PLNR-19-1-Guiding Principles: Multiple Use of Public Lands

WHEREAS approximately 70% of the land in Western Colorado is managed by federal agencies; and

WHEREAS public lands are one of the largest economic drivers in Colorado and the region; and

WHEREAS the federal public lands multiple use mandates (Multiple –Use Sustained Yield Act of 1960, Federal Land Policy and Management Act of 1976 and other applicable laws) contribute to diverse Western Colorado economies; and

WHEREAS private lands and public lands are interdependent upon each other in much of rural western Colorado (grazing, energy, recreation, etc.), and activities and impacts often span county lines; and

WHEREAS Western Colorado multiple use values include:

·         Healthy forests  managed using appropriate silviculture  and fire management techniques including timber harvest, and livestock grazing for fuel load reduction and invasive weed management  

·         Recreation and Tourism (motorized and non-motorized recreation, water & land sports, hunting, fishing, hiking, etc.),

·         Livestock grazing, Natural resources extraction and energy production

·         Water management (agriculture, wildlife, industrial, resource development and conservation)

·         Historical, cultural, archeological sites, open space, conservation stewardship, and wildlife management),

·         Maximizing sustainable water supplies;

·         Special federal land designations developed by incorporating local planning processes (wilderness areas, wilderness study areas, areas of critical environmental concern, special recreation areas, etc.),

WHEREAS state and federal policies and processes sometimes fail to adequately include local input and address impacts to the Western Slope and rural communities; and

WHEREAS conflicts with existing federal policy and local land use plans, and conflicts with state policy and federal land management regulations further complicate land management decisions;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Club 20 maintains the following positions:

• While Club 20 supports the multiple use land management philosophy, we recognize that not all lands are suitable for every multiple use and should be evaluated for use on a site-specific basis

• Strongly support Cooperating Agency Status and or coordination  engagement through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), and the Federal Land Policy and Management Act (FLPMA). consistency review requirement [Section 202(c)(9)] and the National Forest Management Act

·         Public land management planning and decisions must be subject to the local planning processes, and include stakeholder participation and review,

·         Local input and site-specific data should be reflected in final management decisions

·         Public land management decisions must address the interdependency of diverse economies of the Western Colorado counties

·         Club 20 opposes federal and state land management decisions that do not duly consider input from locally elected officials.

·         Club 20 opposes unfunded land management mandates imposed by the state and federal governments

Adopted 4/12/2019

Amended 4/17/2026

Click HERE for PDF Version of Resolution