As a local architect and planner, I have worked on many civic projects that make Durango a dynamic and competitive city where people choose to live, work and play. We have a bustling main street, innovative local businesses, thriving arts and culture scene and institution of higher education, all surrounded by breathtaking landscapes. It’s no secret that those landscapes are a major driver of our local economy.
I am proud to be a part of a community that has prioritized and invested in acquiring and maintaining parks, open space and trails for residents’ and visitors’ enjoyment. That work must continue. It is easy to overlook our natural surroundings and assume they are already preserved and protected, but so often that is not the case.
The Hermosa Creek Watershed Protection Act would protect 110,000 acres just north of town. Additionally, some cherished landscapes closer to town, including Animas City Mountain, Perins Peak, Horse Gulch and Lake Nighthorse, would receive higher levels of protection with the act’s passage and ensure no future oil and gas development in these recreational areas. La Plata County contributes significantly to oil and gas production for the state and subsequently deserves protection for a handful of special places.
This legislation is sponsored in the U.S. Senate by Sen. Michael Bennet and the House by Rep. Scott Tipton, both of whom deserve overwhelming thanks for their leadership and prioritization of our community and economy.
The Senate Subcommittee on Energy and Natural Resources will hear testimony on the legislation Nov. 20 and hopefully will move it quickly to the Senate floor for a favorable vote. I also look forward, like so many other Durango residents, to a House subcommittee hearing and subsequent vote in favor of the act.
Please join me in acknowledging our delegation’s leadership and in learning more about the Hermosa Creek Watershed Protection Act by attending an informational open house and happy hour at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Lost Dog.
Durango residents have created a thriving community surrounded by spectacular natural beauty in this faraway corner of the state. Our special places deserve protection.
Dean R. Brookie
Durango
