TELLURIDE - Three months after unveiling draft legislation that would protect large swaths of public lands in San Miguel, San Juan and Ouray Counties at the request of local governments and conservation groups, U.S. Rep John Salazar introduced the San Juan Mountains Wilderness Bill to the U.S. House of Representatives last week.
If approved by Congress the bill, H.R. 3914, will protect 61,682 acres on the Grand Mesa, in the Uncompahgre, Gunnison and San Juan National Forests, and in the San Juan Bureau of Land Management Resource Area as part of the National Wilderness Preservation System.
"San Miguel, Ouray and San Juan county representatives have expressed their hope that a portion of the natural lands that surround them will be given a wilderness designation for future generations. These are the lands which define the character and spirit of our great state and nation and as such, it is my honor today to introduce the San Juan Mountains Wilderness Bill," Salazar said in a written statement upon introducing the bill last Thursday.
The bill has been referred to the House Committee on Natural Resources.
In addition to the three counties, the towns of Mountain Village, Norwood, Ophir, Ouray, Ridgway and Telluride also supported the bill, which if approved by Congress would provide permanent protection for some of Colorado's most renowned views and mountains including the slopes of Mt. Sneffels and Wilson Peak.
As submitted it would add 3,170 acres to the existing Lizard Head Wilderness Area by the Blackface, Sunshine and Wilson additions; 8,375 acres to the existing Mt. Sneffels Wilderness Area by the Liberty Bell and Last Dollar additions; and13, 231 acres to the existing Mt. Sneffels Wilderness Area by the Whitehouse addition.
It would also designate 8,614 acres of the McKenna Peak Wilderness Study Area, the northern half, as wilderness.
Another 21,697 acres in San Juan and San Miguel Counties would be designated as the Sheep Mountain Special Management Area and will include Ice Lakes Basin and the high alpine peaks near Ophir.
Existing uses including heliisking will be allowed to continue in the SMSA indefinitely, but no new roads or other development will be permitted.
In Naturita Canyon, 6,595 acres held by the U.S. Forest Service would be withdrawn from eligibility for mineral leasing, but no other uses in the canyon would be impacted.
"We have a responsibility to safeguard these special places for generations to come and Congressman Salazar's bill does just that," said Hilary White, Executive Director of the Sheep Mountain Alliance, in a written statement.
SMA joined with the Colorado Wilderness Network in presenting a proposal to Salazar following an initial request for the designation made by the three counties.
"Thousands of hours have gone into developing this legislation and I hope people will acknowledge the complete and thorough job that Congressman Salazar has done and support this effort," White continued.
The legislation originally envisioned the protection of 63,475 acres when unveiled in July, but decreased by some 1,800 acres when finally introduced to Congress.
"There were a few different spots that were trimmed," confirmed Eric Wortman, Deputy Chief of Staff for Salazar.
"None of them really took us by surprise, as we knew there were places that needed further consideration before we made final decisions - all in consultation with local stakeholders," he wrote in an email to The Watch.
The reductions included the protection of 711 fewer acres in the Mt. Sneffels Wilderness at the Liberty Bell addition near the Town of Telluride's Stillwell Tunnel water treatment facility.
According to Town Manager Frank Bell "small, theoretical talks" concerning the installation of a micro hydroelectric power plant there have taken place.
In the event the plan materializes, "I don't know that we want to restrict ourselves to dealing with wilderness issues there," he said.
Another 885 acres were carved from the Sheep Mountain Special Management Area in part to allow for the Town of Ophir's proposed Waterfall Creek water treatment and delivery system improvements.
"The municipalities that were affected couldn't do what they needed to do with the full wilderness designation," Wortman said of the Sneffels and Sheep Mountain reductions.
The Lizard Head Wilderness Area as originally conceived was also reduced by 204 acres in order to allow for the clean up of tailings piles located there, said Wortman.
A pre-existing running event, the Hardrock 100, will be allowed to continue in any areas designated as wilderness or special management area, and water language in the proposal prohibits any federal water rights and guarantees access for water users to maintain and repair water facilities if the legislation is approved in its present state.
Grazing will continue in all areas designated by the bill as allowed under current law.
"As a grazing permittee I know that it is critically important for the livestock community to have access to our unspoiled high country. That access is vital for our operations to stay in business," said Liza Clarke, a grazing permit holder in Ouray County on lands that will be designated as wilderness by the bill, in a written statement.
"This bill preserves that access and protects our high country for future generations," she continued.
Only Congress may designate wilderness, which offers the highest level of protection to public lands. While many recreational activities including horseback riding, hunting and skiing are permitted in these areas, those that require mechanical transport or motorized equipment generally are not.
Currently over 109 million acres are designated wilderness.
