Posted 7 months, 25 days ago in 
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Colorado’s national forest roadless areas should be off limits to new water-storage projects in order to safeguard the future of hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation in our state. I urge Gov. Ritter to back the proposal prohibiting water storage in roadless areas – and to support a strong roadless rule for management of these important public lands.
Colorado’s roadless areas provide large blocks of exceptional habitat for big-game species and help sustain more elk and mule deer than any other state in the country. These areas also offer the most pristine waterways where wild trout — dependent on clean water, stable stream flows and consistent lake levels – can thrive. Our Colorado backcountry has some of the finest wild trout fishing in the world. Sportsmen and others who care about the outdoors want it to stay this way.
Roadless areas are also big business. Hunters and anglers annually contribute more than $1 billion to Colorado’s economy. Much of this business comes to the Western Slope. Conscientious backcountry management can maintain strong economic engines in rural communities and continue to supply stable jobs associated with hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation.
Water storage projects are important to our farms, ranches and communities and are an appropriate use of our public lands. Rather than pursuing these projects in the backcountry, however, existing facilities should be expanded and rehabilitated in areas that already are developed. Not only the most cost-effective option, this also will conserve valuable backcountry.
Gov. Ritter must implement a strong roadless rule that isn’t full of loopholes and exceptions. The rule must conserve the important fish and wildlife habitat on Colorado’s roadless areas for future generations to enjoy.
FORREST ORSWELL
Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership
Fort Collins
2 Responses to “Roadless areas should be off limits to water-storage projects”
Posted March 31st, 2009 at 9:10 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
“Roadless areas are also big business” For who?
“Hunters and anglers annually contribute more than 1 billion to Colorado’s economy” Are all of them users of roadless areas?
Posted March 31st, 2009 at 10:00 am Login to Send PM Report this comment
My guess would be that less than 5% of anglers fish in official Roadless Areas and possibly 15% of hunters actually hunt in Roadless Areas. Of these mentioned a very large percentage access the area by 4-wheel drive or ATV. Hunting and fishing overall does contribute a large amount of money to communities, however, a large portion of that money is due to accessing areas with motorized vehicles.
It is obvious that official Roadless Areas do not need any special protection because by the advocates own admission they are wonderfull places for wildlife and fishing even though many of them have motorized routes through them and have dozens of ATV’s traversing them daily in summer months. They have survived just fine in spite of us terrible humans.
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