Conference vmsnet::hunting$note:hunting

1315.0. "Possible Elk Habitat Destruction in Colorado" by CSC32::J_HENSON (Who elected Hillary?) Tue Oct 26 1993 17:07

I found this on the internet and decided to post it here.  I've also
posted it in the Colorado notes conference.

I haven't had a chance to check any of this out for myself, but it
seems fairly complete.  I do plan to get the facts, though, and act
accordingly.  Also, I do have the permission of the original poster
to post here.

Jerry

======================================================================
Article 5608 of rec.hunting:
Newsgroups: rec.hunting
Message-ID: <[email protected]>
Date: Tue, 26 Oct 1993 08:34:28 CDT
Sender: "Rec.hunting discussion list" <[email protected]>
From: David Neils <[email protected]>
Subject: Stop Elk Habitat Destruction in Colorado
Lines: 459

From: Colorado State Land Coalition
Subject: Support Opposition to Seven Utes Resort Development in Colorado
Date: 10/21/93

There is currently a proposal by Fred Sauer Inc. of California to develop a
year-round resort 3 miles west of Cameron Pass in Colorado. This pristine
alpine area is one of the few left in Colorado that hasn't been ruined by
development. This area is used year-round by individuals who want a true
wilderness experience, untainted by bumper-to-bumper traffic, condos covering
the hillsides, high levels of pollution, and other resort advantages. Unless
the public voice their opposition to this project it could sail through
quickly. There is a loop hole that allows Fred Sauer to start construction
without an Environmental Impact Statement because the development would be
on state land.

The development would severely impact all hunters who use this area to "get
away" from the crowds and enjoy a quality hunt. This area is used extensively
by elk for calving and is prime summer range for both elk and deer. The quality
of hunting would decrease dramatically if this development goes in. What used to
be a prime elk wallow would now be hole number 9 on the proposed golf course.

We need your help to oppose this development. I have included a fact sheet
which highlights the details of the resort proposal. The Colorado State Land
Board is accepting public comment on this proposal until November 15, 1993.
This is only a few weeks away. Please take the time to write a letter to the
Colorado State Land Board and voice your opposition.

The Land Board commissioners are very sensitive to public opinion so your
letter WILL make a difference. Send additional copies to Colorado Governer Roy
Romer and the other Colorado and National elected officials. I especially
encourage Colorado residents to take the time to write, as you have the most
impact on local "elected" officials.

What can YOU do?

1. Be informed about the Seven Utes Resort proposal by reading the fact sheet
   below.

2. Use the template letter at the end of this message and modify it to reflect
   your own opposition to this development.

3. Send your letter to the Colorado State Land Board. The address is included
   in the template letter.

4. Send additional copies to the addresses included at the end of letter.

5. Send an email copy of your letter to David Neils at:

   Internet:  [email protected]

   U.S. Postal Address: 834 Balsam Lane
                        Fort Collins, CO 80526

6. Act quickly! The Colorado State Land Board is accepting public input until
   11/15/93.



Thanks for taking this seriously,


David Neils
Fort Collins, CO
303-482-8685



                         7 UTES SKI RESORT FACT SHEET


The resort:

Will be built on 4200 acres straddling CO hwy 14 just west of Cameron Pass,
     of which about 3000 will be leased and 1000 will be involved in a land
     exchange
Will have an "architectural motif" inspired by "such classic Colorado hotels
     as the Broadmoor" (Concept Proposal, 4/2/93)
Will be built in two phases:
     Phase 1 (5-7 y):  100 homes, 250 condominiums, 300-room hotel,
          modular employee housing, commercial village with shopping and
          restaurant facilities, convention center (to seat 200), 20
          downhill ski runs on 1300 acres, 6 ski lifts, "cat" skiing area,
          ice rink, equestrian center, mountain bike trails, water
          filtration and sewage treatment plants, medical clinic, fire
          station, school
     Phase 2 (after 7 y):  100 homes, 1000 condominiums, second 300-room
          hotel, golf course, 20 more downhill ski runs on additional 1000
          acres
     At some point:  playing fields (baseball, soccer and other field
          sports) and courts (tennis, basketball, volleyball, and
          horseshoes) expected to attract national-interest events,
          exercise center (with workout room, spa, and sauna),
          photography studio, moose viewing lodge
Will generate $450,000 to $500,000 for K-12 education (in addition to about
     $18.6 million currently generated by trust lands).
Will employ 500 people within a year following permit approval, and will
     employ "as many local people as possible," mostly in service capacity.
     NB:  this many workers is expected to create a strain on school
     system, implying that that many will *not* be local.
Will be served internally by a shuttle system (including horse-drawn) and
     externally by buses connected to Walden, Fort Collins, and
     (presumably) the expanded airport in Jackson County
Will be large enough to accomodate 4000 skiers per day.
Will "hopefully" begin operations by 2000 (Fred Sauer, Coloradoan 10/15/93)

The development team consists of:

Summary:  Mostly out of state; two of the three that are in state are to aid
     in dealing with Colorado State Government and State Laws.

