Proposal for a national monument along the Western Slope’s Dolores River

[Inukshuk]

Opposition grows to proposal for national monument along the Western Slope’s Dolores River

Opposition grows to plan asking Pres. Biden to designate a 400,000-acre national monument along the Dolores River in Montrose, Mesa counties

coloradosun.com

Proposal for a national monument along the Western Slope’s Dolores River.
Another "naming" that will restrict use and draw more users to a remote area.

 

[DouglasVB]

Couldn't they just add to the bill some language to keep open the various roads that people like? It's been done plenty of times with wilderness bills, such as what protected the Dusy Trail out here in California.

 

[Inukshuk]

Couldn't they just add to the bill some language to keep open the various roads that people like? It's been done plenty of times with wilderness bills, such as what protected the Dusy Trail out here in California.

Naive view. I was young and had faith in people once too. Its part of the "conservation" plans to shut out all use they don't like.

 

[DaveInDenver]

This is more than just recreation. The ranchers out there are really concerned and it seems like the Uravan, Bedrock, Paradox, Gateway would be in the way. It's also already been trimmed. Originally the BLM was talking over a million acres, from McPhee Reservoir to the Utah state line.

Oh, speaking of Gateway, I'm sure it would only be the riff-raff who get pushed out. Gateway Canyons resort I'm sure would get a pass and be allowed basically sole access. Most people are aware of his car museum there.

Gateway Canyons Resort & Spa - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[MountainGoat]

I went to change.org and signed the petition. This area is fantastic and does not need any further government intervention.

Preserve Our Rights: Join the Fight Against Dolores River National Monument Designation

2,451 signatures are needed, let’s get there by the end of the day?

chng.it

 

[Corbet]

I’ve always got mixed feeling about these new designations. In principal I’m generally in favor of increased protections. The west continues to shrink every year and we need to protect desirable public lands. But the side effect is more often than not reduced access which sucks. I have not spent any real time in that area, maybe I need to soon before vehicle access is gone.

 

[Corbet]

Here's a proposed river corridor map on Bennet’s website.

https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/_cache/files/2/f/2f5aabae-8cf0-4294-baa9-017f69e7c9a4/9CC0019984F8B956B23B8D20DE460D7B.co-22-02-06-00-proposed-dolores-river-national-conservation-area-and-special-management-area-20221214.pdf

 

[DaveInDenver]

I’ve always got mixed feeling about these new designations. In principal I’m generally in favor of increased protections. The west continues to shrink every year and we need to protect desirable public lands. But the side effect is more often than not reduced access which sucks. I have not spent any real time in that area, maybe I need to soon before vehicle access is gone.

What mixed feelings? If all they were doing is preventing development that would be fine. But wait, nearly all of this land is already BLM and some USFS.

So what benefit is it to anyone? It will help existing private land owners by having fewer people using the adjacent land We already own and funneling others into a few remaining recreation spots. There's no mining still going on to speak off. Lots of grazing.

How much value will the remaining inholding owners have after? How many with limited money and political connections will be forced to sell, either nudged by having an access road or utilities cut or explicitly by eminent domain?

That's the 30x30 Plan in an nutshell.

 

[DouglasVB]

Can you still do mining and whatnot on a national monument like you can on BLM land?

 

[Corbet]

@Corbet, that's the long proposed Dolores scenic river corridor. That's been floating around for years and that map is from 2022.

Sorry, google search in haste yielded that result. I'll edit above.

 

[J Kimmel]

I’ve always got mixed feeling about these new designations. In principal I’m generally in favor of increased protections. The west continues to shrink every year and we need to protect desirable public lands. But the side effect is more often than not reduced access which sucks. I have not spent any real time in that area, maybe I need to soon before vehicle access is gone.

Increased protection = Increased restrictions

 

[rover67]

Thanks for the link to the Petition Dan, FWIW I signed it.

 

[Corbet]

Looking at Dave's maps I've explored some of the southern areas. The wheeling was nothing special but the desolation was superb. Lots of old mining remains.

I do admit, I get tired of walking over cow crap constantly on public lands. Hunting, wheeling, camping. Seems like we are constantly sharing the ground with future cheeseburgers. Only places to escape it seem to be wilderness areas, very developed recreational areas, and the true alpine zones of NFS.

It would seem that in order to simply keep things the way they are now requires an equal level of lobbying and financial support as those seeking change.

 

[DaveInDenver]

Cattle and water is what's going to drive things around here and potentially being lock off grazing leases is the political leverage to stop this.

Wilderness doesn't always stop grazing, some is grandfathered to change the politics. Roads are left but are put into "administrative" use with locked gates and that's for access by ranchers.

It's not clear to me that they can drive a vehicle on them, but reading some seem to indicate it's to access watering and I can't think of an alternative to at least a trailer.

 

[AimCOTaco]

This land is your land- this land is my land- but you pay fed lease rates- so I can't drive there.

Close?

 

[Corbet]

^All true above Dave.

The recent closures in Moab are still open to ranchers for grazing. One of my other favorites is the crypo soils. Save the crypo soil but its ok to release 400 head of cattle to graze on it.

 

[Corbet]

Pulled this map of the proposed monument from here https://www.thefencepost.com/news/r...ough-a-monument-designation-of-dolores-river/

 

[Corbet]

Dave, thanks for confirming that. I never doubted that would be the case.