CONSERVATION NOTES

by Dave Johnson

  Wilderness and the BLM

The Bush administration continues its frontal assault on the environment. As readers of the Pueblo Chieftain probably already know, the Interior Department intends to withdraw three million acres of BLM land in Utah from the Wilderness Study Area designation.

Under WSA designation, these lands have been granted wilderness protection until Congress makes a final decision on whether they should be granted permanent wilderness protection. In our area, Greenhorn Mountain and the Spanish Peaks both benefited for many years under WSA designation until Congress finally got around to granting permanent Wilderness status

By eliminating WSA status, the Interior Department is saying it’s OK to open these fragile lands to oil and gas development, off road vehicles and other irreversible changes which will scar these lands forever. The Administration does not intend to give Congress a chance to vote on whether these lands are worthy of protection!

Millions of acres of Colorado BLM land may suffer the same fate.

 A National Park and Water

The Gunnison River is also under attack. The Gunnison is number four on the “most endangered rivers” list compiled by the American Rivers organization. The National Park Service has agreed to give up all but 300

cubic feet per second of the river flow that carved the Black Canyon. The river’s flow through the canyon seemed protected when the Black Canyon was elevated to National Park status in 1999.

   But the Interior Department has “folded like a cheap umbrella in a strong wind” as Rebecca Modder, president of American Rivers stated in the Chieftain. Now front range cities are falling all over themselves trying to figure out ways to get the water. It is entirely possible that one of the great natural spectacles in Colorado will be exchanged for fore golf courses, swimming pools and bluegrass lawns.

BENT’S FORT FIELD TRIP REPORT

by Dave Johnson

   AVAS and the Bent’s Old Fort Historical Association co-sponsored a field trip around the fort and the nearby marsh on April 12. Eighteen people participated in the 8:00—10:00 morning bird walk, including folks from as far away as Alamosa, Ratón and Eads.

   Although the birds were not plentiful, we all had a nice walk around the marsh. Among other species seen, were an early barn swallow and a late snow goose. A Say’s phoebe put on a pretty flight display. A Virginia rail responded loudly and repeatedly to the taped recording.

   Six birders continued on to the Fort Lyons Wildlife Area, Van’s grove and the marsh on Road JJ. Again, birds weren’t found in great numbers. We saw dozens and dozens of robins and about three or four downy woodpeckers. Another Virginia rail called from the marsh.

   The day had a depressing ending when we drove down a sandy trail to get to the west end of John Martin Reservoir, and all we found was a muddy ditch that used to be the Arkansas River. We saw a total of 33 bird species.

AVAS/Aiken Trip to the Gold Belt Tour Area

SeEtta Moss will lead this jointly sponsored field trip to the pinyon-juniper areas north of Cañon City on June 14.  We will meet at 8:30 am the Cañon City Visitor's Center on the east end of Canon City--it is located on Highway 50, is directly in front of the Walmart Store and has a dinosaur next to it.

Colfax County, NM field trip information for May and summer can be obtained by calling Dave Cleary, trip leader, at (505) 375-2971 in Maxwell, New Mexico.