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RESOLUTION NO. 32
(Series of 2006)
A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ASPEN, COLORADO
ENDORSING THE PROTECTION OF THE WHITE RIVER NATIONAL FOREST'S
ROADLESS AREAS:
WHEREAS, The Governor of Colorado and the Colorado General Assembly has
created the Roadless Areas Review Task Force to receive public comment and make
recommendations to Governor Owens regarding the management of roadless areas in
Colorado's National Forests, and;
WHEREAS, The White River National Forest is the nation's most visited
National Forest due to its outstanding recreational, economic, and ecological values, and;
WHEREAS, The City of Aspen is immediately surrounded by the White River
National Forest as listed below:
. Hunter-North Independent
. Hunter
. Mcfarlane
. Ashcroft
. Maroon East
. Red Mountain,and;
WHEREAS, The White River National Forest's roadless areas in Pitkin County
provide world-class, unmatched recreational opportunities, such as backcountry skiing,
hiking, camping, rock climbing, biking, fishing, kayaking, snowmobiling, wildlife
viewing, birding, horseback riding, and hunting, and;
WHEREAS, The White River National Forest's roadless areas surrounding Aspen
contribute significantly to the local economy by generating substantial dollars from
outdoor recreation, tourism, and agriculture, and;
WHEREAS, The White River National Forest's roadless areas provide important
watershed functions and water flows that protect water supplies for homes, communities,
industry, agriculture, native fisheries, and recreation, and;
WHEREAS, The White River National Forest's roadless areas are home to some of
the nation's most scenic and visited Wilderness Areas, including:
. Maroon Bells - Snowmass Wilderness
. Flat Tops Wilderness
. Hunter-Fryingpan Wilderness
. Holy Cross Wilderness
. Raggeds Wilderness
. Collegiate Peaks Wilderness
. Eagles Nest Wilderness
. Ptannigan Peak Wilderness, and;
WHEREAS, The White River National Forest's roadless areas contain critical habitat
for wildlife such as the re-introduced lynx, black bear, elk, mule deer, mountain lion, and
threatened/endangered species such as the Bald eagle, Northern goshawk, Peregrine
falcon, Colorado cutthroat trout, and Canyon bog orchid, and;
WHEREAS, The White River National Forest's roadless areas define Colorado's
natural beauty, known throughout the nation as the' West of the Imagination '. These
areas contribute greatly to our local economy, preserve our quality of life, and serve as
our last places of natural solitude, and;
WHEREAS, preservation of the White River National Forest's roadless areas in
Pitkin County will protect the heart of our surrounding forest while still allowing existing
uses to continue, and;
WHEREAS, Coloradans have submitted public comments to the U.S. Forest Service
supporting the Roadless Area Conservation Rule and supporting strong protection for
Colorado's roadless areas;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
ASPEN, COLORADO THAT:
1. The City of Aspen requests the Roadless Areas Review Task Force recommend
that Governor Bill Owens petition the United States Forest Service to protect all
of the White River National Forest's roadless areas.
2. Within the context of preservation of roadless areas, allowances should be made
for preventing and handling emergency situations for the protection of county
residents.
3. That the City of Aspen strongly supports the protection of all currently existing
roadless areas within the White River National Forest, as inventoried by the U.S.
Forest Service in the 2001 Final Environmental Impact Statement.
4. Management of the White River National Forest's roadless areas, while
preserving valid and existing rights, should prohibit the future construction or
reconstruction of roads for development activities such as logging, mineral
development, or any kind of residential or commercial development.
INTRODUCED, READ AND ADOPTED by the City Council 0
the 24th day of April, 2006.
Kathryn S. Koch, duly appointed and acting City Clerk do certify that the foregoing is a
true and accurate copy of that resolution adopted by the City Council of the City of
Aspen, Colorado, at a meeting held on the day hereinabove stated.
Kat . Koch, City Clerk