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. …
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VICTORY FOR THE CANADA LYNX AT WOLF CREEK!
San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council
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.
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BIG WIN: Judge Nullifies Land Exchange Critical to
Village at Wolf Creek (development)
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:
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PRESS RELEASE: Federal Judge Sets Aside Forest Service Wolf Creek Land Exchange
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.
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MONDAY, JUNE 29, 2015
Pictures of Alberta Park the proposed site for the luxury Village at Wolf Creek
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016
Concise History of the Village at Wolf Creek - San Juan Citizens Alliance
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THURSDAY, MARCH 4, 2010
The Back Story ~ Village at Wolf Creek ~ presented by Ryan Bidwell
(at the time Executive Director of Colorado Wild)
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MONDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2011
Alberta Park's Rio Grande Nat'l Forest Service....... 'open house hike' September 20, 2011
(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. …
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THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 2015
June 4, 2015 - Wolf Creek Land Exchange - Inside Durango TV
Updated 6/6/2015 - Supervisor Dallas responds to my questions
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016
Index of Posts - NO-Village at Wolf Creek - Rio Grande National Forest ( January 2016)
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TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2016
RGNF asks for patience, wait for the judge to judge.
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SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2016
When is enough, enough - Rio Grande Nat'l Forest and Red McCombs?
Forest Service Actively Concealed And Destroyed Information Concerning Planned Development On Wolf Creek Pass
Advocacy groups push for release of records from senior officials
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THURSDAY, OCTOBER 1, 2015
Judge rules agency inexplicably withheld information from public
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WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2015
Celebrating Alberta Park and Honoring Wolf Creek
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.
