As all of us in the hospitality industry know, public lands are good for business.
I just returned from Washington, D.C., where I spoke to staffers in Sen. Cory Gardner’s office. I told them that as a business owner in Central Colorado, I depend upon Colorado’s incredible natural resources such as the Continental Divide Trail to attract my customers.
They said that Gardner is a champion of our public lands, and that he supports reauthorization of the Land and Water Conservation Fund, which will expire at the end of September if Congress fails to act.
For over 50 years, the fund has provided much-needed funding for our public lands, protecting places like Gunnison National Forest and Great Sand Dunes National Park. But there are still beautiful places in need of protection, such as sections of the Continental Divide Trail where hikers and horseback riders have to walk on dangerous highways because there’s no public land. If the fund isn’t reauthorized, this 3,100 mile National Scenic Trail may never be completed.
My business relies on those very hikers and horseback riders, so I was pleased to hear Gardner championing the Land and Water Conservation Fund at a bipartisan press conference that same week.
“Colorado’s beautiful public lands rely on the Land and Water Conservation Fund and Congress needs to ensure it remains in place for years to come,” said Sen. Gardner at the event.
Then, stunningly, Gardner turned around and voted against the fund. He voted to slash millions of dollars from the program he said he supported just hours prior.
I appreciate Gardner’s verbal support, but that support means nothing if he refuses to stand behind it with his votes. This fund is crucial to the future of Colorado’s outdoor recreation economy, which generates $9.7 billion in wages and 229,000 jobs for Coloradans each year. Coloradans need a leader with consistent stances, who will help protect the iconic landscapes we rely on for recreation, business, natural resources, and the future of a successful Arkansas River Valley.
There are less than 100 days left before Congress must act to save the Land and Water Conservation Fund. If we lose, a precious resource for public lands could be gone forever. The only way that Gardner can help is to listen to local, small business leaders — and then show us his leadership by not only talking a good game, but making the good votes.
Please urge him to support our communities, our businesses and the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
Melanie Garr owns the Simple Lodge and Hostel in Salida.
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