2007-075 Sneffels Wilderness Area Expansion

RESOLUTION # 2016-009

RESOLUTION BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OURAY COUNTY Re: Sneffels Wilderness Expansion

WHEREAS, the Sneffels range of the San Juan Mountains in Ouray County is an area of extraordinary scenic, environmental, economic, and recreational value; and

WHEREAS, the existing Mount Sneffels Wilderness boundaries do not protect in perpetuity adjacent public lands in the Sneffels range which are capable and deserving of permanent Wilderness designation; and

WHEREAS, a proposal to expand the existing Mount Sneffels Wilderness boundaries to include these public lands has been presented to the Ouray County Board of Commissioners as represented in a map entitled “Whitehouse Expansion Of The Mount Sneffels Wilderness” and referenced in Ouray County Resolutions 2007-075 and 2011-007; and

WHEREAS, visitors and residents of Ouray County today enjoy these public lands for hiking, camping, photography, mountain climbing, hunting, skiing, scenic enjoyment and other wilderness uses; and

WHEREAS, recreation and other uses of the public lands of Ouray County are a vital part of the local economy; and

WHEREAS, these public lands provide important mid-elevation habitat for game and non-game wildlife and help connect wildlife habitat in the existing Mount Sneffels Wilderness Area to the west with habitat in the Big Blue Wilderness Area to the east; and

WHEREAS, these public lands within the proposed wilderness expansion legislation include important watershed areas for domestic and agricultural water sources including Beaver Creek, the Town of Ridgway’s only source of potable water; and

WHEREAS, preservation of these public lands as designated Wilderness would better protect their scenic, environmental, economic, and recreational values in perpetuity from the adverse effects of future development; and

WHEREAS, the proposed wilderness expansion would protect all of Mount Sneffels, elevation 14,158'; and

WHEREAS, the currently unprotected north side of Mount Sneffels is one of Colorado's most iconic and most recognizable natural features and thus is the new background image on the newly redesigned Colorado Driver's Licenses; and

WHEREAS, the proposed Whitehouse Expansion of the Sneffels Wilderness Area does not include the Dallas Trail System so that mountain bikers can continue to enjoy this beautiful and challenging trail; and

WHEREAS, the proposed Whitehouse Expansion of the Sneffels Wilderness Area likewise does not include any roads currently open to motorized use; and

WHEREAS, ranching is an important part of the history and economy of Ouray County and portions of the proposed Whitehouse Expansion of the Sneffels Wilderness Area are currently used for livestock grazing; and

WHEREAS, the proposed Whitehouse Expansion of the Sneffels Wilderness Area is already managed by the US Forest Service in substantial measure as wilderness; and Resolution 2016-009  Page 1 of 2

WHEREAS, Ouray County continues to support the specifics of the wilderness expansion:

 8,375 acres will be added to the existing Mt. Sneffels Wilderness Area by the Liberty Bell and Last Dollar areas,

 13,231 acres will be added to the existing Mt. Sneffels Wilderness Area by the Whitehouse area; and

WHEREAS, the proposed expansion has received approval from all of the local governments in Ouray, San Miguel, and San Juan Counties:  Ouray County Board of County Commissioners  Town of Ridgway  City of Ouray  San Miguel County Board of County Commissioners  Town Council of Telluride  Town of Ophir  Town of Mountain Village  San Juan County Board of County Commissioners; and;

WHEREAS, in November of 2009 the proposed wilderness expansion legislation was introduced to the 111th Congress as H.R. 3914: The San Juan Wilderness Act in June of 2010 was unanimously approved by the bipartisan U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources; and

WHEREAS, in February of 2013 the proposed wilderness expansion legislation was introduced to the 113th Congress as S. 341: The San Juan Wilderness Act and in September of 2013 was passed with bipartisan support by the U.S. Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee; and

WHEREAS, the process of the proposed wilderness expansion has been a model process led by local citizens and local governments, which has included early contact of all grazing allotment holders, mining claim owners, water rights owners, and other stakeholders; and

WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners has previously supported the San Juan Wilderness Act with Resolution 2011-007 attached hereto as Exhibit A; and

WHEREAS, a map of the proposed wilderness expansion legislation supported by Ouray County by Resolution 2011-007 and this Resolution is attached hereto as Exhibit B; and

WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners has previously supported the San Juan Wilderness Act with Resolution 2007-075 and this Resolution is attached hereto as Exhibit C; and

