Wilderness News

Sportsmen push Hermosa area for wilderness status

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 07:48:58 -0700

Like much of the last of Colorado's best country, the Hermosa Creek drainage north of Durango is hardly a secret.

On a warm July weekend, Hermosa Park and trailhead, west of Durango Mountain Resort (aka Purgatory ski area), stirred with people, trailers, trucks and two huge, inflatable flamingos.

On the main Hermosa Trail, ATV jockeys pushed wakes through mud puddles. Knievel- costumed dirt bikers leapt rises, nearly colliding with hike-in anglers.

Editorial: Two Million Acres of Wilderness

Mon, 21 Jul 2008 10:20:45 -0700

Congress has an opportunity to add significantly to the nation's store of protected wilderness - a million new acres at a minimum, and perhaps twice that if everything falls into place. But it must move quickly. This is an election year, with many other distractions, including an economic crisis and soaring fuel prices, and there is not a lot of time left to pass legislation.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Fast Action

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 07:44:47 -0700

I read with interest Steve Tetreault's article "Porter studies federal land plan," but I was disappointed that Rep. Jon Porter "is considering the proposal but probably will not decide soon whether to embrace the plan that calls for upgrading wilderness designations in the 344,400-acre Gold Butte region."

Wilderness area proposal to be reviewed: BLM recommended parcel for protective status in 1991.

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:31:21 -0700

U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar is carrying legislation in Congress which is due for committee review this week in an attempt to bring protection to the proposed Browns Canyon Wilderness Area.

The proposed Browns Canyon Wilderness area is a 20,000-acre parcel of U.S. Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands located in Chaffee County, between Buena Vista and Salida. The Arkansas River is within 200 feet of the western boundary and the area extends eastward to the forested areas of Aspen Ridge.

Energy development threatens Utah's traditions

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:36:25 -0700

The Salt Lake Tribune editorial, "Cost of drilling: Wells threaten tourism, hunting and natural beauty," paints a picture of what could become of Utah's hunting, fishing and recreation traditions that depend on healthy lands. Unfortunately, The Tribune didn't mention that we've already begun to see these impacts.

A Hike In Flat Tops Wilderness: Trail Takes You To Entrance To Spring Cave

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:58:09 -0700

I'm the first to admit it; I am not "Avid Hiker Deb." I don't own a pair of hiking boots and couldn't find my way to Boulder even with a GPS system. In fact, my lack of a sense of direction is a running joke in the newsroom. Please cut me a little slack -- I'm from Pittsburgh where my biggest hike was a trip down Mount Washington to grab a sandwich at Primanti Brothers and cheer on the Steelers.

OPINION: Protecting wilderness - response to July 13 commentary: "Bicycles and Nature can Coexist"

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:30:08 -0700

Cohn shows a fundamental misunderstanding of the Wilderness Act and misleads readers on Assembly Bill 2923.

AB2923 does not keep mountain bikes out of state parks, nor does it designate wilderness in state parks. The bill simply calls for a public process for state agencies to identify whether or not our state parks, wildlife areas and other state lands contain wild places that are suitable for wilderness protection.

Westerners demand explanation, payment after admin opposes watershed, mining bills

Thu, 17 Jul 2008 11:27:59 -0700

Western senators from both sides of the aisle joined forces yesterday to criticize the Bush administration for its opposition to bills on watershed management and mining compensation.

The administration opposes S. 3085, which would require the Interior Department to create programs in which all stakeholders in a watershed convene to make collective management decisions.

Wilderness protection bill moves forward: Subcommittee approves McKeon, Boxer legislation after hearing

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:56:36 -0700

A U.S. Senate panel took testimony Wednesday on bipartisan legislation that would protect nearly 475,000 acres of wilderness in California's Eastern Sierra and San Gabriel Mountains.

After the testimony was complete, the subcommittee marked an advance for the legislation.

Dominguez plan backers testify before Senate panel

Tue, 22 Jul 2008 11:55:16 -0700

A Delta County commissioner and a Colorado senator urged Thursday that Congress establish the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area in western Colorado.

Commissioner Jan McCracken testified before the Senate Public Lands and Forests subcommittee, as did Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., who sponsored the measure.

The bill, S 3065, would recognize nearly 211,000 acres of federal land in Delta, Mesa and Montrose counties on the Uncompahgre Plateau. Of that territory, 66,000 acres would be designated as the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Area.