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Release Date: July 7, 2010
More than 3,000 voters and residents have signed an open letter of support for the Hidden Gems Wilderness Proposal, joining dozens of local businesses, key government bodies, and organizations in their support for nearly 245,000 acres of Colorado's backcountry in Eagle and Summit counties. "The addition of Hidden Gems will be a much needed deposit to our existing wilderness account," said owner David Gorsuch, 71-year Colorado resident. "In those 71 years I have seen Colorado's wild places shrink at a drastic rate. Encroachment on our public lands is a huge issue. What isn't protected is highly vulnerable. For children, grandchildren and the peace and preservation of our wildlife, we need to secure these Gems before they, too, are lost." "Gore Range Outfitters Inc. appreciates the hard work done by everyone on this project," said Glenn Morse, company president. "We support the Gems. We believe expanding our wilderness areas is good for our elk populations and other species in our area. Our natural resources are the best thing we have going for us." Recently, the Aspen Skiing Co. also threw its weight behind the Hidden Gems, sending a letter to Rep. Jared Polis urging him to introduce legislation for Summit and Eagle counties, which includes lands in the Roaring Fork Valley. Company executives have pointed out that the Aspen Skiing Company has a long history of working to protect the environment, and that Hidden Gems fits in with that goal. Local governments and districts are also standing up for Wilderness. The Eagle County Board of County Commissioners declared their support for 60 percent of the Gems proposal in their county outright and most of the remainder with some additional adjustments, many of which have now been made by the Campaign. The Town of Breckenridge has also given its support, with Mayor John Warner noting in a letter to Rep. Polis that the town "can officially endorse the wilderness-specific boundaries that have been arrived at." In the Summit Daily News Mayor Warner noted that "It was a good process, a collaborative process. A lot of people came to the table, and it created a higher level of protection for the Upper Blue Valley." The Summit Wildfire Council has sent a letter to Rep. Polis noting that all of its concerns have been met. Additional support has come from a broad spectrum of organizations that work to protect the environment from Trout Unlimited with its focus on stream protection and the Audubon Society with its concerns about native and migratory birds, to homegrown groups like the Eagle River Watershed Council and the Friends of the Lower Blue River. To date hundreds and hundreds of postcards have been gathered and sent to Rep. Polis and nearly 500 emails have been sent through the Hidden Gems website alone. Hundreds of area residents have made phone calls to their elected officials, taken time to write personal letters in support, and have attended meetings, hearings, and other public events. Media tours and over flights of the Hidden Gems proposal can be scheduled by calling Allyn Harvey at 970-618-2342. For more information, or to view the most recent list of supporters visit WhiteRiverWild.Org |
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