{"id":1311117,"date":"2019-06-07T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2019-06-07T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/?p=980204"},"modified":"2019-06-07T00:00:00","modified_gmt":"2019-06-07T06:00:00","slug":"cpw-agrees-to-safety-officer-surveillance-cameras-at-basalt-shooting-range","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/local-news\/cpw-agrees-to-safety-officer-surveillance-cameras-at-basalt-shooting-range\/","title":{"rendered":"CPW agrees to safety officer, surveillance cameras at Basalt shooting range"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"swift-gallery\" readability=\"6.589164785553\">\n<ul id=\"imageGallery-980204-333\" class=\"gallery list-unstyled\">\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/shootingrange-atd-060719-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/shootingrange-atd-060719.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Scott Condon\/The Aspen Times | The rifle range at the Basalt shooting range will get further safety enhancements this summer, including asphalt base and a greenbelt behind and aside the berm.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"9\">\n<p><strong>The rifle range at the Basalt shooting range will get further safety enhancements this summer, including asphalt base and a greenbelt behind and aside the berm.<\/strong><br \/>Scott Condon\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/shootingrange-atd-060719.jpg\" alt=\"The rifle range at the Basalt shooting range will get further safety enhancements this summer, including asphalt base and a greenbelt behind and aside the berm.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/shootingrange-atd-060719-1-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/shootingrange-atd-060719-1.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Scott Condon\/The Aspen Times | Additional fire extinguishers have been installed at the Basalt shooting range facilities.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Additional fire extinguishers have been installed at the Basalt shooting range facilities.<\/strong><br \/>Scott Condon\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/shootingrange-atd-060719-1.jpg\" alt=\"Additional fire extinguishers have been installed at the Basalt shooting range facilities.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li data-thumb=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/shootingrange-atd-060719-2-150x150.jpg\" data-src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/shootingrange-atd-060719-2.jpg\" data-sub-html=\"Scott Condon\/The Aspen Times | Improved signage was among the recommendations for the Basalt shooting range.\" class=\"h-100\" readability=\"-1.5\">\n<div class=\"caption\" readability=\"8\">\n<p><strong>Improved signage was among the recommendations for the Basalt shooting range.<\/strong><br \/>Scott Condon\/The Aspen Times<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"row no-gutters h-100\">\n<div class=\"col my-auto\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn.postindependent.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/6\/2019\/06\/shootingrange-atd-060719-2.jpg\" alt=\"Improved signage was among the recommendations for the Basalt shooting range.\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"caption-toggle\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/news\/local\/cpw-agrees-to-safety-officer-surveillance-cameras-at-basalt-shooting-range\/#\" class=\"show-captions\">Show Captions<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/news\/local\/cpw-agrees-to-safety-officer-surveillance-cameras-at-basalt-shooting-range\/#\" class=\"hide-captions\">Hide Captions<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The Basalt shooting range will likely be safer but not any quieter, at least in the short term, if Colorado Parks and Wildlife implements steps recommended last night by a citizens\u2019 committee.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">A task force appointed by the state agency unveiled its recommendations before a sparse crowd at Basalt High School.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The committee recommended two major changes to immediately improve safety \u2014 hiring a range safety officer and installing 24-hour video surveillance cameras with storage capability for 10 days.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">CPW has already committed $20,000 toward the cameras this year and agreed to fund a safety officer from July through November, the period of busiest use and highest fire danger. That person will check in visitors to the shooting range and \u201cmake sure they are abiding by all the rules we have established,\u201d said Matt Yamashita, district wildlife manager for the Basalt area.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-pullquote\" readability=\"2\">\n<blockquote readability=\"7\">\n<p>\u201cRight now, it\u2019s completely inconsistent.\u201d \u2014 CPW\u2019s Dean Riggs on coordination of stage two fire restrictions<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Dean Riggs, CPW\u2019s deputy regional manager, said there are no guarantees for ongoing funding for those safety steps, but he\u2019s confident they will be institutionalized.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cWe\u2019re in better financial shape now than we have been for a good 30 or 40 years,\u201d Riggs told an audience of about 50 people. \u201cThe future looks good for funding.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">He said increased safety at the shooting range is important to both the midvalley community and CPW.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cThis is a high priority for us,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The Lake Christine Fire erupted at the shooting range in the late afternoon of July 3 last year when a shooter fired tracer ammunition at the rifle portion of the facility. Allison Marcus, who shot the tracer, and her boyfriend, Richard Miller, who coordinated the target practice, have pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of setting fire to range or prairie in connection to the fire. They will be sentenced July 1.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The fire burned nearly 12,600 acres of federal, state and private land, destroyed three houses and forced the evacuation of thousands of residents.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">There was a lot of public anger directed at CPW for allowing the shooting range to remain open during stage two fire restrictions in Eagle County, where the facility is located, and in the surrounding White River National Forest at the time.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Riggs said the coordination of stage two fire restrictions remains an issue in his mind.