Weekend draws attention to Dominguez-Escalante conservation bill

DELTA — Hikers and campers took to Dominguez Canyon this weekend to explore an area that stands to gain federal protection through a bill before Congress.

The Fourth Annual Wild Uncompahgre Weekend gave residents an opportunity to experience local wilderness; and visit an area included in legislation to establish more federal protection and resources for the Uncompahgre Plateau's canyonlands.

The event, which took place Saturday and Sunday at the Big Dominguez Campground, included a discussion with author Tom Wolf.

His new book, "Arthur Carhart: Wilderness Prophet," is the first biography on Carhart (1892 – 1978) — a Republican environmentalist, conservation writer and the first Forest Service landscape architect.

Wolf said Carhart would be pleased with the support that both Sen. Wayne Allard (R-Colo.) and Sen. Ken Salazar (D-Colo.) have shown for the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area Bill.

"That's the kind of coalition building he (Carhart) practiced during his heyday, when he was the most popular conservation writer in America — and a very active ally of Congressman Wayne Aspinall (a Democrat), who controlled the committees that dealt with water and wilderness," Wolf said in an e-mail. "... I hope his example can help us end the polarization that has hurt the cause of conservation."

About 20 people signed up for the event, which was sponsored by Colorado Environmental Coalition (CEC), Western Colorado Congress and the local Sierra Club, said Kate Graham, CEC public lands organizer.

"This (was) really about getting people out into these wilderness areas, and have (them) realize that wilderness is available to the mainstream. It's a fantastic way to escape city life," said Graham.

The Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area Bill would establish a protected area of about 210,000 acres on the Uncompahgre Plateau; roughly 66,000 acres would be designated as the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Area. The area consists of ecosystems, ranging from upper Sonoran piñon-juniper desert along the Gunnison River, to Douglas-fir and ponderosa pine to aspen at higher elevations, according to the Bureau of Land Management.

Gaining NCA designation would place the area within the BLM's National Landscape Conservation System, which receives a greater share of resources and funding for recreation and resource protection than other BLM lands, according to Salazar's office.

In July, the BLM and Delta County Commissioner Jan McCracken testified in support of the bill before the U.S. Senate Public Lands and Forests Subcommitee.

Said Graham, "We're really looking for movement on it (the legislation) before this congressional session turns into a lot of national politics."