Most people living here benefit from the alliance’s efforts, but only a few of us support it financially. In a region with a population approaching a quarter of million people, there are only about 500 folks who are members of the alliance, investing in conserving the places we love.

While cowboy poets, Music in the Mountains, thriving arts and a multitude of other worthy nonprofit ventures make Durango the rich and diverse place it is, it is the diverse and beautiful natural settings that anchor this place – the wild landscapes from the high desert to the mountain peaks where we hike, camp, hunt, ski, bike, ride or simply enjoy wildlife and views. The clear streams where we fish, boat, play and from which we drink. The archaeological treasures we explore and learn from. The clean air we breathe. From Chaco Canyon to the San Juan Mountains, Wolf Creek Pass to the Dolores River Canyon, it is the incredibly effective small team of alliance staff and volunteers who protect the places and landscapes we need and love.

Through their hard work and vigilance, we have wilderness proposals in Congress for the San Juan Mountains and Hermosa Creek, polluting coal power plants in New Mexico are cleaning up their act, enough water will flow in the Dolores for native fish survival, oil and gas development is not destroying all our best places and the wild landscapes of Wolf Creek are still wild (remember Piano Creek, East Fork ski area, Village at Wolf Creek proposals).

I challenge each of you to support the alliance. Become a member. Make a small investment in your clean air, clean water and wild lands. Then you can partake knowing you had a part in keeping them that way.

Rose Chilcoat

Durango