FRIENDS OF WOLF CREEK - CALL TO ACTION !!!

Friends of Wolf Creek call to action.

Hello to all you Friends of Wolf Creek and Alberta Park, can I share some important thoughts?

After years and decades of mostly being relegated to the sidelines, while promoters made slick presentations and the powers-that-be danced their dance, our time has arrived.  On May 19th, Senior District Judge Richard P. Matsch handed down his decision in the Civil Action of 15-cv-01342 - It nullified the land swap agreement between the Rio Grande National Forest / USDA and Leavell-McCombs Joint Venture (Village at Wolf Creek speculators).  

The Rio Grande Forest Service and USDA received a stinging rebuke for its one-sided approach and is currently digesting the judge’s decision.  The Village at Wolf Creek speculators once again find themselves back at first base with nothing to show for more than three decades of lobbying, beyond lost court battles and endless expenses.  

Now is the time when a significant ground-swell of the Friends of Wolf Creek proactively lobbying Red McCombs, perhaps even his McCombs Foundation and certainly the VWC website and the Rio Grande National Forest Administration could well have a resounding impact on their thinking, or at least their decisions moving forward.  You never know until you make the effort.

I don’t mean anything belligerent, that would be totally counter-productive!  I’m talking about striving to win hearts and minds.  Help in a friendly effort to educate and convince the source of the Alberta Park Problem of the error of their ways.

(edited 5/29/2017)

What’s RGNF/USDA learned from Judge Matsch’s rebuke?

The VWC Saga continues.  I have been in contact with the Forest Service and want to share our correspondence in keeping with my goal of being an information kiosk for those interested in helping save Alberta Park from destructive development. 

For this post I’m going to start with my second email to the Rio Grande National Forest and backtrack from there:

Dear Communication Officers Blakeman, Lujan and Superintendent Dallas,

Communication Officer Lawrence Lujan responded to my questions with a one-liner:  "We are evaluating the court’s ruling and have no further comment at this time."  Nothing more.  

No hint of when the public can hope to hear RGNF/USDA’s response to the reprimand it received from Senior Federal Judge Matsch regarding its handling of the Village At Wolf Creek land swap negotiations and subsequent Environmental Impact Study and Draft.

This matters because from the public’s perspective the RGNF/USDA has maintained a decidedly pro-development stance during the past decades of negotiating with the wheeler dealer from the Texan lowlands.  In the process it has relegated environmental issues such as wetlands, fens concerns, wildlife corridor issues, health issues, fundamental feasibility issues with the project - to irrelevant externalities to be addressed by someone else, somewhere down the road after the irreparable damage is underway.

Judge Matsch made clear how inappropriate that outlook and actions were.  

Village At Wolf Creek developments - collection of news stories, May 2017

Jonathan Romeo | May 19, 2017 | DurangoHerald.com 

In a significant win for opponents of the Village at Wolf Creek, a federal judge on Friday invalidated the U.S. Forest Service’s decision to approve a land exchange that would have essentially served as a green light for a new resort atop the remote mountain pass.

“The order rules in the favor of community groups who have been fighting this ill-conceived project for decades,” said Travis Stills, an attorney with Energy & Conservation Law. “This is an important decision that respects the law, the environment and, importantly, agency staffers who tried to protect the national forest, despite the constant barrage of political pressure.” …

For nearly three decades, Leavell-McCombs Joint Venture has sought to build a resort with a capacity for an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 people on the mountain pass at nearly 10,000 feet and more than 20 miles from the nearest town.

… Senior Judge Richard P. Matsch in no uncertain terms agreed with those concerns. …  

https://durangoherald.com/articles/159784

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

VICTORY FOR THE CANADA LYNX AT WOLF CREEK!

San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council

http://www.slvec.org/news/28-front-page-articles/122-victory-for-the-canada-lynx

We did it!! Denver Judge Matsch ruled that federal agencies did not complete the work that must be done to review developmental impacts a large scale ski resort would have on the National Forest at Wolf Creek Pass, and that any future village proposal must include that review. Thank you to Rocky Mountain Wild, the San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council, San Juan Citizens Alliance, and Wilderness Workshop for making this possible! See the press release and court document at the links below.

