This time of year, as the holidays approach and 2014 draws to a close, is a time to both celebrate what we have and look forward to what the coming year will bring. In Chaffee County, Browns Canyon is at the center of both our reflections and our hopes. For more than two decades locals and visitors alike have been advocating for the permanent protection of this amazing area; in the coming months we hope this vision will finally become a reality.
Like the entire Arkansas River Valley, Browns Canyon is intricately connected to the fabric of our communities. It’s one of the most popular whitewater destinations in the country, with commercial rafting alone contributing about $55 million to our economies annually. But it’s not just river rats that enjoy this area. Its unique combination of spectacular terrain, wildlife and water make Browns Canyon one of the few truly year-round outdoor recreation destinations. Residents and visitors can go hiking, fishing, birding, mountain biking, horseback riding and more – it’s an outdoor enthusiast paradise.
For those of us in Chaffee County, it’s key to our quality of life. While we love having this outdoor playground so close to home, Browns Canyon is also a major driver for our economies. Visitors to the canyon stay at area hotels, eat at restaurants, and support local businesses.
Permanently protecting Browns Canyon as a national monument will safeguard the natural beauty that makes all of this possible, without presenting problems with water, mining or grazing rights. Recognition as a national monument will also cement Browns Canyon’s place on the map, raising awareness of Buena Vista and Salida, drawing new visitors and boosting our economies. While it will have a positive impact on our community in the short-term, long-term the benefits of national monument designation will continue to multiply. The presence of a national monument will sustain property values and attract new investment for continued growth. It’s a designation that fits with Chaffee County’s economic plans for the future and one that will continue giving for generations to come.
Unsurprisingly a Browns Canyon National Monument is a popular idea. The Buena Vista Board of Trustees has voiced their support for permanently protecting Browns Canyon, as has the Salida Business Alliance. These are just two groups among a broad cross section of elected officials, businesses and community groups calling for a national monument, ranging from the International Mountain Biking Association to Trout Unlimited to Arkansas River Outfitters Association. More broadly even, recent polling found that nearly eight in ten Coloradans, 77 percent, support such a designation.
The widespread desire to protect Browns Canyon is not new. It is a place that has long been held dear and recognized as worthy of permanent protection. Over the years we’ve seen more than a dozen bills introduced to preserve Browns Canyon. There has been extensive public involvement on how best to proceed, yet the bottom line is that despite these best efforts and the clear interest in seeing this place protected, it remains at risk.
While Congress has repeatedly failed, President Obama can help make this vision for the future come true. The administration’s recent public meeting in Salida on a potential national monument designation was a welcome sign of hope. Hundreds of people attended to voice their support for action. We join them in hoping that President Obama will help us ring in the New Year with a new Browns Canyon National Monument.
Jim Dickson is mayor of Salida. Joel Benson is mayor of Buena Vista.
To send a letter to the editor about this article, submit or check out our for how to submit by e-mail or mail.
