October 04, 2010 11:37 PM UTC

Rep. Salazar Stands Up for West Slope Ranchers, Local Communities

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• by: ClubTwitty

Yesterday Congressman John Salazar issued a news release indicating his support for protecting the Thompson Divide area in Western Colorado.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John T. Salazar met this morning with the Thompson Divide Coalition and local elected officials and announced his intent to draft legislation to protect the Thompson Divide land and water resources.  

…The area of interest lies between the Grand and Battlement Mesas and the main stem of the Rocky Mountains and would protect key watersheds used by residents and ranchers of the Crystal and Roaring Fork Valleys.  These are some of the most popular hunting and fishing lands in Colorado as well as snowmobiling, mountain and motor biking, horseback riding, and backcountry skiing.  

At Sunday’s meeting, John listed to their proposals and signaled his intent to work with them to introduce legislation in the 112th Congress.  John’s goal through legislation will be to protect the local water and land by allowing existing natural gas and oil leases to expire without renewal.  The Coalition also plans to work with the oil and gas industry to purchase some leases for key parcels they are concerned with protecting.  

The Thompson Divide area has long been a priority for protection among local communities, conservationists, hunters, anglers and ranchers that rely on the water these areas provide. Portions of the landscape are part of several citizen-initiated wilderness proposals.

Congressman Salazar made the following remarks at the meeting, according to the news release:

“I want to applaud you for all your hard work over the years.  Ranching is my passion.  And I will always stand with my fellow ranchers.  I suggest we begin the process of drafting legislation with the understanding the bill won’t likely be done until next Congress.  We’ll work together to get a hearing scheduled out here so Members of Congress can see firsthand the value of protecting this water and land.  

“You have done everything I asked.  You got all the stakeholders on board, gathered community support, and the support of Gunnison, Pitkin and Garfield Counties.  I’ve heard from countless local ranchers concerned over the quality of water and their ability to sustain their operation. These areas are at the very top of the watershed and thousands of downstream water users and ranching operations depend on these precious water resources for their survival.  This is the beginning of the next chapter in our shared effort and working together I am confident we will be successful.”

The Thompson Divide area rises from near Carbondale, where red rock fins contrast sharply with the surrounding greenery along this important riparian area, through montane forests to sub-alpine ecosystems atop Assignation Ridge and beyond into the roadless lands around Clear Fork. The Thompson Divide Coalition notes on its website:  

The Thompson Divide area includes 221,500 acres of Federal land in Pitkin County (88,100 acres), Gunnison County (51,700 acres), Garfield County (43,500 acres), Mesa County (30,500 acres), and Delta County (7,700 acres).  

…The Thompson Divide Area is defined by abundant wildlife and wildlife habitat, essential watersheds, and environmental, economic, agricultural, recreational, and social values.  The area provides clean water for irrigation  and domestic use and crucial summer range for local ranchers with federal grazing permits. Thompson Divide is an important migration corridor providing key habitat for lynx, moose, bear, deer, and elk, as well as a variety of small mammals, and birds. The area includes parts of the largest contiguous aspen forest in the US and biologically unique fens. The area remains as one of the last great swaths of undeveloped mid-elevation forestland in the State.

The Colorado Division of Wildlife (pdf) notes that the area provides “essential habitat” for:

mammals, birds, herptiles, fish, etc., including but not limited to:

• Elk and mule deer summer range, elk summer concentration

• Elk winter range

• Elk production area

• Black bear summer range and fall concentration area

• Colorado River Cutthroat Trout in North Thompson and Middle Thompson creeks

• Forest carnivores – Movement, dispersal, denning etc. for lynx.

The area is also a popular backcountry recreation  spot, for the growing communities in the Roaring Fork Valley.

President of the Thompson Divide Coalition, Jock Jacober, praised the congressman’s efforts:

“We’re absolutely thrilled.  Thompson Divide Coalition has been working on this for several years now and the fact that John Salazar took time from his busy schedule to come forward and meet with all the constituents from our area, the board of Thompson Divide,  John Martin, Dorthea Farris, and George Newman just shows level of generosity and concern that Congressman Salazar has for the area and we’re thrilled this process is moving forward.”

Currently there are over 80 existing oil and gas leases in the region proposed for protection, although conservation groups believe a number were issued illegally –inside National Forest roadless areas while the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule was in effect.  

A pending decision in the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals may cancel those leases, although a number of leases issued prior to that rule would still remain valid.  Proponents of protecting these lands hope to work with oil and gas leaseholders to buy back or let these leases expire (leases are issued on ten-year terms, unless held by production, unitized with others that are, or if the clock is stopped due to legal challenges or other administrative action).  

Rep. Salazar’s support, and the growing coalition of diverse stakeholders, local governments, and concerned citizens, bodes well for these important lands and the hope that they might be protected–as they are today–for future generations and the lives and livelihoods that depend upon them today.