendly policies have skyrocketed Colorado’s rank up 20 places in just five years, and we are committed to being No. 1 in the near future.”
For more on the ranking, go to bicyclecolorado.org.
– Missy Votel
In this week's issue...
- January 25, 2024
- Bagging it
State plastic bag ban is in full effect, but enforcement varies
- January 26, 2024
- Paper chase
The Sneer is back – and no we’re not talking about Billy Idol’s comeback tour.
- January 11, 2024
- High and dry
New state climate report projects continued warming, declining streamflows