Congress needs to hear from you about protecting the Roan Plateau's Cutthroats!
On April 17, Senator Ken Salazar and Representatives John Salazar and Mark Udall, introduced legislation (S.2879) to protect key portions of the Roan Plateau while allowing phased leasing and development of the Plateau's natural gas reserves. Senator Wayne Allard has previously indicated openness to the phased leasing concept; please call or email him today and urge him to join in supporting S.2879.
S.2879 would protect key portions of the Roan Plateau from surface disturbance for oil and gas development - such as construction of roads, pipelines and pads. Protected areas would include native cutthroat trout watersheds in the Trapper and Northwater Creek drainages and in the East Fork Parachute Creek drainage above First Anvil Creek, as well as critical areas identified for big game habitat. Development in and between those areas would be limited to corridors along the existing ridgetop roads, and only one area could be leased at a time - leasing of the next phased area would only take place after wells were in place to recover 90% of the first phase area's natural gas and reclamation was completed to 5-year standards for 99% of the disturbed area. While CTU continues to support full protection for the top of the Roan, this legislation represents a major step forward in protecting the most critical habitats on the Roan and in ensuring that development is carefully phased and conducted to minimize its impacts. More information on the bill is available on Congressman Salazar's webpage (click here).
When you call or email Senator Allard's office (contact information appears below), tell him you are an angler (and/or hunter ) and that you want the public lands atop the Roan Plateau protected from extensive oil and gas drilling. Ask him to support S.2879 and help secure its passage before leasing proceeds under the BLM's plan. Key points to make include:
- This bill protects the most sensitive habitats including cutthroat watersheds and areas of critical environmental concern identified by BLM and the Colorado Division of Wildlife.
- The bill allows for a steady approach to development of the Roan's natural gas, through a phased leasing and development program focused on the existing road corridors so as to minimize impacts while still allowing (through directional drilling) access to most if not all of the Roan's underlying gas reserves. The phased approach allows time for improved technologies to be used on future phases of development, and helps increase the returns to the State of Colorado (and the Federal government) generated by lease bids.
- BLM's plan lacks the necessary protections for fish and wildlife, and BLM has rejected recommendations from the State of Colorado to improve on its plan both in terms of wildlife protection and enhancing revenues generated to the State. Without Congressional action, BLM's flawed plan could move into effect as soon as August.
Please also take a moment to email or call Senator Salazar and Representatives Salazar and Udall to thank them for their support for protecting key habitats on the Roan Plateau. More background on the Roan also appears below the contact information.
CONTACTS:
Senate
The Honorable Wayne Allard (202) 224-5941 (Washington), (719) 634-6071 (Colorado Springs), (303) 220-7414 (Denver), (970) 245-9553 (Grand Junction), (970) 461-3530 (Loveland), (719) 545-9751 (Pueblo), (970) 375-6311 (Durango), or comment online
The Honorable Ken Salazar (303) 455-7600 (Denver), (719) 328-1100 (Colorado Springs), 970-224-2200 (Ft. Collins), 970-542-9446 (Ft Morgan), 719 542-7550 (Pueblo), (970) 259-1710 (Durango), 970-241-6631 (Grand Junction), 719-587-0096 (Alamosa), or (202) 224-5852 (Washington), or comment online
House of Representatives
2nd District: The Honorable Mark Udall (303) 650-7820 (Westminster), (970) 827-4154 (Minturn), or (202) 225-2161 (Washington); or comment online
3rd District: The Honorable John Salazar 970-245-7107 (Grand Junction), 970-259-1012 (Durango), 719-587-5105 (Alamosa), 719-543-8200 (Pueblo) or 202-225-4761 (Washington); or comment online
Why Protect the Roan?
Within the Roan Plateau there are some of the singularly most remarkable and unique natural creations in Colorado. There is an abundance of deer and elk that spend summers on top of the Roan Plateau and for whom the cliff areas along the southern and eastern sides of the plateau provide essential winter range. The top is a mix of rolling grassland, aspen and spruce forests and unique hanging gardens. Three of the Roan's streams - Trapper Creek, Northwater Creek, and the East Fork of Parachute Creek - harbor very rare conservation populations of Colorado River Cutthroat Trout - populations of high genetic integrity that are highly valuable in conservation and recovery of the species. On the western side, these same streams tumble from the Roan as two of the highest waterfalls in Colorado.
East Fork Parachute Creek drainage on the Roan Plateau.
In the midst of the ongoing energy development boom, the Roan Plateau has been an island of refuge - until now. The Roan Plateau lies atop some of the most dramatic cliff scenery in Colorado. The Roan Plateau comprises a very small area by comparison to the rest of the public and private lands being opened for energy development. It should also be noted that 80 to 90% of the gas beneath the Roan Plateau can be reached by directional drilling from around the base with no need to drill from the top. There is simply no need to sacrifice sensitive habitats in order to secure energy resources.
Unfortunately, the BLM issued a proposed management plan for the Roan that calls for drilling along the top. The plan's habitat protections are woefully inadequate. For example, while "no surface occupancy" sounds like a high level of protection for sensitive watersheds, in areas to be protected by "no surface occupancy" restrictions the BLM plan would actually allow surface occupancy for oil and gas development for two years or more! (In contrast, S.2879 would provide true protection against surface disturbances in protected areas.) Most disturbingly, the BLM's own analysis indicates that extirpation of the cutthroat trout populations is a likely result of their proposal.
To learn more about the Roan Plateau and CTU's concerns with BLM's plan, visit our Roan Plateau web page.