Mr. Million’s Time Warp... dreams of diverting the mighty Green River's water

Dear Durango Telegraph Editor,
Last week Missy’s opinion started with recalling a wonderful river trip, one I could relate to having rafted that section during the 2010 peak water run off. Incredible water, incredible geology, incredible experience. But, as we know, the river is so much more than a good time. It’s our life blood and it has a new threat, Mr. Million’s water pipeline scheme, as Missy detailed in her opinion piece.

Seems like I barely finished it, when an email arrived from the High Country Citizens’ Alliance discussing Mr. Millions scheme and asking for support in convincing the Colorado Water Conservation Board not to spend $150,000 on studying the feasibility of a sure fire boondoggle.

To recap:

"Flaming Gorge/"Million" Pipeline": supporting evidence for why it should be abandoned

The following is a compilation of a few articles giving more background on the "Flaming Gorge/"Million" Pipeline" followed by a number of climatological studies that all indicate we need to start planning for a future with less rain water and smaller river flows.

ALERT! The sleeping Grizzly has awoken ~ Remains focused on devouring Alberta Park...

March 2011 Update...
The following has been pilfered from Friends of Wolf Creek.org but contains an important update and I'm hoping they won't mind.


Forest Service to Process Wolf Creek Land Exchange Proposal

March 8, 2011
The Rio Grande National Forest has published a feasibility analysis for the proposed Village at Wolf Creek Land Exchange and has entered into an agreement with Mr. McCombs to process the land exchange proposal.

August first 2010 Update

{Thank you www.lutheransource.net/WolfCreek.htm for the image of Alberta Park}

UPDATE:

From the Durango Herald

June 18, 2010
Wolf Creek Village Makes New Bid -
Developers seek environmental review of proposed land trade to build resort
by Joe Hanel - Herald Denver Bureau

"The June 7 proposal to the Forest Service formally starts an environmental review that could take 18 months or more. Officials at Rio Grande National Forest said Thursday they are doing an initial review of the plan to decide whether it is complete enough to even accept. If they do accept it, that will trigger a long process that includes public involvement..."


July 30, 2010
"Wolf Creek Village Redefines Project -
Minor boundary adjustments proposed for resort land swap"
by Shane Benjamin - Herald Staff Writer

"Developers of the Village at Wolf Creek have modified plans for a proposed land swap near the top of Wolf Creek Pass, where a resort town with ski-in and ski-out access is envisioned.

"The amended plan is similar to one submitted earlier this year by developers, but it makes slight boundary adjustments to accommodate the realignment of a ski lift that would link the village and Wolf Creek Ski Area. It also includes two alternate plans should the U.S. Forest Service reject the land swap..."

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Letter to the Durango Herald

Dear Editor,
Clint Jones, Village at Wolf Creek project leader from Austin, Texas (elevation 500’), says his reminted land exchange offer “is in the best interest of all parties, including the public.” How does he justify this conclusion when he won’t even acknowledge, let alone discuss, the many problems with the VWC concept both environmental and financial; problems that tweaking boundaries won’t fix?

Regarding the swap - letter to the Durango Telegraph

Coming back from the State Democratic Convention, I finally had the time to do something I’d wanted to for years. Track down and actually look at the land I’ve always treated with derision. A derision based on long ago secondhand stories of what someone else thought they knew and my own opposition to developing Alberta Park.

Although the land trade information is fairly obscure, Forest Service personnel were very helpful. After hop-scotching a couple people, having a little patience, there it was, the legal descriptions to nine parcels that Mr. McCombs traded for Alberta Park. Armed with that information I detoured to the Saguache County Court House & Forest Service Field Office where everyone was friendly and helpful in translating the legal descriptions into rough locations on the map.

I knew my notions were in trouble before Ieaving town in search of the “traded parcels.” They cluster around CR.41G about ten miles west of Hwy 285, south of Saguache. Very nice Mid-elevation country.

I wound up driving near or past six parcels feeling chagrined. I could see how the foresters out of Saguache district rejoiced at stitching those inholdings into the protection of the National Forest. I could even see how Mr. McCombs probably felt it was a square deal. In fact, when imagining what went on, back in 1986, in that Washington office (where the Interior Dept. overturned RGNF’s rejection of the land trade) a whole new layer of intrigue appears.

But then, from a citizen’s perspective it immediately begs the question: why must Alberta Park be sacrificed to gain protection for these other worthy parcels?

None of the virtue of what McCombs traded, justifies Alberta Park being bulldozed for a doomed speculation. Especially, not in the face of the challenges we will be grappling with these next years. Precious clean mountain water is a commodity we can’t afford to squander.

Inviting Concise Rational Submissions

I started this website because I believe We The People need a tool for rationally explaining why the speculative Village at Wolf Creek project near the Great Divide should be scrapped in favor of returning that land to a protected status.

I have added what information I felt I could. However, there are many other problems with the Village at Wolf Creek regarding wildlife habitat and migration corridors. Then, there is that unique Fens area and the rest of the wetlands network up there. Then, infrastructure and highway access and more.

I can’t speak to those issues with any authority. But, some of you out there can.

Can You offer some concise descriptions/arguments regarding unmentioned aspects of the VWC plans that deserve a skeptical eye?

email: citizenschallenge@gmail.com

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

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{Thank you www.lutheransource.net/WolfCreek.htm for the image of Alberta Park}
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Ryan Bidwell, Executive Director of Colorado Wild describes the Village at Wolf Creek history and current status.

Colorado Wild Village at Wolf Creek Presentation ~

West Davies on YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cpfNGqVY9hI&list=PL63BD9DC3F3BE822E

A nine part series by

West Davies

Filmed - October, 2009

Interestingly, the next day Mr. Clint Jones, the VWC developer, was giving his 'Village at Wolf Creek sales pitch' at the same venue, but Mr. Jones refused to allow West Davies to record his presentation.

Sounds like the developer of the Village at Wolf Creek isn’t willing to stand behind his words, by allowing them to be recorded.

More cause for healthy skepticism!

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For more background there's a very interesting Denver Post expose' by Mike Soraghan, February 5, 2006 - Section: 1A Page: A-01.

The Wolf Creek Development Tangled With Political Ties
Mike Soraghan, Denver Post Staff Writer

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