05.19.17.Order-on-Merits.pdf

WolfCreekPR_May2017_final.final.pdf

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

BIG WIN: Judge Nullifies Land Exchange Critical to 

Village at Wolf Creek (development)

By Erika Brown | May 19, 2017 | http://www.sanjuancitizens.org

Lands Protection, Wolf Creek

Judge Matsch’s decision validates nearly every complaint we had regarding the Forest Service’s botched attempt at an Environmental Impact Statement. They shirked their responsibility to assess the impacts of development and disregarded significant public input. Your input.

In a world where billionaires too often get their way, regardless of how they play the game, this is a reassuring testament to the power of democracy and everyday people to speak out and make a difference,.

See full Press Release below:

http://www.sanjuancitizens.org/lands-protection/big-win-judge-nullifies-land-exchange-critical-village-wolf-creek/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

PRESS RELEASE: Federal Judge Sets Aside Forest Service Wolf Creek Land Exchange

Posted on May 19, 2017 by chris | http://rockymountainwild.org

Denver, CO — The Honorable Senior Judge Richard P. Matsch issued an Order today affirming that the Forest Service “failed to consider important aspects of the issues before them, offered an explanation for their decision that runs counter to the evidence, failed to base their decision on consideration of the relevant factors, and based their decision on an analysis that is contrary to law.” This Order concludes another chapter in this decades long saga to protect Wolf Creek pass from a large scale residential and commercial development that could accommodate 8,000 to 10,000 visitors.

http://rockymountainwild.org/press-release-federal-judge-sets-aside-forest-service-wolf-creek-land-exchange

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

http://www.denverpost.com/2017/05/19/judge-halts-wolf-creek-land-swap/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

MONDAY, JUNE 29, 2015

Pictures of Alberta Park the proposed site for the luxury Village at Wolf Creek

http://no-villageatwolfcreek.blogspot.com/2015/06/pictures-albertapark-wolfcreekpass.html

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016

Concise History of the Village at Wolf Creek - San Juan Citizens Alliance

http://no-villageatwolfcreek.blogspot.com/2016/01/history-of-village-at-wolf-creek.html

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2010

The Back Story ~ Village at Wolf Creek ~ presented by Ryan Bidwell 

(at the time Executive Director of Colorado Wild)

http://no-villageatwolfcreek.blogspot.com/2010/03/village-at-wolf-creek-back-story.html

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011

Alberta Park's Rio Grande Nat'l Forest Service....... 'open house hike' September 20, 2011

http://no-villageatwolfcreek.blogspot.com/2011/10/alberta-parks-natl-forest-service-open.html

(revised 2/26/12 to reflect final draft)

… Considering the great controversy surrounding this project the Rio Grande National Forest decided to sponsor a four hour field trip/hike September 20th through Alberta Park, site of the proposed development. Led by District Ranger Tom Malecek the tour was intended to inform the interested public about the project as well as offering a friendly setting for folks to speak with various participants. …

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2015

June 4, 2015 - Wolf Creek Land Exchange - Inside Durango TV

http://no-villageatwolfcreek.blogspot.com/2015/06/idtv-villagewolfcreek-landswap.html

Updated 6/6/2015 - Supervisor Dallas responds to my questions 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016

Index of Posts - NO-Village at Wolf Creek - Rio Grande National Forest ( January 2016)

http://no-villageatwolfcreek.blogspot.com/2016/01/index-of-posts-opposing-village-at-wolf.html

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016

RGNF asks for patience, wait for the judge to judge.

http://no-villageatwolfcreek.blogspot.com/2016/01/rgnf-asks-for-patience-wait-for-judge.html

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2016

When is enough, enough - Rio Grande Nat'l Forest and Red McCombs?

http://no-villageatwolfcreek.blogspot.com/2016/01/redmccombs-bullying-rgnf-usda.html

Forest Service Actively Concealed And Destroyed Information Concerning Planned Development On Wolf Creek Pass

Advocacy groups push for release of records from senior officials 

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2015

Judge rules agency inexplicably withheld information from public

http://no-villageatwolfcreek.blogspot.com/2015/10/rgnf-inexplicably-withheldinfo.html

