1% for Open Space funds backcountry stewardship efforts

They are on the cutting edge

By Mark Reaman

Non-profit 1% for Open Space is jumping on the backcountry mitigation bandwagon. On Monday, the board donated a total of $30,000 to two groups that will actively be out in the field this summer maintaining the backcountry trails and educating backcountry users.

The board agreed to contribute $15,000 to the Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association Crested Butte Conservation Corps. They made a similar $15,000 contribution to the new Mountain Manners program.

Executive director Molly Murfee said the board understands the need for stewardship of public lands and nearby backcountry.

“1% for Open Space is in the business of helping fund the permanent preservation of land and access to it. But we must additionally be good stewards of this land and take care of our corner of the earth,” Murfee said. “We highly commend both the Crested Butte Wildflower Festival with Mountain Manners and Crested Butte Mountain Bike Association with the Crested Butte Conservation Corps for identifying the incredibly pressing need to address the detrimental impacts the increased visitation to our wild lands is having, and taking the initiative to do something about it. We feel they are on the cutting edge of stewardship for our community and we want to be right there with them.”