Thank you to local rancher, Marj Perry for clearing the air in her letter last week, for Post Independent readers who are attempting to understand the current state-of-play in our community\u2019s effort to protect Thompson Divide. Anyone who read the July article titled \u201cHere\u2019s why Tipton\u2019s public lands bill doesn\u2019t include the Thompson Divide,\u201d may have come away unclear about Garfield County\u2019s support, even though the County clarified their position earlier in July with a letter of support submitted to Sen. Michael Bennet\u2019s office.<\/p>\n
As Marj noted, permanently protecting Thompson Divide has been a priority for local ranchers and the greater community for over a decade. Provisions of Sen. Bennet\u2019s CORE Act reflect the work and consensus of a diverse and bi-partisan group of stakeholders. Much like the ranchers who want the area protected to preserve the viability of their grazing leases, we hunters too, want the Divide to remain pristine and free from mineral extraction in order to preserve it for its wildlife habitat values. In fact, game Management Unit #43 in Thompson Divide is one of the most sought-after units for hunting in the state, one in which I\u2019ve been fortunate to hunt numerous times over the years.<\/p>\n
With Rep. Scott Tipton\u2019s concerns about Garfield County\u2019s stance on Thompson Divide resolved, I urge him to join local hunters, ranchers, city and county governments, and recreationists of all kinds in supporting permanent legislative protection for the area as proposed in the CORE Act.<\/p>\n
Bob Shettel
Backcountry Hunters and Anglers West Slope DPW liaison
Carbondale<\/p>\n