After nearly six years of debate, Colorado officials have released what we find to be a smart plan to block roads on nearly 4.2 million acres of national forest here.
The Colorado roadless rule, initiated by Gov. Bill Owens in 2005 and modified by Gov. Bill Ritter, would replace current federal policy, which is tied up in the courts.
The strength of the state rule is that it customizes forest management in a way that no federal policy ever could, and places specific attention on current concerns. It balances industry interests with efforts to keep nearly one-half (when combined with wilderness areas) of the state’s land pristine. Plus, the rule would protect those acres now, as legal battles create an uncertain future for the national policy.
In 2001, the Clinton administration adopted a policy banning roads on 58 million acres nationally— about 4.4 million in Colorado. The rule was modified in 2005 by the Bush administration to allow for more development. The policy is in a legal limbo: two different federal courts have upheld and overturned the policy.
Then Gov. Ritter called the state plan an insurance policy in case the Clinton-era policy is overturned. But it’s more than that. The Colorado rule also updates the inventory of land under protection.
The national plan covers about 467,000 acres where roads already have been built. Those areas have been eliminated from the Colorado roadless rule. At the same time, the Colorado rule adds 409,000 acres of previously unprotected land to the list. Another 562,000 acres have been granted a higher level of protection than afforded in 2001.
While some environmental groups say the plan does not go far enough, we think the state, with input from national forest stewards, has delivered a concept that appeals to a majority of the population.
Exceptions that allow for roads impact less than 5 percent of the total acreage. For instance, the Colorado rule allows temporary roads for tree cutting in areas ravaged by pine beetles within a half-mile of towns. It’s an important and necessary modification for community safety. The environment and health of the forest have changed dramatically since the federal policy was introduced.
Roads also would be allowed on about 8,000 acres of existing ski area terrain, enabling possible future expansion. Exceptions also are made on 20,000 acres for the expansion of underground coal mines on the Western Slope, which would need temporary roads to build methane gas vents. Those roads would be closed once they are no longer needed.
Given the uncertainly of the 2001 policy, “locking down 4.2 million acres . . . with high-quality protections and a wide spectrum of support across many interests” would be a desirable outcome, said Rick Cables, regional forester with the U.S. Forest Service. We couldn’t agree more.