Developer:  Fred Sauer, President (former mayor of Rolling Hills CA, former
     president of banks and several companies, including the Palm Springs
     Country Club Development Co), Fred sauer Inc., somewhere in southern
     CA (See Mark Sauer below).
Architect and Planner:  Lawrence Young, Managing Principal, Ward Young
     Architects, 12010 Donner Pass Rd., Truckee, CA  95734
Government Land advisors:  Tom Glass and Adam Poe, Western Land Group
     Inc., 1212 Kerr Gulch, Evergreen CO  80429
Land Planning and Environmental Control:  Leon McKinney, 841 Green Lantern
     Ln., Ballwin MO  63011
Legal Advisor:  Charles White, Brownstein Hyatt Farber and Strickland, 410
     17th St., Denver CO  80202
Engineer:  Tom Martin, 12666 Pasquale Rd., Nevada City, CA  95959
General Contractor:  Mark Sauer (son of Fred), Vice President, Fred Sauer,
     Inc., 10145 Larchmont Rd., Corona, CA  92461
Financial Advisor:  Dan Wainess, CPA (former president of CPA societies of
     America and California), 218 Cheyenne Mountain blvd., Colorado
     Springs, CO  80906
Computer Science Advisor (?):  Martin Lenk, 2429 Ranch Dr., Springfield, OR
     97477
Land Planning and Development:  Ed Pearson, President (and former mayor of
     Rolling Hills, CA...), E.L. Pearson, Inc., 1515 Redondo Beach Blvd,
     Gardena, CA  90275 (planned entire city of Diamond Bar, CA, with more
     than 60,000 residents)

The Colorado State Board of Land Commissioners:

Members:  Lucy Black Creighton (Chair or president), Robert Mailander, John
     S. Wilkes III.
Address:  620 Centennial Building, 1313 Sherman St., Denver, CO  80203.
     phone (303) 866-3454
Colorado constitutional mandate:  "to generate revenue for its trust
     beneficiaries; to preserve and enhance the long-term value of the
     trust lands; and to serve the public good."

Procedure and timetable:

Until 11/15/93:  Public comment to land board invited
12/15/93:  Land board will vote on whether to sign letter of intent, which is
     a contract specifying the procedure to be followed in evaluating
     impacts of the proposed resort.  The land board will also decide what
     will be in that letter.  After that, the land board is "out of the loop."
     The meeting will be at 1 pm in Rm 101 of the State Education Bldg., 201
     E. Colfax, Denver, CO.

After 12/15/93:  The Jackson County Commissioners will lead an evaluation
     of the proposed resort, its feasibility, and its environmental
     impacts.  An environmental impact assesment, if required, will be done
     by the developer or a consulting firm of its choosing (probably Leon
     McKinney).  Several state and federal agencies may be involved in this
     process.

THE JACKSON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WOULD GIVE FINAL APPROVAL FOR PROJECT

Agencies likely to be involved (and addresses that I have so far):

Colorado Board of Land Commissioners (issue letter of intent)
Colorado Department of Natural Resources (will decide how planning
     process will proceed after letter of intent is issued)
Colorado Governor and State Legislature (to approve land exchange):
     Governor Roy Romer, 136 state Capitol, Denver, CO  80203  phone (303)
     866-2471.
Jackson County Commissioners (grantors of approval)
Colorado Division of Wildlife (impacts on moose and other wildlife on state
     lands)
Colorado Department of Transportation (impacts on highway traffic)
Colorado Water Quality Control Commission (impacts on river water quality)
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (oversee environmental impact assessment, as
     required)
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (impacts on threatened species, e.g. river
     otter in Michigan River)
U.S. Forest Service (impacts on Commanche and Rawah Wilderness areas)
National Park Service (impacts on Rocky Mountain National Park), Homer
     Rouse, Superintendant, Rocky Mountain National Park, Estes Park, CO
     80517

Environmental Impact Statement:

Because this will be on state (not federal) land, an EIS is not automatically
required.  However, several items may trigger an EIS (or should be
considered in it):
     --river otter, an endangered or threatened species
     --impacts on Rocky Mountain National Park or Commanche and Rawah
          Wilderness areas (reasons include wildlife and air quality)
     --impacts on Cache La Poudre River (scenic designation?)
     --other impacts on CO hwy 14 corridor
     --costs to county of rescue, transport and care for accident victims
          along CO hwy 14
     --costs to state of maintenance and improvement of CO hwy 14

It is important to find out the answers to these questions:  How big will the
     EIS be?  Who will do it?  Who will require it and specify content?  Who
     will oversee it?