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015

Celebrating Alberta Park and Honoring Wolf Creek

http://no-villageatwolfcreek.blogspot.com/2015/05/honoring-wolf-creek.html

also   http://no-villageatwolfcreek.blogspot.com/2015/06/june20-wolfcreek-skiarea.html

Art for the Endangered Landscape:  Honoring Wolf Creek 

Friends of Wolf Creek is planning an informative and inspiring art opportunity this summer, honoring Wolf Creek Pass. Artists of all disciplines will converge at the Wolf Creek Ski Area on Saturday June 20, 2015 to spend the day in the creative process. 

Judge Has Ruled - Red McCombs and LMJV land swap nullified. Text of Ruling.

US District Court Colorado, Judge Matsch's ORDER: 

"Where an agency action is found to be arbitrary and capricious, an abuse of discretion, or 39 otherwise not in accordance with law, the Court must “hold [it] unlawful and set [it] aside.” 5 U.S.C. § 706(2). The Court finds and concludes that Defendants‟ actions violated the APA in the respects specified in this decision.  

Accordingly, it is ORDERED that the Record of Decision dated May 21, 2017, is SET ASIDE.”

___________________________________________________________

I recall back in January 2016 having Mike Blakeman (Public Affairs Specialist RGNF) advise against speculation and to let the judge judge based on the merits of the case.  He reminded us that Judge Matsch had a distinguished record and could be trusted to take the time to wade through the documents and sort out the facts, then to make a reasoned and fair decision.  It's now May 20th, 2017 and the judge's considered and legally binding decision was released yesterday.  In essence Red McCombs' Village at Wolf Creek land swap deal has been rejected by the Federal Court.

Without comment, though I did add emphasis, I'm sharing the text of Judge Matsch's full decision, I thank FriendsofWolfCreek.org for posted it at:

 http://friendsofwolfcreek.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Order-on-Merits.pdf

___________________________________________________________________

Case 1:15-cv-01342-RPM Document 67 Filed 05/19/17 USDC Colorado

IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLORADO 

Senior District Judge Richard P. Matsch

Civil Action No. 15-cv-01342-RPM

Plaintiffs, 

ROCKY MOUNTAIN WILD;

SAN LUIS VALLEY ECOSYSTEM COUNCIL; 

SAN JUAN CITIZENS ALLIANCE; 

WILDERNESS WORKSHOP, 

Defendants

DAN DALLAS, in his official capacity as Forest Supervisor;

MARIBETH GUSTAFSON, in her official capacity as Deputy Regional Forester; 

UNITED STATES FOREST SERVICE, 

a Federal Agency within the U.S. Department of Agriculture; 

UNITED STATES FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, 

a federal agency within the Department of the Interior,

Intervenor,

LEAVELL-McCOMBS JOINT VENTURE. 

___________________________________________________________

ORDER SETTING ASIDE AGENCY ACTION 

 ___________________________________________________________

UPDATE - VWC-RGNF deal tossed out! Judge Rejects Flawed Process - RockyMtnWild Press Release

ROCKY MTN WILD, PRESS RELEASE: Federal Judge Sets Aside Forest Service Wolf Creek Land Exchange

Posted on May 19, 2017 by Chris

For Immediate Release, May 19, 2017

http://rockymountainwild.org/press-release-federal-judge-sets-aside-forest-service-wolf-creek-land-exchange

Federal Judge Sets Aside Forest Service Wolf Creek Land Exchange

Any future Village Proposal Must Address Development Impacts on the National Forest and Lynx

Denver, CO — The Honorable Senior Judge Richard P. Matsch issued an Order today affirming that the Forest Service “failed to consider important aspects of the issues before them, offered an explanation for their decision that runs counter to the evidence, failed to base their decision on consideration of the relevant factors, and based their decision on an analysis that is contrary to law.” This Order concludes another chapter in this decades long saga to protect Wolf Creek pass from a large scale residential and commercial development that could accommodate 8,000 to 10,000 visitors.

