March 14, 2023 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Grant Stevens, Communications Director, grant@wildernessworkshop.org; 319-427-0260 (Cell)
CARBONDALE, CO – Yesterday, the objection period closed for the White River National Forest’s (WRNF) final Environmental Assessment (EA) and draft decision notice for a proposed 7-mile section of trail between Redstone and McClure Pass. Wilderness Workshop submitted a 25-page objection outlining our continued concerns with the proposal and the flawed process that lead to the draft decision. Below is a statement from Wilderness Workshop and additional information.
“Dealing with the pressure of growing recreation is one of the greatest challenges facing our local land managers. With this proposal, the Forest Service officials should have developed a holistic plan for the Crystal River Valley and the entire length of the Carbondale to Crested Butte Trail. But the Environmental Assessment instead takes a segmented approach and considers only this 7-mile trail in a vacuum. Now is the time for us to do better for our wildlands and wildlife, unfortunately, the agency’s proposed decision misses that important opportunity.” – Will Roush, Wilderness Workshop Executive Director
Recent economic analysis shows the WRNF is the most visited National Forest in the country. Supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams laid this out clearly in a recent Colorado Sun article saying that he sees “alarm bells in the soaring visitation and economic numbers.” He goes on to say, “But what does that mean for this forest and the wildlife and wild places and the ecological function and the lifestyles of the residents here? These are the things this report has made me think about. We are squeezing this lemon pretty hard and we are getting a lot out of it but we are beginning to see the impacts of that. So what do we do? I don’t think people want us to say ‘Let’s just keep this train rolling and see what happens.’”
31 Objections, the majority in opposition to the project or raising continued concerns about the Forest Service’s lack of comprehensive analysis, were filed during the 45-day objection period; all can be viewed in the project’s Public Comment/Objection Reading Room. Below are excerpts from other objections:
“A piecemeal approach to any recreational trail in the Crystal River Valley will cause irreparable harm in our valley that will only grow worse over time. The forest service should be using a holistic approach that considers a recreational plan for the entire valley. An EIS should be a fundamental requirement before any future development is proposed, especially for bike trails that almost universally will result in “bandit trails” through the forest. All other reasonable alternatives should be studied and undertaken before constructing a trail through one of the last places in the valley that is a refuge for so many animals.” – John Emerick, Chair of the Crystal River Caucus
“Given the foreseeable changes on the horizon, the Forest Service should take this opportunity to consider how best to protect natural resources including wildlife by managing that demand, controlling unauthorized use, and ensuring safety. This is the time to develop a recreation plan for the entire Crystal River Valley, not simply recreate it to death one trail at a time. We all know and have witnessed that trails like this result in “bandit trails” that connect to other trails. Build it and they will come! Then how will it be managed? Where will they go? Where will the animals go?” – William Argeros, Crystal Valley Resident
“It is critical that the Forest Service step back and look at the Crystal Valley from the perspective of 2023 – an era of climate change amid a growing population and the onslaught of impacts. It is a daunting task for sure, but the importance of doing so is a non-negotiable as part of an effort to protect dwindling numbers as they relate to elk, mule deer, bighorn sheep, songbirds, lynx, and more. We need a BEST plan no matter what that entails. The Forest Service should undertake an EIS analyzing the entire trail. These are fragile times requiring the most thoughtful of actions.” – Edie Engstrom, Crystal Valley Resident
###
Wilderness Workshop is a nonprofit organization that protects the wilderness, water, and wildlife of Western Colorado’s public lands. Learn more at WildernessWorkshop.org
Page Header Image: Crystal River Valley. Photo courtesy Sam Sheppard.
