Page 2 GRAND GAZETTE July 1, 2021 WWW.GRANDGAZETTE.NET Summer Camps at K-8 a HUGE Success! Colorado AeroLab, in partnership with West Grand School District, played host to over 50 students per day throughout the month of June. Campers were greeted each day by staff, given a lunch and a little rec time, then divided up to get busy with activities from water balloon parachutes to splatter painting to robots and drones to solar ovens. The photo courtesy of Colorado Aerolab photo by Kim Cameron K-8 facilities were a buzz every day with Riley Mahon enjoys his Smore from his solar oven The Pedersen family enjoys biscuits and gravy, sausage, apple sauce students eager to get while Henry Kellen waits for his treat. and pancakes during the recent pancake breakfast. creative (and even a bit messy). As one camper noted: the campers as one might expect… Pancake breakfast a success "This is the best day ever!" THANK YOU Carrie and Brenda! Many parents, too, expressed DID YOU MISS OUT ON THE The Friends of the Grand County not-so-young. Please contact your their gratitude for this opportunity. ACTION THIS SUMMER??? Don’t Library send a very grateful thank library for further information As the parent of an upcoming worry…there is still plenty o’ fun you to all of the donors who made on all of their programs as well 1st grader remarked: to be had. Colorado AeroLab will our Pancake Breakfast and Bake as the Friends of the Grand I just wanted to say THANK be providing 5th Day programs to Sale Fundraiser a huge success. A County Library web page for our YOU for the fun day camps!! [Our students in grades K-8 throughout special thanks goes to the Kremmling mission and future events. child] is loving it and the feedback the 2021-22 school year and will Mercantile for their generosity. Again, we are so grateful I've heard from many others is so be back next June for another jam- These funds, as well as those for such wonderful support positive!! So glad people are seeing packed month of summer camps. from our other events throughout from the entire community. what amazing value you add to Be on the lookout for upcoming the county, are used to support our kids’ educational experience!! information and registration materials. the library's year-round children's The Friends of the Grand THANK YOU FOR ALL YOU DO!!! Colorado AeroLab, Inc. is a 501 (c) programs and the summer reading County Library These camps were made successful (3) educational non-profit corporation. programs which enjoy great by the hard work and dedication of Consider making a tax-deductible participation by both young and Colorado AeroLab support staff and charitable contribution, so we can instructional staff and were made continue providing quality out-of- possible and cost-free through a school enrichment opportunities to Cliff view enjoys new round 21st Century Community Learning students. Donations can be made on Centers grant as well as a RISE grant. our website under the “Giving Feels tables and BBQ The 21st Century grant has allowed Good” tab or can be mailed to: The staff for cost-free 5th Day programs at Colorado AeroLab and residents West Grand for the past three years. PO BOX 885 at Cliffview As an added bonus to our Eads, CO 81036 Assisted Living campers, Carrie and Brenda at Keller Center want to Williams graciously donated snow From all of us at the give a great big thank you to cones from Kona Ice during the Colorado AeroLab HQ, have second week of camp, a big hit for Dave and Karen a wonderful summer! Hammer for the donation of 3 new outdoor tables, chairs and umbrellas. We are loving the use of the outdoor space to hold meals. In addition, we want to give another great courtesy photo big thank you to Sandy at 9 and 40 Diner who put so much more than a town but on a big picnic after the Kremmling an amazing little community! Days Parade with BBQ ribs, potato salad, macaroni salad, fruit smoothies Cliffview Assisted and watermelon! It was so tasty. You Living Center really know how to spoil us! It is Residents & Staff folks like you who make Kremmling Page 3 GRAND GAZETTE July 1, 2021 WWW.GRANDGAZETTE.NET BLM approves the Blue Valley Land Exchange by Marissa Lorenz inaccessible except by floating. “Three hundred acres of the The Bureau of Land Management exchange that are within the (BLM) announced the approval boundaries of the White River of the Blue Valley Land Exchange National Forest would be transferred this week, bringing decision to a to the U.S. Forest Service. The proposal first put forward in 2005 exchange consolidates public with the expressed goals of increasing land and transfers small, isolated public access for hunting, fishing, public land parcels that mostly and other recreation activities and have little to no public access.” of promoting more effective natural The proposal has had resource management of public lands long-time support from local