Activity Report Explorer

Northern San Juan • Entered by Robyn Cascade on September 6, 2019

NSJBB ~ July & August GMUG Forest Plan

July 1, 2019 – August 16, 2019

Key Issue: Landscape-level Planning
Activity Type: Advocacy (rallies, lobbying, meeting decision makers, letters/calls/emails)
Key Partners: HCCA, SJCA, SMA, WCA
Landscape/area: Uncompahgre National Forest (951767 acres)

Measurable Outcomes

Outcome 1: Advocacy calls/emails/letters (1 comment from NSJBB to GMUG re: working draft)
Outcome 2: Advocacy calls/emails/letters (2 comments re: GMUG working draft from Town of Ridgway & Ouray Board of County Commission)

Short Description of Activity

July was intensely busy with GMUG activity including composing NSJBB comments re: the GMUG working draft (see download) plus communication with CDOT and Telluride Helitrax regarding avalanche mitigation and helitrax use in two of our proposed recommended wilderness; drafting language for comments from the Ouray BOCC and the Town of Ridgway, communication with Ouray District Ranger, acting GMUG Forest Supervisor and Ecoflight regarding getting USFS personnel on (or over!) the landscape to see our proposed areas, and the usual coalition calls and communications with coalition partners.

Reflection/Evaluation

Still some unfinished business regarding the Hayden and Abram polygons related to avalanche mitigation and whether existing uses are compatible with our recommendation for wilderness. Disappointed that the USFS declined our invitation to take them on a flyover of proposed areas recommended for wilderness due to USFS policy (though we did manage to provide two staffers with an “auto tour” along the Highway 550 corridor (see auto tour report.) Though I have yet to see the final Town of Ridgway comments re: the working draft, I trust they are consistent with Broads perspective; on the other hand the Ouray Commissioners’ letter was a disappointment.

Photos/Uploads

Upload 1

Photo Captions

NSJBB comments re: GMUG Working Draft submitted