Non-exhaustive list of strategy ideas:

Ammend Colorado constitution to change mandate to land board to more
     current stewardship concept (too late for this go-round)
Demonstrate consequences of development to Jackson County residents (a
     very effective tool if we can get appropriate data on original
     residents of other resort towns)
Shrink size of resort, thereby making it unviable
Require full EIS of all impacts
Block land exchange (there may be other weaknesses in the process that
     could kill proposal)

Opinions so far:

Most environmental groups are opposed (Colorado Mountain Club wants more
     study)
Jackson County Commissioners are officially neutral but appear
     individually to favor the development
Jackson County residents are split, with Gould and Rand residents tending
     to be opposed and Walden residents appearing to be in favor
The Fort Collins Coloradoan 12/16/93 editorial was entitled "Proposal
     should proceed; too soon to say yes or no."

Groups arrayed in opposition:

Don Ewy's group "Coalition to Save the Colorado State Forest"
Gary Kimsy's group "Seven Utes Protection Committee" (phone 221-2957)
Sierra Club

Quotable quotes:

"The employment of as many local people as possible will serve to create a
     very special link between the visitors and the heritage, pride and
     character of Jackson County"  (Concept Proposal, 4/2/93) [Come visit
     us in our modular housing...]
"Local medical care is no longer available because the county's only doctor
     was forced to leave due to economic factors."  (Concept Proposal,
     4/2/93)
"That doctor was run out of town on a rail."  (Jackson County resident at
     Fort Collins meeting, 10/12/93)
"...we feel we left the environment [in southern California] in better shape
     than when we came" "If you don't think so, then let us build it and come
     back in a few years and see for yourself" (Leon McKinney, 10/12/93
     meeting in Fort Collins) [then will you take it away?]
"Central to the success of the four-season resort concept is a high
     quality golf course...Our development team has previous experience in
     creating a natural course in an alpine environment."  (Concept
     Proposal 4/2/93) [what would be an unnatural golf course?]
"The magnificent vistas of the Seven Utes will warrant a professionally
     staffed and equipped studio for processing and displaying
     photographs of the area"  (Concept Proposal, 4/2/93) [so we can see
     what it used to look like]
"Other factors which may affect the suitability of the mountain as a ski
     area have also been considered.  Neither wind exposure [or] avalanche
     possibilities appear to present problems at this site.  Careful
     placement of both ski lifts and trails will minimize these factors."
     (Concept Proposal, 4/2/93) [I was nearly blown off the summit ridge
     last December, and was half-buried in a climax avalanche at the
     terminus of one of the proposed ski lifts last February.  I have
     pictures.  The proposal put forth in the 1960's made note of
     significant avalanche danger.]
"I'm not worried about anybody"  (Fred Sauer, 10/11/93 Coloradoan)



                  Sample Letter to voice YOUR opposition
********************************************************************************
Send additional copies to addresses
listed following this letter

Colorado Board of Land Commissioners
620 Centennial Building
1313 Sherman Street
Denver, CO  80203

