In an advertisement to be placed in nine newspapers across Colorado, a coalition of sportsmen’s groups have joined together and are asking the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) to place the values of hunters and anglers on equal ground with oil and gas drilling as the agency completes its White River Resource Management Plan.
Located in northwestern Colorado, the White River area is well known as a “mule deer factory” for its impressive deer herds; it is also renowned for its migratory elk herds and its famed trout fisheries. In other words, White River is a true sportsmen’s paradise. It also lies atop rich oil and gas deposits, which are expected to see significant interest from oil companies in the coming years.
The White River Resource Management Plan, currently under consideration by the BLM, will guide the use and protection of 1.5 million publicly owned acres in the White River area into the foreseeable future.
According to a recent analysis by Headwaters Economics, residents of Rio Blanco County—which lies in the heart of the White River area—can thank protected public lands for thousands of dollars in additional income each year. Nearly $2000 in annual per capita income in Rio Blanco County can be explained by the presence of protected public lands.
These lands attract visitors from across the country who buy from local outfitters, stay in local hotels, and eat at local restaurants. Small business owners are drawn to areas with open space and abundant recreation opportunities, where they create jobs and provide amenities and services.
One innovative way to balance land protection and energy development in the White River area is to develop a special land management classification: backcountry conservation areas.
According to the coalition:
“This management category would conserve specific intact and undeveloped public lands that produce robust game populations and provide high quality hunting and fishing opportunities.”
The White River Resource Management Plan provides the Colorado BLM office with an opportunity to promote an equal ground approach to public lands management. That means protecting valuable wildlife, recreation, and economic opportunities in the region, while ensuring that oil and gas drilling is carefully planned and does not interfere with other important uses of the land.
(Feature photo: Jeffrey Beall, Flickr)