WHEREAS, we wish to see this model process and the San Juan Wilderness Expansion be successful.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF OURAY COUNTY, COLORADO, AS FOLLOWS:

. That Congress enact legislation to designate the Whitehouse Expansion of the Sneffels Wilderness Area as permanent wilderness,

. That the legislation includes appropriate language to protect existing water rights including those of the Town of Ridgway, as well as reasonable motorized access to maintain such rights, and

Resolution 2016-009  Page 2 of 2 . That the legislation includes appropriate language to permit livestock grazing to continue in the Whitehouse Expansion of the Sneffels Wilderness Area as provided under current law, including reasonable motorized access to facilitate use of livestock grazing; and

. That the Secretary retain statutory authority to take such measures as necessary to control fire, insects, and disease in the wilderness areas designated by the wilderness expansion legislation.

APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS ____ DAY OF March, 206 1 .

Voting for: Voting against:

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF OURAY COUNTY, COLORADO

Attest: Lynn M. Padgett, Chair

Ben Tisdel, Vice-Chair

Michelle Nauer, Clerk and Recorder Don Batchelder, Commissioner By: Hannah Hollenbeck, Deputy Clerk of the Board

Resolution 2016-009  Page 3 of 2 RECEPTION#: 204908, 02109/2011 at 10:15:24 AM, 1 OF 2 PAGES, MICHELLE NAUER, OURAY COUNTY, CO. CLERK & RECORDER RESOLUTION # 2011-007

RESOLUTION BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OURAY COUNTY Re: Sneffels Wilderness Expansion

WHEREAS, the Sneffels range of the San Juan Mountains in Ouray County is an area of extraordinary scenic, environmental, economic, and recreational value; and

WHEREAS, a proposal to expand the existing Mount Sneffels Wilderness boundaries to include these public lands has been presented to the Ouray County Board of Commissioners as represented in a map entitled 'Whitehouse Expansion Of The Mount Sneffels Wilderness" and referenced in Ouray County Resolution 2007-075; and

WHEREAS, visitors and residents of Ouray County today enjoy these public lands for hiking, camping, photography, mountain climbing, hunting, skiing, scenic enjoyment and other wilderness uses; and

WHEREAS, recreation and other uses of the public lands of Ouray County are a vital part of the local economy; and

WHEREAS, these public lands include important watershed areas for domestic and agricultural water sources including Beaver Creek, the Town of Ridgway's only source of potable water; and

WHEREAS, the proposed Whitehouse Expansion of the Sneffels Wilderness Area likewise does not include any roads currently open to motorized use; and

WHEREAS, the proposed Whitehouse Expansion of the Sneffels Wilderness Area is already managed by the US Forest Service in substantial measure as wilderness; and

Resolutio1l2011-007 • Page 1 aJ2 WHEREAS, Ouray County continues to support the specifics of the wilderness expansion:

• 8,375 acres will be added to the existing Mt. Sneffels Wilderness Area by the Liberty Bell and Last Dollar areas,

• 13,231 acres will be added to the existing Mt. Sneffels Wilderness Area by the Whitehouse area; and

WHEREAS, the proposed expansion has received approval from all of the local governments in Ouray, San Miguel, and San Juan Counties; and

WHEREAS, in June of 2010 the proposed wilderness expansion legislation was unanimously approved by the bipartisan U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Natural Resources; and

WHEREAS, the process ofthe proposed wilderness expansion has been a model process led by local citizens and local governments, which has included early contact of all grazing allotment holders, mining claim owners, water rights owners, and other stakeholders by former Congressman Salazar and his staff; and

WHEREAS, we wish to see this model process and the San Juan Wilderness Expansion be successful.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF OURAY COUNTY, COLORADO, AS FOLLOWS:

• That Congress enact legislation to designate the Whitehouse Expansion of the Sneffels Wilderness Area as permanent wilderness,

• That the legislation includes appropriate language to protect existing water rights including those of the Town of Ridgway, as well as reasonable motorized access to maintain such rights, and

• That the legislation includes appropriate language to permit livestock grazing to continue in the Whitehouse Expansion of the Sneffels Wilderness Area as provided under current law, including reasonable motorized access to facilitate use of livestock grazing.

APPROVED AND ADOPTED THIS ~ DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2011.

