Thursday, May 27, 2010

CMC and SRCA Introduce Winter Recreation Policy Principles

The story of winter backcountry travel management has too often been one of quiet users and conservationists fighting last minute, defensive battles against the ever-increasing threat of reckless or misplaced snowmobile use. Summer recreation management has taken the spotlight in recent years, during a period of advancement in engine technology that has allowed snow machines to penetrate deeper into once quiet animal habitat and backcountry recreation areas. The damage caused by these machines and their toxic emissions is being closely watched by Colorado Mountain Club, government agencies, and others.
 
CMC, working with the Southern Rockies Conservation Alliance (SRCA), has just put the finishing touches on a policy paper that will help land managers put good, proactive policy in place to prevent snowmobile damage before it occurs. CMC and SRCA have delivered the policy to the U.S. Forest Service at the Regional level and soon will be sitting down with local managers around the state to discuss its details. Read the policy here.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

COME TO A MEETING to Support Colorado Wilderness

© Aron Ralston
© Aron Ralston
As many of you know, snowmobile groups are stone-walling wilderness designation for many special places in Colorado, even places that are currently closed to motorized traffic (but are unfortunately visited regularly by snowmobiling scofflaws). The Hidden Gems Wilderness Proposal needs your help now!


Congressman Polis is reviewing the Hidden Gems Wilderness Proposal for Summit and Eagle Counties.


It is absolutely critical that as many people as possible contact Rep. Polis in the next 20 days and urge him to introduce and support legislation protecting the Hidden Gems.


There are two really important ways you can act:
1) Simply click here to send Representative Polis a letter.
2) Attend one of three OPEN HOUSE MEETINGS during the first week of June. This is the single most important thing you can do to help make the Hidden Gems a reality and leave a legacy of wilderness for your children and grandchildren - in perpetuity. 


Click here to sign up for one of these CRITICAL meetings.


For other actions (make a phone call, sign our open letter of support, etc.) visit the Hidden Gems Action Center.


With your help, we can protect more than 243,000 acres of wild lands, backcountry opportunities and vital habitat in Central Colorado. Your action can preserve Colorado's backcountry!

Thank the Forest Service for Protecting Snodgrass Mountain

Let's take this opportunity to THANK the Forest Service for their good work.


On May 6th the U.S Forest Service upheld its recent decision not to allow ski area expansion on Snodgrass Mountain, just north of Crested Butte. Deputy Regional Forester Jim Peña affirmed GMUG Forest Supervisor Charlie Richmond's denial of Crested Butte Mountain Resort's (CBMR) expansion proposal for Snodgrass. After a thorough analysis of a complex situation, the Forest Service has now twice come to the conclusion that Snodgrass is fundamentally unsuitable for lift-served skiing. We applaud the Forest Service's well-reasoned decision. However, the fight to protect this beautiful mountain and its wildlife isn't over.


Now, more than ever, we ask you to voice your opinion and support the Forest Service decision to protect wildlife habitat and roadless areas from proposed development. Snodgrass Mountain's public lands remain threatened by unnecessary, environmentally destructive development. Proponents of the expansion continue to put pressure on agency employees and elected officials in attempts to overturn the recent decision and open the mountain to the bulldozers, logging and disturbance required to expand lift-served skiing. Ecologically sensitive roadless areas offering solitude could still give way to ski trails and lifts. Habitat for endangered species, including the magnificent Canada lynx, could also be impacted if the Snodgrass decision were reversed.


Please click here to send a letter to the Chief of the U.S. Forest Service - Tom Tidwell. Tell Chief Tidwell that his agency has done the job right and that protecting Snodgrass Mountain protects an area important to you. It won't take more than five minutes, but it could make all the difference. It is essential that the Forest Service hear your support today! Thank you.
Click HERE to Support Snodgrass Mountain!

Ask the Forest Service for Winter Travel Management Planning



The USFS is considering including Winter Planning as part of the new Planning Rule. The Planning Rule guides the creation process for all of the Forest Plans and Travel Management Plans that affect the places we care about. Adding Winter Planning to the new rule would greatly benefit human powered winter recreation and the conservation of winter wildlands across the United States. Together, we can make this a reality!


Comment now via the Planning Rule blog. Tell the Forest Service to include winter travel planning in the new Forest Planning Rule. Motorized winter travel is the last, greatest unregulated use in our National Forests. It is time for the Forest Service to recognize its negative impacts and bring it into line with regulated summer travel use.

For additional info, check out the Planning Rule website.

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

WRNF Travel Plan Addresses Lynx, Winter Travel


Great article in the Summit Daily Voice.  And a good quote from a Forest Service biologist:


“There’s a tendency to focus on summer,” McGuire said, explaining that, for lynx, the exact location of cross-country ski and snowmobile routes is crucial.

Monday, May 17, 2010

Friends of Berthoud Pass Cleanup Day


Check out the Facebook page for the event.


Date:
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Time:
8:00am - 2:00pm
Location:
Berthoud Pass summit

Description

Just announced: June 19th, 8:00am - 2:00pm, Berthoud Pass Adopt-a-Highway litter clean-up.

We'll spend an hour or two picking up other people's candy wrappers and cigarette butts along US40, then fire up the grill, toss a Frisbee and down some cold ones.

Bring sunscreen and work gloves. We'll provide trash bags, safety vests and lunch. Every volunteer gets a "I (heart) Berthoud Pass" t-shirt!

Come on out and join us in a really worthwhile effort.

Meet at the summit parking lot at 8:00.