“This ruling is an incredible victory for the flora and fauna that rely on Wolf Creek pass for their survival,” stated Tehri Parker, Executive Director of Rocky Mountain Wild. “This order specifically recognizes the ‘unique’ environmental qualities of this region, and the role that it plays as a wildlife movement corridor between the Weminuche and South San Juan Wilderness areas. We couldn’t be happier with this outcome and getting this great news on Endangered Species Day!”

Index of Posts - NO-Village at Wolf Creek - Rio Grande National Forest

I like to think of this blog as a sort of an information kiosk for concerned citizens, feel free to copy and share.  Please remember to include the original sources where appropriate.

Petitioning Chief, USDA Forest Service Tom Tidwell

Petitioning Chief, USDA Forest Service Tom Tidwell

Stop the destruction of Wolf Creek Pass, an irreplaceable Colorado treasure

Friends of Wolf Creek

Wolf Creek Pass in southwestern Colorado forms the pristine headwaters of the Rio Grande and San Juan Rivers. Bridging the South San Juan and Weminuche Wilderness Areas, the pass is beloved for stunning vistas and ample opportunities for backcountry recreation along the Continental Divide. 

It is also one of the most biologically-important areas in the Southern Rockies, providing habitat and migration pathways for elk, deer, black bear and the threatened Canada lynx. In fact, Wolf Creek Pass hosts some of the best remaining, critical and high-functioning lynx habitat in the state.

Recently, the U.S. Forest Service approved a land exchange with a private developer, which will set the stage for a large scale development – 8,000 year round residents in over 1,700 units -- in some of the most important wildlife habitat in the heart of West.

Impacts of the proposed development threaten local businesses in nearby Archuleta and Rio Grande Counties, unspoiled backcountry recreation opportunities along the Continental Divide, water supply and water quality for downstream communities, rare and ecologically valuable fen wetlands, one of the most critical wildlife corridors in the Southern Rocky Mountains, and the scenic beauty of our Colorado wild spaces.

Please tell USDA Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell to stop the destruction of Wolf Creek Pass, an irreplaceable Colorado treasure.

Help Save Albert Park RGNF From Destruction

I received the following today and thought I'd pass it along:

Tom Tidwell, Chief, USDA Forest Service: Stop the destruction of Wolf Creek Pass in SW Colorado

Petition update

We can win, but we need your help!

Friends of Wolf Creek

Dec 7, 2015 — In October, we won a major victory when the courts ruled that the US Forest Service had withheld thousands of pages of documents from public scrutiny related to a controversial land exchange on the pass. This ruling forces the Service to fully disclose documents pertaining to this decision.

While this was a great victory, we still have a lot of work to do. Over the next few months, we will be facing off against attorneys for the Forest Service and Red McCombs. If we prevail, the "village" will be stopped in its tracks while the Forest Service is forced to conduct a thorough and transparent study of the environmental impacts of the development. We know that a real study of these impacts will give us the ammunition we need to stop this development forever.

Petitioning Chief of USDA Forest Service, Tom Tidwell: Protect Alberta Park

       

Stop the destruction of Wolf Creek Pass, an irreplaceable Colorado treasure

Wolf Creek Pass in southwestern Colorado forms the pristine headwaters of the Rio Grande and San Juan Rivers. Bridging the South San Juan and Weminuche Wilderness Areas, the pass is beloved for stunning vistas and ample opportunities for backcountry recreation along the Continental Divide. It is also one of the most biologically-important areas in the Southern Rockies, providing habitat and migration pathways for elk, deer, black bear and the threatened Canada lynx. In fact, Wolf Creek Pass hosts some of the best remaining, critical and high-functioning lynx habitat in the state.

Recently, the U.S. Forest Service approved a land exchange with a private developer, which will set the stage for a large scale development – 8,000 year round residents in over 1,700 units -- in some of the most important wildlife habitat in the heart of West.

Impacts of the proposed development threaten local businesses in nearby Archuleta and Rio Grande Counties, unspoiled backcountry recreation opportunities along the Continental Divide, water supply and water quality for downstream communities, rare and ecologically valuable fen wetlands, one of the most critical wildlife corridors in the Southern Rocky Mountains, and the scenic beauty of our Colorado wild spaces.

