The West Slope is revered for its diverse landscapes and state-of-the-art recreation. Whether you enjoy sampling wine in luscious vineyards, mountain biking on the Grand Mesa or eating fresh produce from local farmers, most Coloradoans use and appreciate public land — which makes up a third of the state — on a daily basis.

“Our public lands are given to us in trust,” says Tanya Henderson, executive director of the Western Slope Conservation Center. “To open it up to a destructive industry is like spending down a trust fund.”

Just as 2020 forced the nation to reevaluate its priorities, leaders in Colorado are working to follow suit. Environmentalist and community members alike are advocating for sustainable living to be at the forefront of the West Slope’s social and political culture as we head into the heart of 2021.

As a recap, the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) — whose headquarters moved to Grand Junction in August 2020 — wants to keep 95% of public land in the region open to oil and gas development. More specifically, it wants to open approximately 675,800 acres of BLM-administered public lands and 971,220 acres of federal mineral estate across Montrose, Gunnison, Ouray, Mesa, Delta and San Miguel counties.

The North Fork Valley community has been drafting an alternative Resource Management Plan (RMP) since 2013 that better reflects their interest in protecting the environment. This past January, the state of Colorado, in addition to other organizations, sued the BLM for approving a plan that dismisses environmental concerns and ignores community input. The claim cited that government official William Perry Pendley did not have authority to approve the Uncompahgre Field Office RMP in April, as he was illegally holding office.

Map by Marty Schnure, courtesy of The Wilderness Society

“The Department of Natural Resources raised legitimate concerns in its protest that the final Uncompahgre RMP runs counter to Colorado’s goals to protect sensitive habitat for big game species and other wildlife and reduce greenhouse gas emissions,” Dan Gibbs, executive director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, said in a statement.

With potential cross contamination from fossil fuel development on the horizon, residents are raising their voice to protect their farmlands, clean water supply and air quality from pollution.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS VERSUS ECONOMIC INPUT

Farmers say building a reputation of high quality, organic food takes years to build, but can be compromised in months with just one spill from oil and gas leasing.

In 2019, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission spill analysis shows over 55,000 barrels of material spilled in Colorado.

Yet in a study by University of Wyoming professor Timothy Considine, Colorado was projected to lose $700 million annually during the first five years of a drilling ban, if one was to be established.

This Western Colorado community is coping with a present that looks different from its past. Once a hub for coal mining, the West Slope is transitioning into an agritourism region. But, many corporations in the community are advocating for resource extraction to boost the economy.

In 2018, the BLM reported oil and gas development on public lands in Colorado “contributed an estimated $6.9 billion to the economy. Statewide, approximately 30,600 jobs are tied to oil and gas development on BLM-managed public lands.”

However, scientists are referring to the West Slope as a climate change hot spot, because it is warming at a rate double the national average, according to a Washington Post analysis. Water is the crux of the North Fork; the region supplies water to millions of people and droughts are endangering residents’ livelihoods.

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

The Gunnison River, which activists and farmers fear is being threatened by climate change and fossil fuel development. Photo by Lexi Reich

In recent news, President Joe Biden issued a 60-day pause on new oil and gas leases on federal lands and waters within his first month of office. While conservationists are praising the order, others worry about its economic consequences.

The Wilderness Society hopes during this pause that the federal government will fast-track the creation of a transition plan for achieving net-zero emissions from public lands by 2030. The organization states, “It’s crucial that this plan includes a just and equitable transition for communities that rely on fossil fuel extraction, including investments in training and new job creation in renewable energy, conservation and restoration, and other industries.”

“We are the farm-to-table capital of Colorado. Having clean air and clean water is really important to the economy we have here. We can sustainably live without a huge reliance on extracted oil and gas,” Henderson says.

She adds that the Western Slope Conservation Center is investing time in their Keep the North Fork Fruitful campaign, a coalition of local farmers, ranchers, vintners, artisans, small business owners, educators, realtors, wildlife enthusiasts and community members who are united in developing sustainable economic opportunities that transition away from extractive industries.

While differing interests are at stake, it’s clear to continue enjoying Colorado public land, unity needs to be prioritized at the local, state and national level — and education is key. By laying the groundwork for collaboration, only then can we rise in support of Colorado’s best interests.

Originally published in the Spring 2021 issue

Laying The Groundwork For Sustainability: Resource Extraction on the West Slope

ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS VERSUS ECONOMIC INPUT

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE