The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
Get yourself some GORP
[ by Mark Reaman ]
Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet announced last week that he will introduce legislation to protect public lands in Gunnison County after seeking input from Coloradans on the draft bill.
For a decade, Bennet has worked with Coloradans to develop the Gunnison Outdoor Resources Protection (GORP) Act to protect and enhance key portions of the Gunnison Basin and Gunnison County.
“Colorado’s public lands and outdoor landscapes are not only central to who we are as a state, but they’re a critical part of our local economies as well,” Bennet stated in a press release. “Now after a decade of work with Coloradans, I’m pleased to share this draft legislation to protect the incredible landscapes of Gunnison County for future generations. I’ve had the opportunity to visit Gunnison County, tour these lands, and hear first-hand from local leaders about the importance of these landscapes to the surrounding communities. I am thankful to the members of the Gunnison Public Lands Initiative (GPLI) who have dedicated so much of their time over the past ten years to work together on the proposal that informed this draft. I look forward to receiving additional feedback so that we can advance this legislation for Gunnison County.”
While some might view the GORP name as a somewhat awkward acronym, Gunnison County commissioner and GORP supporter Jonathan Houck explained that it all makes sense. “Most bills strive to have a name that gives a snapshot of its goals, connects to the spirit of the bill and is hopefully easy to remember,” Houck explained. “GORP is the old school name for trail mix meaning ‘Good ol’ Raisins & Peanuts’ and easily translates to Gunnison Outdoor Resource Protection Act.” Hence the GORP tag.
Houck said the act is a piece of legislation that is more than a decade in the making at the local grassroots level.
“I am happy to see draft legislation being brought forward just as we are celebrating public lands day in Colorado,” he said. “For 10 years, local community members representing ranching, recreation, conservation, wildlife, sporting and water interest have crafted sensible public lands protections that do not close existing trails and roads, allow timber treatments and fire protection, supports wildlife and habitat. That’s all while ultimately providing long term management strategies to keep these landscapes productive, not just for our communities, but for all those who enjoy public lands in Gunnison County. Thanks to Senator Bennet for his commitment to the people of Gunnison County and his support of the GPLI process and work group.”
“This community vision unites diverse stakeholders in the interest of landscape-level conservation, sustainable recreation, viable wildlife, and public lands grazing,” added High Country Conservation Advocates (HCCA) Public Lands director Matt Reed.
Bennet is inviting input and welcomes Coloradans’ suggestions to improve the bill during an initial 60-day comment period. The deadline to submit feedback is July 19, 2022. The form and additional information about the proposal is available at https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=gunnison-public-lands-proposal.
Bennet said the draft GORP Act is meant to protect and enhance key portions of Gunnison County through a variety of public land management tools, including special designations focused on recreation, wildlife, scientific research, and conservation. The proposal also considers possible public land conservation designations in adjacent counties that may wish to incorporate areas in the bill that are geographically connected to the areas proposed in Gunnison County.
Stakeholders met extensively to develop a consensus-based proposal for public lands protection. In a statement from the senator’s office, it’s indicated that the proposal was built on the belief among group members that public land recreation, conservation, hunting, fishing and ranching form the fabric of Gunnison County culture, economy, and way of life. The carefully-crafted and robustly-supported proposal is the basis for this draft bill.
“Gunnison County prides itself as a place where people sit down together and find common-ground solutions to the issues that matter most to them,” said Houck. “Given that I can think of few issues that are closer to heart for our residents than public lands, it has been extremely gratifying to see so many different public land stakeholders work together to chart a path forward for the places they love.”
“The GORP Act is the result of a decade of community engagement and conversations, and HCCA thanks Sen. Bennet for his leadership and commitment to our community and its interests,” concluded Reed. “The act’s combination of wilderness and special management area recommendations will protect key habitat and wildlands across diverse Gunnison County public lands, and HCCA wholeheartedly supports the process and the draft legislation.”
