{"id":22283,"date":"2025-05-13T16:51:19","date_gmt":"2025-05-13T22:51:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/dolores-passes-resolution-in-support-of-public-lands\/"},"modified":"2026-03-30T22:12:58","modified_gmt":"2026-03-31T04:12:58","slug":"dolores-passes-resolution-in-support-of-public-lands","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/dolores-passes-resolution-in-support-of-public-lands\/","title":{"rendered":"Dolores passes resolution in support of public lands"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"The
The Boggy Draw area is a popular recreation area of the San Juan National Forest. (Courtesy photo)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

The Dolores Board of Trustees on April 28 unanimously passed a resolution in \u201cstrong support\u201d of public lands.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll it does is say that we as a town are committed to protecting what\u2019s here,\u201d said Town Manager Leigh Reeves.<\/p>\n

The resolution, R653, recognizes that public lands comprise roughly 72% of land in Montezuma County and are \u201cintegral to the town\u2019s economy, environment and quality of life.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cResidents \u2026 deeply value these public lands,\u201d the resolution reads. \u201cCosts associated with managing these lands are a national responsibility, and federal involvement is crucial for the long-term health and sustainability of these resources.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are ongoing attempts to transfer or sell off public lands, which are inconsistent with the values and interests of the residents of the Town of Dolores and the broader Colorado community,\u201d it says.<\/p>\n

The board plans to send the resolution to U.S. Sens. John Hickenlooper and Michael Bennett, and U.S. Rep. Jeff Hurd.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt says, even though we\u2019re a tiny town in the southwest corner of the state, we support this,\u201d Reeves said.<\/p>\n

The resolution also is about \u201cbalancing sustainable outdoor recreation and conservation of natural and cultural resources,\u201d as stated on the Montelores Coalition\u2019s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Reeves said the Montelores Coalition inspired the resolution. \u201cLet\u2019s be thoughtful of our public lands, and let\u2019s not develop to develop,\u201d she told The Journal.<\/em><\/p>\n

According to the resolution, Dolores is close to \u201c75 miles of maintained recreation trails of the Boggy Draw Trail System as part of the approximately 1.8 million acres of San Juan National Forest.\u201d<\/p>\n

It highlights the BLM\u2019s Tres Rios Field Office, \u201cwhich manages 628 miles of rivers and streams and 500,000 acres of lands open to livestock grazing,\u201d McPhee Reservoir and the 174,000 acres of land and more than 8,300 archaeological sites in Canyons of the Ancients National Monument.<\/p>\n

Public land in Colorado \u201cgenerated $65.8 billion in economic output, contributed $36.5 billion to the state\u2019s GOP, supported 404,000 jobs, and generated $11.2 billion in tax revenue\u201d in 2023, according to the Colorado Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan.<\/p>\n

Ryan Greene is new building official<\/div>\n

Also on April 28, the Board of Trustees appointed Ryan Greene as the new building official, after considering Resolution No. R652.<\/p>\n

Greene, who has more than a decade of experience in building administration and construction, including roles as a consultant for Stantec Consulting and as the chief building official for Prescott, Arizona, will serve as an independent contractor at a rate of $42 per hour. According to the resolution, duties will include inspecting properties and enforcing town building codes.<\/p>\n