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cEvery county across the state is different,\u201d he said. \u201cThe federal agencies are different.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">There needs to be better communication between the state, local and federal agencies on what the restrictions mean, according to Riggs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u201cAre we still going to try to follow the lead of the county in question? Absolutely,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">But he stressed it will take \u201cleadership at the state level\u201d to coordinate the restrictions across all counties and agencies. \u201cRight now, it\u2019s completely inconsistent,\u201d Riggs said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">CPW held two public meetings in August to address issues surrounding the shooting range and Lake Christine Fire. The first meeting attracted more than 300 people. The next drew in excess of 200. The crowd was polarized in both gatherings.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">CPW responded by forming a task force comprising a diverse group of longtime midvalley residents. The members are George Trantow, Bill Kane, Stacey Craft, Rob Leavitt, Larry Emery and Charles Spickert. All live in or directly adjacent to Basalt.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The committee met about once per month for more than six months to come up with short- and long-term recommendations on shooting range issues. Yamashita and Riggs praised the group for its work on tough issues.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Many safety steps recommended by the group have been or will be undertaken by CPW, Yamashita said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Those include:<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u2022 Completion of removal of more vegetation on the rifle, shotgun and pistol portions of the range. That work continues this summer with removal of all brush and trees within 75 yards of the shooting areas. Vegetation between the ranges will also be removed this summer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u2022 Covering range surfaces with recycled asphalt from road projects. That will be completed this summer. The chewed up asphalt is currently being stored near Lake Christine, at the base of the wildlife area.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u2022 The berms behind the target areas were beefed up to 20 feet from 10 feet.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u2022 Creation of an irrigated greenbelt behind the target area and on the side of the ranges at the recommendation of Roaring Fork Fire Rescue Chief Scott Thompson. An irrigated hay field in the state wildlife area was unscathed even though hundreds of acres around it burned in July. Seeding for the greenbelt will occur in July.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">\u2022 Fire extinguishers have been installed at the range facilities. Water storage will be added to enhance firefighting.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The committee recommended looking into alternative sites but acknowledged they are few, far between and, if they can be found, cost prohibitive.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Given that situation, the task force advised CPW to explore building an enclosed facility on the current site. That was also portrayed as a long shot due to cost of construction, maintenance and operation.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The committee said further steps to reduce noise should be explored, though it appears the most obvious steps were taken in 2004.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The committee advised returning to longer hours at the facility. After the fire, CPW restricted public access on Tuesdays and Thursdays. However, special use groups are able to use the range seven days per week.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The committee determined that restricting hours risks forcing target shooters out into the Roaring Fork Valley\u2019s national forests and Bureau of Land Management areas. That creates additional risks and dangers.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">The committee\u2019s recommendation was to set three seasons for the range. In summer season, the facility would be open to the public seven days per week, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. In winter, it would be limited to five days per week, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In shoulder season, including prior to fall hunting, it would be open six days per week, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText\">Yamashita said changing hours would require CPW review. The recommendation could be approved at an administrative level or forwarded to the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission, its governing board. If a board decision is deemed necessary, the change in hours might not be implemented until spring 2020, he said.<\/p>\n<p class=\"STND-STND BodyText Tagline\"><a href=\"mailto:scondon@aspentimes.com\">scondon@aspentimes.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.postindependent.com\/news\/local\/cpw-agrees-to-safety-officer-surveillance-cameras-at-basalt-shooting-range\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">via:: Post Independent<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The rifle range at the Basalt shooting range will get further safety enhancements this summer, including asphalt base and a greenbelt behind and aside the berm.Scott Condon\/The Aspen Times Additional fire extinguishers have been installed at the Basalt shooting range facilities.Scott Condon\/The Aspen Times Improved signage was among the recommendations for the Basalt shooting range.Scott [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[160],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-1311117","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-local-news"},"acf":[],"publishpress_future_action":{"enabled":false,"date":"2026-06-18 17:50:44","action":"change-status","newStatus":"draft","terms":[],"taxonomy":"category","extraData":[]},"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"distributor_meta":false,"distributor_terms":false,"distributor_media":false,"distributor_original_site_name":"KSKE Ski Country","distributor_original_site_url":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske","push-errors":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1311117","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1311117"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1311117\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1311117"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1311117"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alwaysmountaintime.com\/kske\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1311117"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}