Two of our region’s most beloved outdoor public places are facing serious threats to their well-being: Chimney Rock National Monument and Ice Lake Trail.
In the case of the former, the motivation is profit. In the case of the latter, the motivation is passion. Nothing is wrong with such motivations, but an extreme of either can be problematic.
The threat facing Chimney Rock National Monument takes the form of a pending Bureau of Land Management lease sale for subsurface resources, which likely foretells expansion of oil and gas drilling in the area. The lease is scheduled to take effect in March.
What that means is that on a clear day – and most of our days are clear – sometime in the near future, those enjoying the spectacular views at Chimney Rock would likely also be looking at access roads, drilling rigs, compressor stations and other equipment in the near distance. The extraordinary stillness would be punctuated by the noise of that equipment and traffic. The night skies, famous for stargazing, would be altered by light the equipment emitted. Wildlife would be impacted. Riparian habitat would be damaged.
Native American populations of the region consider Chimney Rock among their sacred sites. The monument is home to Ancestral Puebloan ruins and is of archeo-astronomical significance. Chimney Rock also is the northeastern-most connection to Chaco Canyon and its ancient people.
In fact, the challenges to Chimney Rock’s future echo the conflicts raging over land use surrounding Chaco Canyon.
Unfortunately, when Chimney Rock National Monument was created in 2012, a mineral withdrawal was not included in the legislation. Such a withdrawal ensures no subsurface extraction can occur within a defined perimeter of the site.
If the lease sale goes through, there’s no going back.
A short-term remedy is for the Biden administration to follow through on a discussed moratorium on such lease sales so they can be reconsidered. The communities that find spiritual significance in and deep appreciation of the monument and adjacent areas should be consulted about their future best use.
During that pause, a long-term remedy would be for one of our Congressional representatives – perhaps Sen. Michael Bennet (D) – to take up the cause and introduce legislation that would include a mineral withdrawal for an adequate buffer around the monument, preserving its beauty and honoring its sacredness for posterity. (This could also preserve nearby ancient occupation sites.)
Ice Lakes Trail presents an entirely different challenge. The problem there is passion: They came, they fell in love – and they’re coming back with their friends.
As COVID-19 pushed people outside for recreation, many more visitors than ever this year trampled through the fragile alpine wilderness of Ice Lake Trail, going off-trail and leaving behind trash and human waste that threatens the ecosystem.
Durango businesses want the additional influx of tourists drawn by Ice Lakes Trail. Still, no one wants this beautiful place and the surrounding area of South Mineral Road damaged irreparably.
U.S. Forest Service folks want to implement a permit system, which has been successfully instituted at other sites in Colorado and throughout the West, to limit the number of people who can visit Ice Lake at any given time. We support that idea, as long as it’s created in tandem with educational efforts that will win the buy-in of visitors.
Let’s find ways to balance the motivations of profit and passion and preserve these special places for the coming generations. It’s our duty as stewards of the land.
General Location Map - 10 SJNF (PDF)