in Grand and Summit counties. governments, with commissioners “This exchange improves and from both counties lauding it as increases public access for people providing great public benefit. of all abilities who wish to boat-in, Proponents point out that much of hike-in, or drive to the Blue River the public lands to be included in the and increases public hunting access exchange are land-locked, belonging along Trough Road,” explained to the public but with no way to Kremmling Field Manager Bill Mills. access them as they are surrounded “We’ve coordinated closely with by the Ranch property and have no local governments, other agencies easement. The agreement would and the public, and negotiated with increase public access to federal lands courtesy photo the proponent to ensure that the land and potentially boost recreational use. The Blue River winds through the landscape of the Blue River Ranch. exchange benefits the public interest.” They praise commitment Specifically, the approval from Blue Valley Ranch, owned And at least some recreators But the BLM seemed to delay means the BLM has agreed to by hedge-fund manager and don’t find the proposal beneficial, in issuing a Final Environmental exchange nine parcels of federal billionaire Paul Tudor Jones II, to as evidenced by a 2018 conversation Impact Statement, a necessary land comprising 1,489 acres for nine pay for infrastructure improvements, thread on mountainbuzz.com, document to support any parcels totaling 1,832 acres of land including creation of a seasonal an online forum “dedicated to decision on the proposition. from the privately-owned Blue Valley take-out and rest stop at Spring whitewater kayaking, boating, Now, with a decision made, Ranch, located along the Blue River, Creek Road Bridge, establishment and rafting enthusiasts.” that Final Environmental Impact south of the town of Kremmling. of a Green Mountain Canyon The discussion, initiated to Statement will be released with a “I am so happy and encouraged trailhead, and development of a encourage forum members to Federal Register Notice on July that this Land Exchange has recreation area near the Blue River’s provide comment on the 2018 Draft 2. All documents will be made been successful,” Grand County confluence with the Colorado River. Environmental Impact Statement, available to the public, and the Commissioner Kristen Manguso Facilities at the proposed includes statements such as, “boaters land exchange decision will be responded to the decision. “This is Confluence Recreation Area would will lose the very few pieces of subject to a 45-day protest period a positive result for Grand County consist of “a picnic area, walking public land available on this stretch and subsequent right to appeal. after years of negotiations and trails, a take-out for river floaters, to stop and have a break, to have For more information on the compromise between the BLM wheelchair-accessible fishing access, lunch, or just stretch the legs,” “I proposed land exchange, visit: the and the Blue Valley Ranch. and significant fishery habitat encourage everyone and anyone to BLM website, including maps and “I am thrilled that this will enhancements,” according to Blue voice their opinion against,” and environmental impact documents, provide a huge benefit for so many Valley Ranch’s website, as well as “this proposal is only meant to at https://go.usa.gov/xnBJ5 the people, allowing fishing access for trails, restrooms, and parking areas. shore up [Blue Valley Ranch’s] river Blue Valley Ranch land exchange families and handicap individuals. But not all response to the frontage for their personal use.” page at https://bluevalleyranch. I appreciate everyone’s work and proposal has been positive. That 2018 Draft Environmental com/land-exchange/ Colorado time in making this a successful Colorado Wild Public Lands Impact Statement is a 296-page Wild Public Lands at http:// project that will benefit the public.” (CWPL), an organization that dubs document “prepared to analyze and coloradowildpubliclands.org/ As described in the BLM press itself “a land exchange watchdog,” disclose the effects to the human and land-exchange-updates.html Or release, the exchange would “expand has critiqued the proposal, saying it biological environment anticipated contact the BLM’s Kremmling Field access along a mile of the Blue “would privatize almost 15 miles of to result from the proposed Blue Office at blm_co_kr_webmail@ River near the confluence with the Blue River-front” and that “only a Valley Land Exchange.” It provides blm.gov or (970) 724-3000. Colorado River, plus an additional single public access would remain detailed analysis of 26 resource 1.66 miles of hike-in access to along this 15-mile stretch of the Blue issues of potential concern and/or river frontage that is currently River, a gold medal trout stream.” benefit with the exchange of lands.