VWC - Alberta Park Needs Friends. Can you help?

Since the Rio Grande Forest Service seems mandated with being pro-development and turning a blind eye* to the cascading damages the proposed Village at Wolf Creek Speculative Development will inflict on this watershed and quite probably local governments and economy - it's up to citizens to use their one short window of opportunity - which closes at the end of September! - to convince the powers-that-be that this speculative luxury development is out of step with time and reality.

Without your help, this

US Forest Service Photo

Will become this - 

The Durango Telegraph

Except the pretty picture hides all the damage that bulldozing Albert Park will inflict.
(Please note the lower portion of this image is the existing Wolf Creek Ski Area and parking lot)

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For more on the story here are links to the recent news:

Village at Wolf Creek Land Exchange Proposal - official information

{Since the Rio Grande National Forest Service is mandated with being pro-development and turning a blind eye to the cascading damages the proposed Village at Wolf Creek Speculative Development will inflict on this watershed and local governments and economy - it's up to citizens to use their one short window of opportunity - which closes at the end of September! - to convince the powers-that-be that this speculative luxury development is out of step with time and reality.}

The “Moderate Density Development” option for the access road alternative called for 523 units, including 244 condos, 168 townhomes and almost 50,000 square feet of commercial space. This rendering was prepared by SE Group, a mountain planning and design firm, for the U.S. Forest Service in May 2012./Photo Illustration by SE Group

Courtesy of The Durango Telegraph

see their informative story at

http://www.durangotelegraph.com/index.cfm/news/it-takes-a-village/

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The following is copied off of the Rio Grande National Forest's website:
http://www.fs.fed.us/nepa/fs-usda-pop.php/?project=35945

Village at Wolf Creek Land Exchange Proposal

The Rio Grande National Forest is preparing an Environmental Impact Statement to analyze the effects of the proposed Village at Wolf Creek land exchange.

Village at Wolf Creek Access Project - Forest Service seeks comments

Contrary to assurances that I was on the mailing list I received no notice from the Rio Grande National Forest - and due to being out of state I'm out of the loop.  I'm glad my curiosity about the continued delay got the better of me this morning. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/riogrande/news-events/?cid=STELPRDB5386742 Forest Service seeks comments on Village at Wolf Creek Access Project Release Date: Aug 17, 2012    Monte Vista, Colo., August 16, 2012 –TheRio Grande National Forest (RGNF) is seeking comments on the Village at Wolf Creek Access Project Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) during a 45-day public comment period upon publication in the Federal Register on Friday, August 17.  The analysis was initiated as a result of a land exchange application submitted by Leavell-McCombs Joint Venture (LMJV).

June 2012 Update

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I spoke with a Rio Grande National Forest spokesman today and basically there's no update to report.  He pointed out that the EIS team is dedicated to producing a thorough report and it simple takes time to do the work needed to achieve that outcome.

Fair enough.

Current guestimates range from end of July to September before release of the draft environmental impact statement on the Alberta Park land swap proposal can be expected. 

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Wetlands and ‘old-growth’ fens heat up Wolf Creek debate. by Adam Howell

Here is an article that details a few of the reasons why people fear for the Alberta Park watershed area.  Any massive development in Alberta Park at 10,300 will cause unavoidable damage followed by cascading consequences that will impact the interstate, international Rio Grande River !

The fact that McCombs is suggesting moving his project a few hundred yards and slightly uphill, and closer to the highway will not mitigate that unavoidable destruction.

Think before digging!

reprinted with permission from The Durango Telegraph

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The Durango Telegraph

• December-29-2005
• » Wetlands heat up Wolf Creek debate

Wetlands heat up Wolf Creek debate Agencies clash over mapping of ‘old-growth’ fens by Adam Howell   Wetlands are currently boiling with controversy in the vicinity of Wolf Creek Ski Area. According to recently obtained e-mails, two agencies are throwing jabs in a recent bout over the regulation of wetlands as they relate to the proposed Village at Wolf Creek. According to the exchange, the Army Corps of Engineers’ Albuquerque District has prevented the Environmental Protection Agency from verifying the locations of wetlands at the site of the proposed developed.

Durango Telegraph "Village at Wolf Creek" Archives

 After putting together the Pagosa Springs SUN Newspaper Archives, I figured: why stop?  Over in Durango, the Durango Telegraph has printed a number of interesting articles and letters regarding the proposed Village at Wolf Creek.

With a couple articles deserving to be highlighted: 
The first, though dated in it's legal details, does an excellent job of describing the Fens/Wetlands situation and regulatory complications.  Illustrating some of the unavoidable impacts development would have on this watershed to the Rio Grande River. The second article describes the increasing stress the Rio Grande National Forest biosphere is suffering, and why we must take care of what we have.

Wetlands heat up Wolf Creek debate ~ Agencies clash over mapping of ‘old-growth’ fens

CoverStory, Adam Howell

http://www.durangotelegraph.com/index.cfm/archives/2005/december-29-2005/wetlands-heat-up-wolf-creek-debate/

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Rio Grande forest ‘endangered’

Quick 'n' Dirty

http://www.durangotelegraph.com/index.cfm/archives/2005/november-17-2005/quick-n-dirty/

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Durango Telegraph Weekly Newspaper 
http://www.durangotelegraph.com

The “Village At Wolf Creek” Archives

{ going back to 2005 }

Pagosa Springs SUN Newspaper: The “Village At Wolf Creek” Archives

 I was reviewing some old articles when I had the idea, that these news articles, along with a few opinion pieces and letters to the editor should be easily available for folks who may want a better understanding of the current controversy.

I have striven to remain within copyright guidelines and each article is linked to the full Pagosa Springs SUN story.

Pagosa Springs SUN Newspaper

http://www.pagosasun.com

The “Village At Wolf Creek” Archives

{ going back to 2000 }