September, 2003
Wolf Creek Task Force Wins Second Grant
The BSA has been successful in securing a grant from the Sonoran Institute of Arizona in the amount of $4840 for the Wolf Creek Task Force for collaboration work on Wolf Creek Pass (south central Colorado). The grant provides funds for a facilitator for the Task Force, travel expenses for attendance at the meetings, and printing of maps for the area. This is the second grant the BSA has secured for work in this area. The first was won from the Colorado State Parks for design and installation of signs at the site. The Backcountry Snowsports Alliance authored and is administering both grants to ensure the project runs smoothly.
Marsha Porter-Norton of Durango has been chosen as the facilitator for the meetings to be held in the fall of 2003. She has worked with many diverse groups in southwestern Colorado, and we expect that her leadership will allow the Task Force to come to a reasonable solution to the issues on the Pass.
The outcome of the fall meetings will be to provide a recommendation to the Forest Service on how to manage winter recreation at the Pass. The Forest Service will then determine how best to implement the recommendation.
The Wolf Creek Pass Task Force formed in 2001 to address the frequency and severity of user conflicts that were significantly degrading the overall recreational experience. During the winter of 2002-2003, backcountry use survey data was collected at Wolf Creek Pass and is currently being analyzed by the Department of Natural Resource Recreation and Tourism at CSU, and also by BSA volunteer, David Belin. This data will assist the Task Force in creating a reasonable recommendation to present to the Forest Service.
All Task Force meetings are open to the public. They are currently scheduled for 9/8, 9/22, 10/14, and 10/28 at the Wolf Creek Ski Area from 6-9pm.