The bill has had a Senate subcommittee hearing and will soon to go through markup. There has yet to be a subcommittee hearing scheduled for the House, but one has been formally requested. So, this bill still needs active, public support.

The bill supports local businesses (such as outdoor shops, restaurants, grocery stores), economic prosperity (oil and gas extraction in limited areas), recreation from one end of the spectrum to the other (including motorized off-road vehicles, biking, peaceful hiking) as well as watershed protection. Hermosa Creek is critical to the health of the Animas River and cutthroat trout.

Also important in this bill is the withdrawal of oil and gas leasing around Lake Nighthorse, Horse Gulch, Animas City Mountain and Perins Peak.

More than 130 local businesses have endorsed this Act. But we can’t let the momentum stop here. Please express your personal gratitude and support for the Hermosa Creek Watershed Protection Act to both our senators and our representative by sending a letter, calling them or contacting them via email.

This is a great example of how we can work across political boundaries to accomplish something good for all of us in La Plata County.

Allison Morrissey

Hesperus