Please tell USDA Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell to stop the destruction of Wolf Creek Pass, an irreplaceable Colorado treasure.

https://www.change.org/p/tom-tidwell-chief-usda-forest-service-stop-the-destruction-of-wolf-creek-pass-in-sw-colorado

www.change.org and Friends of Wolf Creek

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Letter to: 

Chief, USDA Forest Service, Tom Tidwell

Dear Chief Tidwell, 
Recent actions by the Rio Grande National Forest have set into motion a plan that will destroy one of our nation’s most important wildlife movement corridors – Wolf Creek Pass.  

A national coalition of conservation and climate modeling experts has identified Wolf Creek Pass as one of the top ten landscapes that should receive immediate and lasting protection as part of a national climate change strategy.  

Protection of the area will: 
1) sequester carbon and advance climate change mitigation objectives; 
2) safeguard streams and aquifer sources that provide clean water for communities; and 
3) conserve vital high altitude wildlife habitat that will preserve species biodiversity in the face of climate change. 

Alberta Park (Wolf Creek) Construction Moratorium July 15, 2015

Edited Saturday evening 6/18/2015

I've been out of state traveling untethered from the internet, so it was a nice homecoming surprise to read the Durango Herald's July 15th story by Peter Marcus reporting on a new VWC development, pun intended.  Leavell McCombs Joint Venture agrees not to conduct any on-site construction activity until after the current lawsuit is settled.

The lawsuit objects to various failures in the EIS process along with its unjustifiably narrow scope of review.  

It seems to me the best way to describe the problem is that the Rio Grande National Forest (USDA) has restricted their entire line of inquiry and regulatory hurdles on the a priori assumption that construction of a resort must happen up at Alberta Park.  

A judgment call many vehemently object to since it totally ignores the value of the current biologically productive landscape that is the Alberta Park "parcel."  A keystone of the entire Wolf Creek basin!

Towards Alberta Park including Alberta Park Reservoir

Another reason it matters is that this is source-waters for the interstate, international Rio Grande River.

Image from "Cry Wolf Creek: fanatic following at Colorado's snowiest spot" June 28, 2010

http://www.gocolorado.com/cry-wolf-creek-fanatic-following-at-colorados-snowiest-spot/

______________________________________________________________________

From under Elma's chairlift towards Alberta Park and a pond.

The following is the official press release giving further details.

_____________________________________

For Immediate Release: July 14, 2015

No Construction on Wolf Creek Pass until Lawsuit is Decided

Denver, CO – Conservation organizations, the U.S. Forest Service, and the Leavell-McCombs Joint Venture signed an agreement today that will halt all construction and development on two disputed land parcels at the top of Wolf Creek Pass in southwestern Colorado. The agreement will maintain the physical status quo on Forest Service and private land while a lawsuit filed by the conservation organizations works its way through Federal Court.

July 2nd, IDTV report - Wolf Creek Opponents File Lawsuit

Wolf Creek Opponents File Law Suit 

July 2, 2015

The battle against the village at Wolf Creek, 

escalates into a full blown law suit.

http://www.durangotv.com/video-detail.php?ID=449

InsideDurangoTV

Pictures of Alberta Park the proposed site for the luxury Village at Wolf Creek

I drove up to Wolf Creek Ski Area Saturday the 20th to see what the Honoring Wolf Creek art project was all about and though I'm certainly no artist I did wind up doing a little art of my own . . .  

Wolf Creek Ski Area Parking lot

The rendezvous point for participants of the 

Honoring Wolf Creek art project.  

By the time I got there most artists were dispersed throughout the area with easels and 

other implements in hand.  

They did have some musicians and a drum circle, 

but I was antsy to go for a walk and a bit of mediating.

I figured since I have a fancy new phone that can 

take some decent pictures I should try to 

share the moment.  Here's my offering. 

US Route 160 in the distance

Looking towards Alberta Park

Alberta Park wetlands

Alberta Park close up - 

courtesy of the San Juan Citizens Alliance

(all other images, including the following 14 were taken by me during my June 20th visit and walk.)