Voting for: Commissioners Albritton and Padgett Voting against: Commissioner Fedel

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF;; RAY COUNTY, COLORADO 4~--i,,)~

Lynn M. Padge Ice-Chair

F. Mike Fedel, Commissioner

Resolution 2011-007 • Page 2 of2 RECEPTION#: 196465. 11106/2007 at 11 :55:47 AM. 1 OF 2 PAGES. MICHELLE NAUER. OURAY COUNTY. CO. CLERK & RECORDER

RESOLUTION # 2007-075

RESOLUTION BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OURAY COUNTY Re: Sneffels Wilderness Expansion

WHEREAS, the Sneffels range of the San Juan Mountains in Ouray County is an area of extraordinary scenic, environmental, economic, and recreational value; and

WHEREAS, a proposal to expand the existing Mount Sneffels Wilderness boundaries to include these public lands has been presented to the Ouray County Board of Commissioners as represented in a map entitled 'Whitehouse Expansion Of The Mount Sneffels Wilderness"; and

WHEREAS, visitors and residents of Ouray County today enjoy these public lands for hiking, camping, photography, mountain climbing, hunting, skiing, scenic enjoyment and other wilderness uses; and

WHEREAS, recreation and other uses of the public lands of Ouray County are a vital part of the local economy; and

WHEREAS, these public lands provide important mid-elevation habitat for game and non-game o wildlife and help connect wildlife habitat in the existing Mount Sneffels Wilderness Area to the west with habitat in the Big Blue Wilderness Area to the east; and

WHEREAS, these public lands include important watershed areas for domestic and agricultural water sources including Beaver Creek, the Town of Ridgway's only source of potable water; and

WHEREAS, the proposed Whitehouse Expansion of the Sneffels Wilderness Area likewise does not include any roads currently open to motorized use; and

WHEREAS, the proposed Whitehouse Expansion of the Sneffels Wilderness Area is already managed by the US Forest Service in substantial measure as wilderness; and

WHEREAS, the designation as wilderness of the Whitehouse Expansion of the Sneffels Wilderness Area will make this special place part of a system of places wild and free for the permanent o good of all. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF OURAY COUNTY, COLORADO, AS FOLLOWS:

• That Congress enact legislation to designate the Whitehouse Expansion of the Snellels Wilderness Area as permanent wilderness,

• That the legislation includes appropriate language to protect existing water rights including those of the Town of Ridgway, as well as reasonable motorized access to maintain such rights,

• That the legislation includes appropriate language to permit livestock grazing to continue in the Whitehouse Expansion of the Snellels Wilderness Area as provided under current law, including reasonable motorized access to facilitate use of livestock grazing.

APPROVE.D AND ADOPTED THIS sth DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2007. -->" .. '. - --

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ~~~TY'CO. LORADO , ~£ Don Batchelder, Chair DEXTER DEX TER CREEK 6205.0 M F CREEK O L J 871 6 O A A .0 2 T 0 N C C D S E 0 S K R S S E X . U T 1 H 8 A C E A D K E A S R R L I E 7 S E R N T 6 S S B 1 E

L M X S X 2 I E .0 L H 1 A 1 L E 7 . E 0 A E 8 T A . M R K 2 5 L I D K E 5 E B . 1 S S G E A 0 L D A 8 5 R 5 M E 8 L I 52 H N A . 0 T T R 7 0 8 S 0 . A K K I 1 D W C S L I P Proposed Whitehouse Additions to the 0 E 6 . N 0 T T 5 A L E 2 U A

E E R 8 E S 0 Y R C R .0 E 3 R R 0 . 8 1 W 0 M E 5 Mt. Sneffels Wilderness, 5 D 5 2 E L . A 1 S A A

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R R T T B 0 L O 0 2 S U A Map depicts proposed. boundaries for the Whitehouse . W H

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L 8 R Additions to theB Mt. Sneffels Wilderness6 S as described Wilderness Addition 2 E TT 1 T BE 5 R H O . 9.0 0 I Whitehouse (East) C 20 in The San Juan Mountains WildernessE Act of 6 F

Y Y Wilderness Proposed Whitehouse 2009. R O T B TT 1 BE C . Addition (West) Wilderness Addition Area: 12,216 Acres COR A 0 9.0 F 0 620 2 X X 6 (West) O Total land proposed for wilderness designation: B 12,968 acres. Area: 759 Acres New boundaries totally within Grand Mesa,

C R W Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests, E I E L S K O K 8 N E Ouray County, Colorado. 5 E 1 R .0 .2 C 7 A 0 K K 2 Dallas Trail 6200.0 will remain open A 6 O to motorized use as shown on map.

