Introducing Matt Reed, HCCA's New Public Lands Director

Matt Reed is thrilled to return to the Gunnison Valley as Public Lands Director for HCCA. A 2000 graduate of Gunnison High School, Matt received his Bachelor's degree in anthropology from the University of Southern California. While in California, he interned and worked for National Geographic Feature Films and the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Matt then attended Pace University School of Law in New York, receiving his J.D. with a certificate of specialization in environmental law in 2009. At Pace, Matt focused on environmental, water, and climate change law and policy. His interests include collecting books and old records, reading, and hiking and camping in the mountains with his wife, Suzanne.  If you have any questions please contact Matt at [email protected].

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US Forest Service Begins Appeal Process on Snodgrass Decision

The November 2009 decision by the US Forest Service to deny a proposal by Crested Butte Mountain Resort (CBMR) to expand lift-served skiing on Snodgrass Mountain is under appeal by CBMR.  Appeals of Forest Service decisions are not unusual and must follow a prescribed process designed to ensure that Forest Service actions are consistent with federal law and policy.  Due to the complexity of the Snodgrass issue and the need to conduct an unbiased review of the decision, the appeal may take additional time and be administered in another region of the Forest Service.  HCCA expects that the appeal process will be ongoing through the Spring of 2010.

HCCA continues to maintain a narrow focus on the environmental and policy aspects of the Snodgrass issue.  We selected these focus areas long before the recent decision and appeal and will continue working primarily on the issues of roadless area protection, prevention of impacts due to geologic hazards and conservation of lynx habitat.  Assertions that HCCA is spending extensive time and resources on this work are simply untrue.  We maintain our important and appropriate role advocating for solid science and environmental protection and will continue to do so.  If you have questions on the Snodgrass issue you may contact Matt Reed, HCCA's Public Lands Director at [email protected].

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Rein In Reckless Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) Use in Colorado

Colorado has seen an explosion in off-road vehicle (ORV) use in recent years with in-state ORV registrations increasing 223% between 1995 and 2008, resulting in over 133,000 ORVs registered each year. While some riders take care to use their vehicles responsibly, others disregard signs and closures and go off trail, creating thousands of miles of illegal trails. This irresponsible use often causes destructive gullies and erosion, damages water sources and wildlife habitat, and spoils the quiet backcountry experience sought by hikers, backpackers, and other non-motorized recreationists.  

It's time to rein in these abuses.  One way to start is by requiring ORV users to pay to fix some of the problems they've caused.  Current ORV registration fees -some $3.2 million annually - are used almost exclusively to promote and expand ORV use without funding critical law enforcement and habitat restoration.  High Country Citizens' Alliance has joined with more than 40 other state organizations to demand that a portion of these fees to restore public lands and waters damaged by ORV users and to enforce their proper use.

Unfortunately, the ORV lobby is rallying against this common-sense approach. The Colorado State Parks Board that will make this decision has gotten over a thousand letters and e-mails from off-road vehicle users - now it's critical that the Parks Board hears from conservationists and non-motorized recreationists.  Please take action now. Ask the State Parks Board to dedicate some funding from ORV fees to restoration and enforcement.  Click here to take immediate action.  

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Mt. Emmons Project Resumes Push to Build New Mine Tunnel

In late December the Mt. Emmons Project picked up right where the former Lucky Jack Project left off in 2008 - by very quietly seeking renewed permission from the State of Colorado to construct a new mining tunnel on Mt. Emmons.  In a December 23, 2009 letter to the state mining agency, the Mt. Emmons Project requested permission to either reconstruct old mining tunnels at the Keystone Mine, or if conditions warrant, to construct an entirely new tunnel into the mountain.  Once again the project has made no mention of the proposed activities to the public here in the Gunnison Valley and apparently they have not sought permits from either the Town of Crested Butte or Gunnison County.

Fortunately this time around the efforts of HCCA have produced results to protect the public from the secret approval of the proposed mine tunnel.  In 2008, after the first version of this proposal came to light, HCCA worked to ensure that state law would not allow the confidential approval of activities like this.  Due in part to these efforts the state mining law was changed to allow public review and comment on this sort of proposal.  At the same time HCCA sued the State of Colorado mining agency over what we view as an illegal approval of the proposed mine tunnel.  HCCA asserted that the mine tunnel is not a prospecting activity designed to find molybdenum, but actually a mine development activity designed as the beginnings of a full blown Mt. Emmons mine.  The litigation over that issue is ongoing.

Fast forward to this most recent effort to develop this mine tunnel and we think it is the same attempt to begin mine development under the false pretense of prospecting for minerals.  This time, however, the proposal can't be kept a secret and we can once again demand that the tunnel be permitted as mining and given a through environmental review.  HCCA has begun all of these steps and will continue to ensure that the Mt. Emmons Project be held to the most stringent standards and permits if they choose to pursue mining activities at Mt. Emmons.  If you have questions about these new developments please contact Dan Morse at [email protected].

Beware Where You Boat

Colorado is the only state in the Union where state law does not protect kayakers and rafters who float on streams and rivers when they cross private property without permission. Did you know that, according to case law in Colorado, if you are floating on a raft across private property you are trespassing? If you touch the bottom of the stream or river on private property, you are committing criminal trespass. Many river users in Colorado believe that Federal law protects them no matter where they float their boats.

As the popularity of rafting and kayaking has risen, so has the conflict between property owners, recreationalists and outfitters.

The Colorado River Outfitters Association is asking state Representative Kathleen Curry to help resolve this conflict, at least for commercial outfitters carrying paying passengers on rivers where they have historically operated. A reason to resolve this issue is because commercial rafting in Colorado is now worth $142 million/year. Outfitters carried 500,000 passengers in 2008. There is a need to protect this dynamic and growing economy. For this reason, High Country Citizens' Alliance supports this effort.

If this endorsement sounds a little hollow, it is because HCCA believes the right to float our rivers and streams should be afforded to all members of the public. Where anyone  chooses to float should not be based on who owns the land so long as they are respectful of the property-owners rights to enjoy the same river flowing through their property.

This issue needs to be resolved for landowners, for boaters and for commercial outfitters alike. If we can only make changes incrementally, then it is important to take the first step. We are hopeful that the legislature will support Rep. Curry's proposal. You can all help her by letting her know she has your support. You can contact her at [email protected] If you live somewhere else in Colorado, let your state representative and senator know that you support this proposal to protect commercial navigation in Colorado.