Wilderness News

LAS CRUCES - A report on the economic benefit of wilderness conservation is being touted by one local business group as proof of their claim that federal wilderness areas help bring in revenue, but the leader of another business organization called that claim "overreaching."

The great American storyteller Mark Twain once pointed out that they've long since stopped making land.  How we best manage that limited supply for healthy populations of fish and wildlife is a question that should be near and dear to the hearts of every hunter and angler in the state. That's why 15 former wildlife officials and land managers recently wrote a letter to our two senators and congressman urging them to protect some of the best habitat we've got left - the Rocky Mountain Front.

EAGLE COUNTY, Colorado - Four Colorado environmental groups Thursday urged support for U.S. Rep. Jared Polis' proposal to protect 170,000 acres of public lands in Eagle and Summit counties.

"Congressman Polis has worked hard to gather citizen input and craft a wilderness proposal," said Steve Smith, assistant director of The Wilderness Society in Colorado "He deserves credit for his willingness to take the desires of his constituents into account and create a proposal that is ready to be moved through Congress."

AMERICA'S most sparsely populated states were among its more resilient during the recession. Before the downturn, places like Montana and North Dakota poked along with slow growth and greying populations. When the wheels came off the national economy, they began to move up the rankings. They were doing well from commodities, had never known housing bubbles and were not especially vulnerable to the financial sector's troubles. In 2008 Montana's growth rate was the highest in the country.

They used to meet, it seems, only in court. Now they meet, too, at the bargaining table. They used to issue dueling news releases. Now they pen companion newspaper columns. They used to push competing bills. Now they sign cooperative deals.

In Washington County. In Nine Mile Canyon. Even along the Wasatch Front.

I am in favor of the Hidden Gems Wilderness proposal. I think this is a well-thought-out plan and makes sense as we go into the future. Now is the time to set aside this valuable land.

I have been a back country user for most of my life and am convinced people need more of this type of recreation. It is the driving force for the economy in the mountains. It is also a necessity for the animals that inhabit our land. The Hidden Gems Wilderness proposal appears in large part to setting side roadless areas that are buffer zones to our existing wilderness.

HELENA, Mont. (AP) - Three former chiefs of the U.S. Forest Service are asking Montana's congressional delegation to protect the Rocky Mountain Front, a plea they say marks the first time they have united to urge passage of a land measure.

The request was made in a letter, sent earlier this month, that urges the delegation to "take a leadership role in the passage of the Rocky Mountain Front Heritage Act."

To the editor:

I am writing in support of the wilderness act proposal recently explained in a public forum Aug. 6 at the Cañon City Abbey. The areas include land in the rugged parts of Grape Creek, Beaver Creek, Badger Creek, and McIntire Hills.

I was born in and grew up in Colorado along the Front Range. My wife, JoAnn, and I moved to Cañon City in 1984 and have been here ever since. We plan to retire here as we appreciate the good climate, proximity to the mountains and conversely the big city activities nearby.

Dear Editor:

As a Vail Valley business owner I support all of the Hidden Gems proposal and Congressman Jared Polis' efforts to designate some of these lands as Wilderness. Wilderness is good for my business, good for our valley, and good for the state.

Dear Editor:

On Tuesday, Aug. 24, Melanie Finan and Collin Stewart will be leading the 3rd annual Hidden Gems moonlight hike to Hay Park. The hike will begin at dusk with the aim of reaching the first meadow on the route to witness the full moon rise. This hike is a great opportunity to experience the serenity and wild beauty that can be found in the areas proposed as wilderness by the Hidden Gems.