La Plata County became the first county in the nation on Tuesday to declare its support for federal public lands in a resolution that decries any potential land sell-offs and voices support for the workforce that manages those lands, according to a land conservation group.

About a dozen residents spoke in favor of the resolution before the Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to approve it.

The resolution noted that 42% of La Plata County land is managed by the federal government, and those lands provide “essential resources, including grazing lands for agricultural operations, habitats for wildlife, drinking water, and nearly-endless opportunities for outdoor recreation.”

“This is the American way of life. And it’s being threatened,” Commissioner Marsha Porter-Norton said in an impassioned statement before the vote.

Michael Carroll, Bureau of Land Management campaign director at The Wilderness Society, tracks such resolutions nationwide. He spoke at Tuesday’s meeting and later confirmed that the Colorado Legislature’s adoption of a similar resolution last month and La Plata County’s this week were the first of their kind in the U.S.

“When you ask people in La Plata County what they do, that’s not a question about their occupation – it’s a question about their recreation,” Carroll told the board on Tuesday.

“What’s amazing and unique about La Plata County is not only do we have access to the Weminuche Wilderness and the Hermosa (Creek Special Management) Area and the San Juan Mountains, but we also have national public lands right here in our town that I use every day to hike and to mountain bike,” he continued.

He noted that popular hiking trails on Animas Mountain and biking trails such as Big Canyon and Sidewinder in Horse Gulch are all on federally managed land.

One resident, Lori Bryan, called on commissioners to take more preemptive action and “not always be on our back foot.” She was among about a dozen speakers, all of whom supported the resolution.

“When are we going to start being proactive and fight? We need to fight. This is not a debate,” Bryan said.

Commissioners acknowledged the concerns and said they can relate.

“This is just a resolution – it’s words on a paper,” Commissioner Matt Salka said. “And I agree with you, ma’am, we need to continue the fight. And the definition of fight for me is engaging with our electeds – keep being that squeaky wheel.”

Carroll, an in interview, said even words on paper make a difference.

“I know people want action. This is action,” Carroll said. “Congressman (Jeff) Hurd said throughout his campaign, ‘I want to hear from local county commissioners about what they need and want to see.’ Well, this is a local county commission putting in writing that they want to see public lands remain in public hands.”

Before the vote, Porter-Norton listed some of the threats to federal land that anger her, including any potential sell-offs and workforce cuts through “indiscriminate slash illegal firing.”

“I can’t tell you how angry I am about where we’re at in American history,” she said.

The commissioner noted her previous career as a professional facilitator, and the value she generally places on bringing disagreeing parties together. Her position this week was a contrast.

“I’m not sure I would have said this three or four years ago: We are going to have to fight,” she said.

rschafir@durangoherald.com