March 25, 2004
Potential Wolf Creek Village Threatens Backcountry Experiences
Out-of-state developers seek to construct a city over half the size of Durango on the backside of Wolf Creek ski area. The "Village" at Wolf Creek would destroy lush meadows, alpine creeks, unspoiled backcountry recreation opportunities, and one of the most critical wildlife corridors in the Southern Rocky Mountains. Backcountry recreation may suffer due to overcrowding, which may create conflict between motorized and non-motorized users, parking problems, and increased traffic on the pass.
 friendsofwolfcreek.org |
Background: Nestled between the South San Juan wilderness and the Weminuche Wilderness, Colorado's largest, the habitat along Wolf Creek Pass serves as a critical wildlife migration corridor. Texas developers with little knowledge of high altitude conditions are proposing a monstrous development on a mere 287.5 acres. Known as Alberta Park, this parcel was suspiciously traded out of public hands in the late 1980's. Now the developers want to construct the "Village at Wolf Creek" - 2,172 units on 162 lots, 5,176 bedrooms, 4,267 parking spaces, and 222,100 square feet of commercial space (over two Wal-Marts worth!) including 12 restaurants, multiple hotels, a convention center, and acres of shopping.
This development has the potential to create significant, irreversible impacts to wildlife and wildlife habitat. The Canada lynx was reintroduced nearby over the past 5 years, and needs this important habitat intact to survive in the long run. Massive traffic growth and the development itself will increase road kill, reducing the ability of lynx to cross the highway to find mates and reproduce. Alberta Park Reservoir and its tributaries, all within or adjacent to the property, also provide some of the best habitat for the Rio Grande cutthroat trout, a species that has been petitioned for listing as Federally endangered.
Sixty acres of high quality wetlands will be filled or dried up by adjacent development. Utility lines, sewage, power lines, and more will have to be brought in from the San Luis Valley. The few hundred feet above to the Continental Divide doesn't supply enough water for this massive development. The developers will eventually realize they need to get it from the San Luis Valley where they will be competing with agriculture for needed water supplies.
In 1989, the Rio Grande National Forest (NF) determined that a land exchange creating private property surrounded by public lands on the backside of Wolf Creek ski area wasn't in the public interest. Subsequently, they denied the proposal of Texas billionaire Red McCombs - owner of the Minnesota Vikings - to obtain this land from the public. Two weeks later, bureaucrats in Washington, DC, mysteriously ordered the Rio Grande NF to change its decision. Not only was a portion of the original exchange approved, but an additional 50 acres on the slope of the ski area were traded out of public ownership.
In 1999, the owners of Wolf Creek ski area proposed to construct the Alberta lift, the bottom of which terminates on this now private land. Suspecting a real estate development scheme, Colorado Wild appealed Forest Service approval. Colorado Wild dropped its appeal in exchange for a Forest Service guarantee that, should the owners of the inholding seek access across public lands for construction, extensive study of the development's impacts to the environment would be considered in an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). For years, Colorado Wild has helped foil attempts by the developers to get a rider passed in Congress that would allow an end run around that very important settlement agreement. Now, that EIS process has begun. Get involved!
Act Today!
Write a letter by April 15, 2004 to:
Stephen Brigham, NEPA Coordinator
USDA-FS, Rio Grande National Forest, Divide Ranger District
13308 West Hwy 160
Del Norte, CO 81132
Email: to mailroom_r2_rio_grande@fs.fed.us
Fax: (719) 657-6035
Speak out to save Wolf Creek!
In your letter, insist that the EIS consider:
- What impacts will this development have on the surrounding public lands? Will access be limited, will overcrowding and resulting conflict become problematic?
- Water supply - where will it come from?
- How the original land exchange was approved and its terms. Does it permit a development any where near this size?
- Snow removal - where will snow be put if buildings occupy most or all of the private land?
- Wetlands impacts, including hydrological impacts of development adjacent to wetlands.
- Local regional wildlife impacts, including to lynx, Rio Grande Cutthroat trout, and other species.
- Increased traffic's impacts on wildlife, including migration corridors between the South San Juan Wilderness and the Weminuche Wilderness.
- Utilities - where will utility lines come from? Who will supply power, and how will sewage be dealt with?
- Suitability with the ski area - the original land exchange required that development be compatible with the ski area. This proposal is in no way compatible!
- Since the land owners intend to build on almost the entire parcel of private land, cross country skiing in the Alberta Park area will end in some prime locations.
For more information, visit http://friendsofwolfcreek.org.