The Last Stand
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The future recreational use of Emerald Mountain is the topic of two upcoming public meetings, from 6 to 8 p.m. July 10 and Aug. 7 at the Steamboat Springs Community Center. Comments and suggestions regarding Emerald Mountain can be sent to consultant Stephen Sellenriek of THK Associates, at info@thkassoc.com.
Steamboat Springs — Its future use is far from finalized, but Emerald Mountain already is drawing crowds.
About 50 people attended a public meeting Thursday night at the Steamboat Springs Community Center to discuss future recreational use of the 4,139-acre parcel of land. The city of Steamboat Springs, the Bureau of Land Management and THK Associates — consultants hired by the BLM and the city to make recommendations about Emerald Mountain — hosted the meeting.
Emerald Mountain was acquired by the BLM in February 2007 through a land exchange that involved the city, the Emerald Mountain Partnership and other partners. A general implementation plan was adopted in June 2007 that set basic guidelines for the recreational use of the mountain.
“Getting public input is what this whole process is all about,” said Craig Robinson, the open space supervisor for the city.
Emerald Mountain is divided into two zones. Zone 1 is geared toward more strenuous activities, including mountain biking and Nordic skiing. Zone 2 is for wildlife viewing, hiking and similar, less strenuous activities.
“Tonight, I heard that there are people who would like to see some sort of loop system or loop trail developed,” Robinson said.
For a loop trail to be constructed, the boundary between the two zones would have to be adjusted. Gina Robison, outdoor recreation planner for the BLM’s Little Snake Office, says the process of moving the boundary “shouldn’t be too difficult,” though she wasn’t sure of the exact steps to do it.
“There are folks who feel that preserving the area for wildlife, which is one of the priority goals, is important, and that a loop trail has potential impacts,” Robinson said.
Since the acquisition of Emerald Mountain, Robison said the BLM has completed Phase 1 of Ridge Trail, a trail that runs along the northern end of the parcel. “We are hoping to complete Ridge Trail this year,” said John Husband, field manager for the BLM’s Little Snake Office. The process includes rerouting the trail around steep areas with a grade of more than 10 percent for sustainability purposes.
As far as a timeline for completion of the entire project, “we think it’ll be 5 to 10 years before it’s completed,” Robison said. “There’s just so much to do.”
Public meetings are planned for July 10 and Aug. 7. Stephen Sellenriek, senior planner for THK, said the consultants plan to further define the implementation plan and get a better idea of the existing trails on Emerald Mountain before the next meeting.
“Right now, this is a big-picture view,” Sellenriek said. “This is not about nuts and bolts.”
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mtroach
May 31, 2008 at 9:45 a.m.
› Suggest removal
I attended this meeting and found it to be disorginized, and felt that the BLM needs to step up at these meetings and bring those in attendance up to date with what is happening, and what these meetings were going to produce. Lots of the questions were about “nuts and bolts” (glass containers yes/no, leash law yes/no) and alot of time was wasted because the meeting lacked structure, and organization. I felt the BLM should have brought literature explaining how we got to this point, what the goals are for the property, how the goals were to be administered, how the public process would allow for changes to the stated goals for this land, and where we are in that public process.
I was further discouraged at the lack of homework from the BLM. They have a posted sign in at the Ridge trailhead, and have not checked those sign-in at all. They spoke of learning about who and how this property was being used, but a full year of use data has been unchecked.
I would love to see this property used, and shared by all citizens, but the meeetings were all about seperate trails for users, and not wanting to share the land. Ranchers don't want mountain bikes moving the catle, mt bikers don't want to ride trails with horses. If we don't concede some of our elitest views toward our respective useses for this land then noone will ever get to enjoy the full benifits of this great property.
I for one would rather enjoy, and share a bigger trail complex with all users than pick and fight over use, and be left with a smaller, less desireable space that is riddled with signs to manage who goes where. Everyone needs to work together and establish trails that are designed to accept all users safely, and put onto the property with great regard to the needs of the livestock, and wildlife that are currenly living on the land.
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