Sheriff’s department increasing summer presence in Marble

County may partner with Forest Service for additional enforcement

[ By Katherine Nettles ]

Marble residents calling for relief from motorized recreational vehicle users along popular roads may find some relief this summer, but officials are cautioning that a long-term plan is needed and bigger changes to reduce overuse impacts will take a long time. More consistent law enforcement presence, a potential partnership between Gunnison County with the White River Forest Service and educational outreach may be the first steps.

County commissioners met with Gunnison County sheriff John Gallowich and Marble town trustee Ron Leach on Tuesday, March 23 to work toward handling the parking and road and land use issues in Marble. The most problematic stretch of road during summer months begins just beyond the Marble town site, where jurisdictions switch from the town to the county, then to the Forest Service. Gunnison County commissioner chairperson Jonathan Houck noted the volume and over-use issues happening there are also taking place in Pitkin, Tin Cup, Taylor Park and across the state as well.

“We are trying to forge a partnership,” said commissioner Roland Mason of a working group effort to stem the impacts along the road and along wilderness areas in Marble such as Beaver Lake. “People in the area are also willing volunteers.”

Mason reviewed a three-pronged proposal to increase patrolling from Gunnison County law enforcement; increase engagement from the Forest Service alongside the county; and launch an educational campaign from the town of Marble.

Increased sheriff’s presence
Sheriff Gallowich explained that he has increased the deputy presence in the area, including Somerset, and that will only improve as he becomes fully staffed and assigns a permanent deputy there. It has been difficult to find someone permanent, and “I’m burning probably four hours on the road sending people over there.” A new deputy who lives in Marble will likely be sworn in by early May, and Marble has offered a secure space that can operate as a substation.

Gallowich said that space would give citizens the opportunity to walk in, meet the deputy and express concerns. “That is important,” he said. “Having someone over there full time is going to be huge.”

Unfortunately, the new deputy won’t be fully independent until sometime in August, and the high impact season in Marble begins in mid-June.

Meanwhile Gallowich said he would send deputies from Gunnison, who need to maintain knowledge of the area anyway.
Leach noted that the two most important things for Marble are weekend backup, and safety. Parking on County Road 3 along Beaver Lake gets out of control, and “Emergency vehicles sometimes cannot get through,” he said of the roadway. “That’s what I would ask sheriff Gallowich to help us with first is that parking on Beaver Lake.”

The county has moved boulders and added no parking signs, and Gallowich said deputies would be prepared to issue tickets for parking violations. The group discussed temporarily staging a tow company to save the time it normally takes to respond from Paonia, and set a few examples early on.

Gallowich agreed. “Tow a few, ticket a few, the word’s going to get out.”

Forest Service officers
Commissioners discussed funding a temporary, seasonal partnership with the White River Forest Service to provide a forest protection enforcement officer one to two days per week for about $10,000. Pitkin County pays for two year-round positions, and Mason suggested doing a pilot program for the summer months.

Both Houck and county manager Matthew Birnie pushed back on that somewhat, emphasizing that it would set a precedent, and the Forest Service may not have incentive if local taxpayer funds are paying for it instead.

Houck wanted commitments that the Forest Service enforcement would take place on weekends, when that use is at its peak. The Division of Wildlife also plans to begin enforcing license requirements for state wildlife areas such as Beaver Lake.

“It’s a little tough that local governments…we’re spending money on something that these agencies should be doing ahead of time,” he said.
“Everyone is clear that long term travel management is needed,” said Birnie.

“The volume is impacting wildlife, water quality,” said Houck. “We have to ask, is this a sustainable policy in this area? And what we are hearing is no.”

Leach cautioned that a new Forest Service travel management plan will be slow going.

“What they want from us is data, and they want surveys, and all that bureaucratic stuff, and they won’t move until we do that,” he said. He emphasized the importance of the working group to collect that data and push it forward.

“But it is frustrating… and it takes time. People want instant gratification, and that’s not how this works.”

Leach said Marble is ready to take on the educational aspect with users in the area. “We are going to try to manage the parking in Marble, so it’s not just a free-for-all. I think all of this will help. And I think our citizens will appreciate it.”

Commissioners will fine-tune their direction for more formal consideration this spring. Meanwhile, Marble’s town trustees will come to Gunnison April 13 for another work session with commissioners.