News 5 - Colorado Wild Public Lands

San Juan National Forest – Proposed Roadless Area Boundary Modification

The Forest Service proposes to modify the South San Juan Adjacent Roadless Area and Turkey Creek Roadless Area boundaries, in the San Juan National Forest, to remove 176 acres of federal land to be conveyed to non-federal parties for the proposed Valle Seco land exchange. Removing lands from the Colorado Roadless Area designation would increase fragmentation and remove protection.

There is a 90-day public notice and opportunity to comment from publication of notice. Comments are due in early February 2020, addressed to Becca Smith, San Juan National Forest, PO Box 310, Pagosa Springs, CO 81147 or via email to rebecca.smith@usda.gov.

Proposed Land Transfer from the BLM to the Colorado State Land Board

COWPL has submitted comments for the scoping phase of the proposed transfer by the BLM of approximately 17,700 acres of federal surface/federal mineral estate, and an additional 6,000 acres of federal mineral estate only, in 16 counties, to the Colorado State Land Board. The Federal government want to settle a historic debt for 9,900 acres. Comments submitted will inform the next phase of the BLM’s NEPA process. The BLM identified preliminary issues through internal scoping. Our comments addressed those issues as well as:

Increase public outreach and provide further information.
Provide the rationale for calculating the value or amount of land that is owed by the Colorado BLM to the State of Colorado today.
In a statewide project, parcel specific information can be overlooked. Provide in-depth analysis of the natural and cultural attributes, and existing and proposed uses, of each of the parcels under consideration.

Valle Seco COWPL Comments Submitted

COWPL has submitted comments on the proposed Valle Seco Land Exchange. Comments will inform the next phase of the Forest’s NEPA analysis of the proposal. COWPL identified a range of topics including the following:

Public access, recreation and natural and cultural values need further analysis.
Mitigation and management techniques should be described.
Current land appraisals of the properties should be made available to the public and future appraisals should utilize multiple techniques to fully consider the value of the lands.
Include detailed analysis of alternatives to "The Proposed Action" and "No Action".

Valle Seco Comments Due Dec. 13

The SJNF is soliciting input to inform their environmental analysis of this proposed exchange that will document potential impacts to the physical, human, and biological environment.

Dorais Way Road Closure

COWPL's response to the Rock Creek Association's recent gate closure of Dorais Way, blocking public access from the Redstone Campground to the Crystal River, Filoha Meadows and adjacent Forest Service lands.

Watercolors For Wildlands

Tues. Oct. 15 in Basalt

Join us from 5:30 to 7:30 pm at 23272 Two Rivers Road, Basalt for a fun evening of watercolor painting with instruction by Amy Beidleman. Great for ALL abilities. $30 all supplies provided, $20 bring your own supplies. Please reply to as space is limited.