Proposed wilderness legislation for the Northern San Juan Mountains and Dolores River Basin in San Miguel and Ouray Counties

Local support for new wilderness designations in the Northern San Juan Mountains in San Miguel County and Ouray County is strong and growing. The San Miguel County Commission, Towns of Telluride and Mountain Village, and numerous individuals and organizations have contacted Congressman John Salazar and urged him to introduce wilderness legislation in Congress; and the Congressman is considering doing so. Ouray County governments and citizens are also in support of an addition to Mount Sneffels Wilderness in that county.

What You Can Do

It’s critical that Congressman Salazar hear from his constituents to support wilderness legislation!

Please take a few minutes to fax a letter to his office. A sample letter is attached. Send your letter to:

• Fax number: (970) 259-9467 (most effective)
• Email: john.whitney@mail.house.gov
• Phone: 970-259-1012 (in addition to sending a letter)

Some suggestions for personal statements: If you choose to call please refer to the attached sample letter and make a simple statement of support, urging the Congressman to support a bill including all of the proposed areas in San Miguel and Ouray counties.

Be sure to include at least some of the following points:

• Urge Congressman Salazar to introduce wilderness legislation as soon as possible
• Express support for all the areas listed above
• Be sure to mention if you have a personal connection to any of the proposed areas, or more importantly if you live adjacent to one of them.
• Emphasize that great care was used to avoid potential conflicts with non-wilderness uses
• Highlight that the proposal specifically leaves other lands open to snowmobile and other motorized recreation
  

Please fax your letter today – this is the critical moment to convince Congressman Salazar to protect San Miguel County wilderness! Call Amber Clark, Dolores River Campaign Coordinator, with any questions at 970-565-7191.

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Sample Letter Follows

Be sure to include your name, address, and phone -- Please personalize it with your own experience and knowledge

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February __, 2008

Honorable John T. Salazar
Via facsimile: 970-259-9467
or email John.Whitney@mail.house.gov

Dear Congressman Salazar,

I am writing in support of a Wilderness Bill that would permanently protect areas in the Northern San Juan Mountains in San Miguel and Ouray Counties. As you know there is broad based official support for these proposed areas from the various governmental bodies in both counties. In addition, there is a broad base of support from residents of the region, as well as visitors.

San Miguel and Ouray Counties contain acres of pristine public lands under growing pressure from development and resource extraction. The areas included in this proposal qualify for the highest level of protection available for public lands and deserve wilderness designation.

I urge you to include all of the areas proposed for Wilderness including:

• The expansion of the Mount Sneffles Wilderness Areas to include the Whitehouse Area in Ouray County, and the Last Dollar and Liberty Bell areas above Telluride;
• The expansion of the Lizard Head Wilderness to include the Wilson, Sunshine, San Bernardo and Lizard Head Areas;
• The Sheep Mountain Area, truly a gem of the proposal;
• The Naturita Canyon Area, a unique and pristine low elevation ecosystem deserving of the highest level of protection;
• The northern section of the Snaggletooth Proposed Wilderness that falls in San Miguel County;
• The McKenna Peak Area.
  

This region has recently shown to the nation that we will go to extreme lengths to preserve lands worthy of protection. I hope you will join us and take the steps necessary to preserve our public lands worthy of preservation as well.

Thank you for your public service.

Sincerely,