S I L V E 6 R 1 9 S 9 H . I 0 E L D

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6 W T PERIMETER TRAIL OUR-Z CREST E N 590.0 IN IO OLD TW P S IN N O O PEAKS E S A 6 T 19 MP E 0 8 X H UPPER CASCAD . . 85 IT 0 E 5 H E E 3 .0 0 E FALLS 6213.0 N A I 2 TE A 6 R L N N R B I ND E LA S T T 8.1A A A R 3 Whitehouse 62 B E O P E H N T I I M Wilderness Addition H

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WRIG HTS LAKE 6201 .1A

TS RIGH W KE 6201.1 TN. LA A M D D 50 E R 0 0 R 5

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C R O . N .1 0 3 R 5 Liberty Bell E 8 V N N O I G S Wilderness A SNE B HIG FFELS HLIN 0 Addition N. E 5434. MT D 61 R RE R1 . E 1 TN 1 D 16 M 6 62 0 M D 1 R T R E R 1 N ED M 1 R 2 6 . R TN 5 E 0 . 7 D 16 159 R15 9 R M

1 T R RE 5 D M N T 7 E N. 5 D 1 . 56 R H 5 156 M Y 6 A R R BO E RE E 2 Y 5 T E 1 B 1 D K .1 D 5 N 3 1 N 3 D 85 0 1 2 A E . M 9 Y IN . R 0 R M S N T R A E 1 N T B 5 3 1 D . N. 5 2 D MTN RED 1 9 E R M R . 1 MT 5 5 3 R53 T 2 R N 5 5 1 . N 52 .

Vicinity Map References Legend Proposed Whitehouse Additions Map prepared by the U.S. Forest Service, Region 2, Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre to the Mt. Sneffels Wilderness, December 1, 2010 and Gunnison National Forests Resource Information staff at the request of Legislative Proposal Senate Energy Committee Majority Staff. Proposed Wilderness Legislative Map, The San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act of 2009 Proposed wilderness, special management area and watershed protection area boundaries At the request of Senate Energy Committee Majority Staff are general representations and do not represent legal boundary descriptions. Existing Utility Corridors 4,806 acres in Sections 1-16, Township 43 North, Range 8 West; Boundary Source: Representative Salazar's staff, USFS staff. 198 acres in Sections 1,12, Township 43 North, Range 9 West; Additional data sources: Forest roads and trails, utility corridors - USFS; Land ownership - USFS, Current Land Status Ditchbill Ditches 6,284 acres in Sections 21, 22, 26-36, Township 44 North, Range 8 West; BLM, State of Colorado, San Miguel County; Census-TIGER2000. National System of Public Lands (BLM) ROADS 1,679 acres in Sections 21,22, 25, 27, 28, 35, 36,Township 44 North, Range 9 West; 23rd Principle Meridian, Ouray County, Colorado Map Scale is 1:24,000 (when printed at 34x22). Map Coordinates in NAD83, UTM Zone 13N. 2 - HIGH CLEARANCE VEHICLES Use Restriction Data, USFS Region 2, Automated Lands Program National Forest 3 - SUITABLE FOR PASSENGER CARS U.S. Forest Service - Rocky Mountain Region q Disclaimer National Forest Wilderness 4 - MODERATE DEGREE OF USER COMFORT Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests The USDA Forest Service makes no warranty, expressed or implied State regarding the data displayed on this map, and reserves the right to 5 - HIGH DEGREE OF USER COMFORT U.S. Congressional District 3, Colorado correct, update, modify, or replace this information without notification. Colorado Division of Wildlife TRAILS City This map generally depicts the boundary of the proposed Whitehouse Additions to the 0 0.5 1 2 MOTORIZED Mt. Sneffels Wilderness as described in The San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act of 2009. Private Total land proposed for wilderness designation shown on map is 12,976 acres. Miles MOUNTAIN BIKE Sheet 3 of 5 Copies of this map are available for public inspection in the Office of the Regional Forester, Forest Boundary Map Creation Date: December 1, 2010 NONMOTORIZED Rocky Mountain Region , Golden, Colorado.

file: NOV2010_LegislativeMap_WhitehouseHADDS_34x22.pdf