A hiker enjoying fall in Maverick Canyon photo © Brandon Jett

The Citizens' Voice on the West Slope CEC's largest office in Western Colorado is located near the stunning canyon country of Grand Junction. Western Slope staff and volunteers are working with local citizens, governments, and decision makers to ensure our special places and natural resources will be here for future generations to enjoy. Whether it's getting out and exploring those special places in dire need of protection or hosting a series of important and entertaining presentations to the community, we have built important relationships in Western Colorado.

Grand Junction Bureau of Land Management Resource Management Plan (GJ RMP) The GJ RMP dictates the future uses of 1.2 million acres of public land and minerals beneath the surface of BLM lands within Mesa, Garfield, Montrose, and Delta counties (see map for the area of the GJRMP). Currently the public lands within this area are managed by the last RMP, completed in 1987. This process, although lengthy, provides organizations like CEC and the public at large the chance to join the conversation about how our public lands are managed. Specific issues CEC is addressing in the GJRMP include travel management planning, energy development, protections for critical plant and wildlife habitats, proper management for Citizens Wilderness Proposals, and potential Wild and Scenic rivers designations.

Uncompahgre Bureau of Land Management Resource Management Plan (UFO RMP) The UFO RMP informs the future uses of 675,677 acres of public land and minerals beneath the surface of BLM lands within Montrose and Delta counties depicted here. While CEC is addressing a number of issues in conjunction with other local conservation based organizations, our main focus is the land planning on the west end of the field office or the San Juan/San Miguel Resource Management Area where the field office overlaps with the unique riparian red rock landscape at the heart of the Dolores River Basin campaign. The current management plan for this area was completed in 1985.

Northern Dolores River Basin Campaign (NoDo) CEC is an active member of the Dolores River Coalition. This campaign brings together local, state and national organizations with business, recreation and conservation interests to protect the diverse and beautiful Dolores Basin for the long term benefit of residents and visitors. In this capacity, our efforts are primarily focused on gaining long term protections for the lands in the northern portion of the basin, in and around the town of Gateway, CO.

Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area (NCA) and Dominguez Canyons Wilderness For decades, citizens have realized the unique splendor of public lands along the lower Gunnison River between Grand Junction and Delta. The area includes three BLM Citizens Wilderness Proposal areas: Dominguez Canyons, Gunnison Bluffs, and Roubideau Canyon, and two Forest Service Roadless Areas: Black Point and Kelso Mesa. CEC has been working with ranchers, landowners, and other stakeholders to discuss a protected landscape that makes sense for everyone. This landscape offers migration routes for desert bighorn, mule deer, and elk, and offers connectivity from forest habitat high on the Uncompahgre Plateau to the lower elevation desert canyons and rivers. The rich human history is prevalent in the rock art and homesteads that exist throughout this region.

Oil Shale The vast oil shale resources of western Colorado's Piceance Basin are no secret. Discovered over a hundred years ago, they have seen several failed attempts at exploitation, due primarily to prohibitive costs and unresolved technical issues.  Now, after decades of relative inactivity, high gasoline prices have led Congress to put the chase for oil shale back on a fast track. As of now, oil shale technologies use too much water, require too much energy, and cause far too much impact to public land, local economies, and traditional ways of life to be viable. The public needs to be assured that the technology works, and that the proposed development will not have unacceptable impacts on the environment or Western Slope communities.

Energy Issues The West Slope of Colorado is abundant in natural resources. From oil & gas extraction to oil shale, uranium, and renewables like solar and wind, CEC works hard to mitigate the impacts of our nation's energy appitite to our water, wildlife, and landscapes by working with land management agencies and commercial interests to ensure that energy exploration and development on the western slope is done right. 

Roan Plateau The rich cultural history, wildlife habitat, and sheer beauty of this western Colorado gem are worth protecting, and we need your help to make sure they are. Get involved now in the fight to achieve what local governments, outfitters, and citizens have been asking for all along: "no drilling on top of the Roan Plateau".

Water Challenges The West Slope of Colorado faces many challenges to its water resources. While demand for Western Slope water is increasing on the Front Range, local communities rely on the same water resources to support their economies and to provide for their future. Among the issues that threaten the ability of these communities to enact sustainable practices are Front Range demand and trans-basin diversions, water quality impairment, and especially the expansion of the oil and gas industry. Protecting our water resources is even more urgent in light of expanding threats that could permanently alter how we use our water.