
Valle Seco Appraisals To Be Updated and Roadless Area Decision Issued
San Juan National Forest representatives announced to Colorado Wild Public Lands (CWPL) and San Juan Citizens Alliance (the two primary objectors to the Valle Seco land exchange) on March 9 that the Colorado Roadless Area (CRA) decision has been made contingent upon the exchange approval, and that the exchange appraisals were to be “reconsidered”. Reasoning for the appraisal reconsideration was explained as attempting to address CWPL’s concerns that the original appraisals —originally completed in August 2020— are outdated and do not reflect current real estate markets.
CWPL believes any modification to CRA boundaries as a part of this exchange is arbitrary and unsupported. A removal of strong land protections and transferral of those lands to private interests in order to complete a land exchange is in the opposite of public interest. Check out the CRA decision here.