Western Slope rec areas in the running for wilderness designation

MONTROSE — Residents of the Western Slope could see a boom in wilderness designation areas if a state congresswoman’s re-introduction of the Colorado Wilderness Act is successful.

State Rep. Diana DeGette, D-Colo., recently announced her plan to take a proposal to Congress to designate 62 areas across the state as wilderness areas. Most of the suggested locations are on the Western Slope.

Protected against oil drilling and commercial logging, the 62 areas would cover 2.5 percent of the entire state.

According to Mel Lloyd, spokeswoman for the Bureau of Land Management Grand Junction and Uncompahgre Field Offices, a handful of these proposed wilderness areas are located in and around Montrose.

In Montrose County, the Camel Back wilderness study area, Dolores River Canyon, Norwood Canyon and a portion of the Sewemup Mesa are all in the running for wilderness designation. The Adobe Badlands and a portion of Dominguez Canyons in Delta County, as well as McKenna Peak in San Miguel County, are also part of the 62 areas.

Lloyd explained that an official wilderness designation area could only be implemented by an act of Congress.

“Certain areas were inventoried and recommended by the BLM back in the 80s,” Lloyd said, adding that these areas have been managed as wilderness study areas since then.

Suzanne Jones, Central Rockies Regional Director for the Wilderness Society, explained that a wilderness designation area is not necessarily “anti-other uses,” as some people may think.

A common myth is that these areas ban hunting and fishing, Jones said.

Those managing designated wilderness areas work to ensure that there’s a balance of uses on public lands. “It’s important how these lands are managed until Congress decides the fates of the public lands,” Jones said.

The only activities not permitted, Jones said, are those involving wheels or motors, with the exception of wheelchairs. Commercial logging, mining, oil and gas drilling and the construction of roads are also prohibited on wilderness designation areas.

Jones said the implementation of wilderness designation areas are important for the protection of watershed, wildlife habitats and the quality of scenic viewpoints. It also adds to the economic viability of the state.

“Wilderness areas actually contribute to the strength of local and state economy, because protected public lands are very sought after for recreation, hunting and fishing, which are huge contributors to economy,” Jones said. “It doesn’t only happen in wilderness areas, but it is one of the best places for it.”

Jones said that according to research from 2002, hunting and fishing generated $1.5 billion dollars to the state economy, and wildlife watching added another $560 million.

“A lot of people think that oil and gas is a huge part of the economy. It’s important, but it’s not that large,” she said, comparing it to recreational income.

Jones said the Colorado Wilderness Act has been taken to Congress since 1999, but was never passed.

Other areas being considered for wilderness designation on the Western Slope include the Powderhorn Wilderness Addition and the West Elk Addition in Gunnison County; Thompson Creek and Maroon Bells-Snowmass in Pitkin County, and Sagebrush Pillows and Maverick Canyon in Mesa County.

Contact Marissa Brunner via e-mail at marissab@montrosepress.com