Rep. Jeff Hurd’s recent op-ed, “Working for public lands that support real people, places and livelihoods” (Herald, Jun. 1), invites important discussion. As a La Plata County commissioner who works directly with impacted residents, I share the congressman’s stated interest in supporting local voices and healthy public lands. But his voting record and legislative proposals tell a very different story.
While Hurd speaks about the importance of local collaboration and stewardship, his support for the Productive Public Lands Act (H.R. 1997) and the recent federal budget bill contradicts the very principles he claims to uphold.
Let’s start with H.R. 1997, which would nullify several painstakingly developed Bureau of Land Management Resource Management Plans – including some affecting Southwest Colorado. These plans were built through years of community-driven work involving state and local governments, tribal partners, landowners, ranchers and the public. Yet, H.R. 1997 would throw that all out the window, replacing it with a top-down mandate from Washington. This isn’t local control – it’s political override.
Hurd also claims to support the relocation of the BLM headquarters to Grand Junction so that decisions are made closer to the communities affected. But supporting that move while simultaneously backing a bill that strips away local input from public lands planning is inconsistent at best, and deeply troubling at worst.
We in La Plata County know how important it is for public lands to serve multiple needs – recreation, wildlife habitat, grazing and yes, responsible energy development. But the plans Hurd seeks to eliminate already strike that balance. According to the BLM, nearly 74% of Colorado’s federal lands remain open to oil and gas leasing. The new plans ensure transparency and clarity for both conservation and development. They were not protested by a single Colorado county nor by the oil and gas industry itself – because they work.
What’s more, Hurd’s support for the House budget bill – after voting against its public lands sell-off provision in committee – is both confusing and contradictory. He was the only Republican to oppose that provision in committee, which was commendable. But the final bill he supported in committee included the same proposal to sell off more than half a million acres of public lands – an area larger than Mesa Verde, Zion and Rocky Mountain National Parks combined. That stands in direct opposition to the resolution La Plata County passed earlier this year, supporting community-led land use planning and opposing the politicization of public lands.
The budget bill also includes extreme provisions under the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” which mandates aggressive oil and gas leasing, weakens environmental review under the National Environmental Policy Act, and imposes protest fees that deter community feedback. These policies put profit over public process and sideline the very communities Hurd claims to champion.
Our residents – conservative and progressive alike – value access to clean water, wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities. They expect that decisions affecting our lands be made with our voices at the table, not just in the halls of Congress.
At a time when Coloradans are working together to address fire resilience, habitat connectivity and sustainable land use, it’s disheartening to see bipartisan, locally supported planning efforts undermined for political gain. The Gunnison Sage-Grouse RMP, for example, is a science-based plan that safeguards a threatened species while supporting local conservation efforts. Rolling it back could jeopardize recovery efforts and increase the likelihood of future federal restrictions – ironically limiting local control even further.
If Hurd is truly committed to “working for public lands that support real people,” then I encourage him to stand with the communities that have invested years in shaping balanced, science-based land management plans. Respecting that work isn’t about partisan politics – it’s about honoring local voices and the collaborative process that defines good governance.
I look forward to working with Hurd and the rest of our congressional delegation to ensure our public land policies reflect the values and priorities of the people who live, work and recreate on them. His visit to La Plata County was a good step forward, and I hope it marks the beginning of continued, constructive engagement.
Matt Salka is a La Plata County Commissioner.