Dear Land Commissioners,

This letter is to alert you to the deep concern that both I and many others
have regarding the proposed land exchange and ski area development on
the west side of Cameron Pass, between Jackson and Larimer
counties.  The proposed site is near the Seven Utes area, close to
the town of Gould, and adjacent to several wilderness areas
(Rawah, Neota, and Comanche), a moose release area, Rocky Mountain
National Park, some of the best hunting and wildlife watching,
snowmobiling, and what many consider to be some of the finest backcountry
skiing in the northern Colorado area.  The proposed site in on Colorado
State Forest Land, where the developer from Southern California (Fred Sauer)
has proposed a land exchange.  Of particular concern to the people in Fort
Collins is the impact on State Highway 14, which follows the Poudre
River from Fort Collins to Cameron Pass, a narrow, twisting road with
few passing areas.  The majority of skiers would drive up this
direction, and not from the west through the town of Walden.
The North Park area of northern Colorado is a vast, open area with
mostly private holdings, and from what we have seen the developer
from Southern California does not realize that the ski area would
have a hard go of it.  We site the recent closing of the ski area
inside of Rocky Mountain National Park as an example.  Both it and
Eldora Ski Area largely recruit skiers in the Boulder-Fort Collins
corridor.  At a recent public meeting in Fort Collins, over 400
people showed up, and of the 100 people who voiced opinions, not one
spoke in favor of the project.  However, neither Mr. Sauer nor the
State Land Board seemed particularly affected by this opposition.
The Resort at Seven Utes is a hastily assembled project by a developer who
has little idea of the social, economic, and environmental impacts that it
would create.  Even to be considered, it is absolutely necessary that
a complete Environmental Impact Statement be assembled by persons familiar with
the region.  Let's not forget that the reason we are proud of Colorado is the
fact that there are still places like North Park where we can
experience pristine beauty.  I therefore strongly encourage you to say
NO to the project.

Sincerely,
(your name, address, telephone)



********************** Additional Addresses to send copies to ****************

State representatives:

Governor Roy Romer (303) 866-2471
136 State Capitol
Denver, CO 80203

Sen. Bob Schaffer (303) 866-4866
3824 Silverthorn Dr.
Fort Collins, CO  80526
Home:  223-7805
Republican, 14th district (Fort Collins)

Rep. Bernie Strom (303) 866-4568
525 Spring Canyon Ct.
Fort Collins, CO  80525
Home:  223-9900
Democrat, 52nd District (E Fort Collins)

Rep. Bill Jerke (303) 866-2907
23003 Weld County Rd. 39
Lasalle, CO  80645
Home 284-6061
Republican, 49th district
(E and N Fort Collins and NE Larimer County

Rep. Peggy Reeves (303) 866-2917
1931 Sandalwood Ln
Fort Collins, CO  80526
Home:  482-8952
Democrat, 53rd District (W. Fort Collins)

Sen. Jim Roberts (303) 866-4883
633 W. 6th St.
Loveland, CO  80537
Home:  663-1737
Republican, 15th district (all of Larimer County except Fort Collins)

***
Allard, Rep. Wayne (202) 225-4676
422 Cannon Office Bldg.
Washington, DC  20515-0604

315 W. Oak St., Suite 307
Fort Collins, CO  80521
(303) 493-9132
R-4 (Larimer & Weld Counties, eastern plains)


Brown, Sen. Hank  (202) 224-5941
717 Hart Office Building
Washington, DC  20510

1100 10th St., No. 201B
Greeley, CO  80631
(303) 352-4112
R

Clinton, President Bill  (202) 456-1414
The White House
Washington, DC  20500
comment line (202) 456-1111
D

Colorado Board of Land Commissioners
Lucy Black Creighton
Robert Mailander
John S Wilkes III
620 Centennial Bldg.
1313 Sherman St.
Denver 80203   Phone: 866-3454

Gore, Vice President Al (202) 456-2326
Old Executive Office Bldg.
Washington, DC  20500
D

Heffley, Rep. Joel (202) 225-4422
Washington, DC  20515-0605
R-5

McInnis, Rep. Scott (202) 225-4761
Washington, DC  20515-0603
R-3

Nighthorse Campbell, Ben (202) 224-5852
380 Russell Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC  20510

19 Old Town Sq., Suite 238
Fort Collins, CO  80524
(303) 224-1909
D

Romer, Governor Roy 866-2471
136 State Capitol
Denver, CO 80203
D

Rouse, Superintendant Homer
Rocky Mountain National Park
Estes Park, CO 80517

Schaefer, Rep. Dan (202) 225-7882
Washington, DC  20515-0606
R-6


Schroeder, Rep. Pat (202) 225-4431
Washington, DC  20515-0601
D-1

Skaggs, Rep. David (202) 225-2161
Washington, DC  20515-0602
D-2

Colorado Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit
U.S.D.I
201 Wagar Bldg
Dept. of Fishery and Wildlife Biology
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, CO 80523
phone: 303-491-5396

Colorado Wildlife Federation
7475 Dakin St.
Suite 137
Denver, CO 80221
phone: 303-429-4500

Colorado Environmental Coalition, Inc.
777 Grant St., #606
Denver, CO 80203-3518
phone: 303-837-8701

Colorado Mountain Club
2530 W. Alameda Ave.
Denver, CO 80219
phone: 303-922-8315