You can never have too much green. That’s definitely the sentiment held by local conservationists who are presently pursuing the introduction of new designated wilderness areas to the Western Slope. Some 64,000 acres are being considered in Dolores and San Miguel counties, terrain that spans from Naturita Canyon and McKenna Peak, to Mount Sneffels and Deep Creek. Conservationists will request that Congress introduce legislation covering these patches of federal land into wilderness areas; subsequently, the U.S. House and Senate will have to pass legislation designating these Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands as wilderness areas.
The designation would keep cars, helicopters, ATVs and bikes off these lands, and prevent road construction or road upgrades. “It’s basically the highest protection of public lands there is,” said Hilary White of Sheep Mountain Alliance, the local environmental group leading the effort on Telluride’s end. “The wilderness designation strives to protect the pristine wildlife habitat and corridor areas left in the U.S.”
Eric Wortman, U.S. Rep. John Salazar’s (D) legislative director, said the congressman’s office will have to consider the proposal. “Every wilderness area is a case-by-case basis,” said Wortman.
For the past several months, conservation groups have been talking to towns, county commissioners, and outdoor enthusiasts (mountain bikers, ATV-ers, and heli-skiing outfits) to get input on the wilderness proposals and how people might be affected. White claimed impacts would be minimal: one new wilderness area in the Deep Creek area, would exclude the Deep Creek Trail—a popular biking route; another 12,000-acre wilderness zone on Sheep Mountain would, in theory, close down heli-skiing in the area, but under the terms of the proposal, Telluride Helitrax would still be allowed fly clients in the terrain around Sheep Mountain for skiing.
Support hasn’t been as widespread in Dolores County as it has in San Miguel County. According to the Wilderness Support Center’s associate director Jeff Widen, “They [Dolores County] just tend to have that stronger perception that wilderness is not good for people.”
Proponents of the wilderness areas are hoping, however, that support will eventually prevail considering that wilderness areas don’t put public lands out of human reach—hunting, camping and hiking are all still allowed; ranchers can still graze their animals; and miners can even dig for ore on patented claims.
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