The High Country Report, High Country Citizens’ Alliance’s newsletter is produced semi-annually. You may read the text from individual articles from the most current newsletter by using one of the program area selections on the left, or you may view the entire Autumn 2009 Newsletter. If you'd like to read past issues of our newsletter, you'll find an online archive of them at this link.

Sudden Aspen Decline (SAD) is a phenomenon currently affecting forests in western Colorado including some in Crested Butte's back yard. SAD shows itself in the form of widespread and rapid dieback of aspen stands. The Forest Service's most recent 2008 study of SAD in Colorado showed over a half million acres of damaged aspen in the state. That is almost 20% of existing aspen forests in Colorado.

The impacts of SAD are far reaching and detrimental to Colorado's tourism economy, scenic beauty, wood products industry, biodiversity and wildlife habitat. Determining what causes SAD and how can it be stopped is key in putting a halt to these negative impacts.

Researchers have concluded that SAD is caused by three interacting groups of factors: 1) Predisposing factors such as low elevations, south to west aspects and open stands vulnerable to warm drought, 2) Inciting factors including the hot, dry conditions between 2000-2005 which weakened vulnerable aspen stands, and 3) Contributing factors such as secondary insects and diseases that can kill trees under stress. These include Cytospora canker, bronze poplar borer, poplar borer and two aspen bark beetle species. It is not uncommon for stressed aspens to be invaded by borers and infected with Cytospora at the same time.

Scientists have not been able to predict how long SAD will continue in Colorado. The types of stresses that aspen forests are facing right now in the midst of SAD often take years to run their course. Insect populations and pathogens that kill aspens are high and may further extend the length of SAD. Research by Colorado State University is currently being done north of Paonia on SAD-affected stands to determine ways to promote aspen regeneration. Experiments involving prescribed burning and cutting are being examined for successful sprouting of new aspen. More information on SAD can be found at www.aspensite.org.ur e-mail alert lists and website.

In September 2007, the Irwin Lodge and associated private lands were bought by Scarp Ridge LLC. The owners of Scarp Ridge LLC also own Irwin Backcountry Guides (IBG) LLC. In mid-2008, IBG submitted an application to the Forest Service to offer guided snowcat skiing and hiking opportunities in the former Irwin Lodge permit area, using Scarp Ridge LLC private lands as their base. The Forest Service moved the proposal into the NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) process early in 2009. A 30-day scoping comment period ensued during the month of May, and High Country Citizens' Alliance weighed in on various environmental and conservation issues related to the project.



One issue in particular that we focused on was that of Canada lynx habitat. Lynx are currently listed as a federally threatened wildlife species under the Endangered Species Act. The Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDOW) lists them as endangered within the state. Canada lynx are found at high elevation areas in Colorado in minute numbers. Lynx had long been gone from Colorado (early 1970s) until the CDOW began reintroducing them in 1999. By 2005, more than 200 animals had been released.

One crucial element to the life cycle of lynx is denning habitat for the young. Newly-born lynx spend the first 2-3 months of their lives in dens located in very thick brush, typically inside thickets of shrubs, trees or woody debris. Increased recreation use within lynx habitat has the potential to push lynx out of denning areas. 30% of the boundary of IBG's original proposal is within an area the Forest Service identified as lynx denning habitat. IBG's latest proposal shows a reduced boundary size but lynx denning habitat still remains within about 25% of it.

Since Canada lynx is listed as threatened under the Endangered Species Act, the Forest Service is required to prepare a Biological Assessment (BA) that determines whether or not the project could adversely affect lynx. If this is the case, consultation with the US Fish & Wildlife Service is required. The Biological Assessment is currently underway and HCCA will evaluate its findings once we see the finished document.

The proposed ski area expansion onto Snodgrass Mountain has been a heated topic in this valley for some time now . . . actually since 1982 when Snodgrass Mountain was first included within Crested Butte Mountain Resort's permit boundary. It's a topic that we as an organization have given careful consideration during the last 27 years.

With regard to the currently proposed ski area expansion onto public lands . . . our mission statement is the following: "The mission of High Country Citizens' Alliance is to champion the protection, conservation and preservation of the natural ecosystems within the Upper Gunnison River Basin."

Our mission is at the forefront of every issue we tackle involving public lands and natural ecosystems in this valley. That includes any and all projects that are proposed on the 1.5 million acres of public Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands in the Upper Gunnison Basin. Snodgrass is on public land and is a natural ecosystem and is one of countless projects being proposed on public lands in the Gunnison Basin that fall under this header. We address environmental and conservation concerns with all of these projects because that is our mission and our responsibility.

Crested Butte Mountain Resort submitted a 12-page ski area expansion proposal to the Forest Service on June 19th. The proposal is available on our website for review. The Forest Service has stated that they will take a few months to review the proposal before deciding to accept or deny it. If they choose to accept it, the NEPA (National Environmental Policy Act) process will begin. HCCA will address environmental and conservation issues if this proposal is accepted into NEPA as we do with all projects proposed on public lands. Snodgrass is no different. We will continue to make every effort to keep the public informed about this important issue.

On August 5, 2009, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals affirmed a previous court ruling that the Bush administration had unlawfully repealed the 2001 National Roadless Rule. Now that the appeal has been favorably resolved, the reinstatement of the 2001 Rule is nationwide (including Colorado), but not including the Tongass in Alaska (excepted in separate rule) and Idaho (separate roadless rule). This is a big victory for the 2001 National Roadless Rule and the protection it offers to 58 million acres of federal Roadless Areas in America's national forests, including 4.4 million acres right here in Colorado. In another positive development, on August 13th, the Obama administration directed the Department of Justice to appeal a 10th Circuit Court decision that struck down the 2001 National Roadless Rule. This 10th Circuit decision had already been appealed by conservation organizations. A favorable ruling in the 10th Circuit would seal the deal and end the legal uncertainty on our nation's Roadless Areas. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack, head of the agency that oversees our National Forests, stated in an August 14th speech that he views the 9th Circuit decision reinstating the 2001 Roadless Rule nationwide as "a very very positive development." He also stated that "if the courts remain conflicted, or it's not possible to protect Roadless Areas through the courts, we will initiate a new rulemaking process to do so." The Colorado Department of Natural Resources released a new version of their proposed state Roadless Rule on August 3rd with a 60-day comment period. The Colorado plan protects fewer acres than the 2001 National Roadless Rule and allows the building of roads for mining, power utilities, water supply, ski areas and oil and gas extraction. Colorado is the only state in the US that is currently pursuing a state Roadless Rule . . . a leftover process from the Bush Administration. Bush gave individual states the right to craft their own Roadless Rules in 2005. Colorado has chosen to keep the 60-day comment period intact even though the 9th Circuit ruling has reinstated the 2001 National Roadless Rule in Colorado. A favorable ruling in the 10th Circuit would negate the need for any state Roadless Rule process, and it can be argued that the 9th Circuit ruling already has. A National Roadless Rule is critical because these lands belong to all Americans and they deserve a national rule that preserves them for future generations. Any state, based on pressures from special interests, could argue that they have special circumstances requiring a state roadless rule, which is what Colorado has done - exactly the reason a national policy was developed for these national Roadless Areas.