The proposed “swap” of land usage by Silverton Guides would be detrimental to wildlife, recreation and the economy of Silverton. To begin, a swap implies an exchange of equal size, so calling this proposal a swap is misleading. It is not a swap when more than 10,000 acres of land is gained in the deal.
It is not just the addition of land, but also where that land is located. Some of the proposed pods border wilderness study areas, which are managed in the same manner as a wilderness area. This means that Silverton Guides could potentially be accessing areas by helicopter that are protected from any motor vehicle use.
An additional problem caused by expansion of terrain is the impact this will have on wildlife. Many of these areas are sensitive habitats and corridors for wildlife, including lynx. The noise and additional traffic to the area from helicopter-accessed skiing could be detrimental to these species.
Another issue faced by this proposed expansion is the impact on recreation. All of the pods proposed are areas many people use for backcountry skiing. By expanding their access by more than 10,000 acres, they are dramatically increasing the odds that people’s backcountry experience will be interrupted by noise and traffic. The Bureau of Land Management map of the proposed expansions includes areas that are frequented, such as Minnehaha Basin. It is unrealistic to state that it will not affect recreation when the terrain encompasses 25,000 acres.
Finally, this proposed change does not necessarily benefit the town of Silverton’s economy. By getting rid of unguided days and focusing on heli-access, they are reducing the overall number of participants using Silverton Mountain. This change may correlate to more money for the owners, but the reduction of traffic through Silverton could damage the economy. I urge this proposal to be turned down. There has not been adequate study of the proposal, and it will have many negative impacts in the area.
Jake Hutcherson
Durango
