By Shannon Lukens.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis has vetoed a bill that would have given ranchers and Colorado Parks and Wildlife agents the ability to use lethal management with wolves. Now local livestock producers have to hope the federal government approves the 10J rule before wolves are reintroduced in Colorado. Senators Perry Will and Dylan Roberts co-sponsored the bill in the Senate.
“Personally, we gave the governor a win-win situation here and he chose to not do that and not protect our livestock producers in this state. I couldn’t be more disappointed that he’s not signing that bill into law.”
“We wrote, introduced, and passed Senate Bill 256 to do one simple thing… Insure that a 10J rule is in place before wolves are reintroduced in Colorado. And I guess the governor sees things differently.”
Don Gittleson is a Jackson County rancher who has lost multiple head of cattle to wolf depredation.
“I’m not completely surprised. He really does not support the agriculture community.”
The Colorado Cattlemen’s Association also issued a statement that said they are “extremely disappointed,” by the governor’s decision. “Instead of embracing the opportunity to show support for our state’s livestock producers and western slope communities, this veto sends a message that the Governor prioritizes special interest groups over the livelihoods of those outside the Front Range.”
The Governor directed Dan Gibbs, the Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources, to keep working to make sure US Fish and Wildlife Service passes a 10J rule for Colorado before wolves are reintroduced.
GOV. POLIS VETOES 10J RULE WOLF BILL
Still be aware of rising water levels. Routt County Road 44 is closed at Hwy 40. Parts of the Yampa River Core Trail are under water, with clear signs not to go there.
The Food Drive with the Post Office in Craig over the weekend collected 1,920 pounds of food for the Interfaith Food Bank in Craig. 600 pounds of bottled water was donated by High Country Bottling Coca-Cola out of Hayden. Cash donations were matched by the unions and it totaled $576.
Steamboat Resort hosted a Town Hall Monday night to talk about the snowy season, the 60th anniversary of the resort and Full Steam Ahead. Here’s President and COO Rob Perlman.
“145 days, the second snowiest on record, a lot of great things happening at the resort, including our 60th anniversary. We are so excited and proud to be a part of this community and looking forward to the next 60 years to make this place even better, and to collaborate with the community and all of our locals.”
Perlman said it was “one for the record books.” The gondola opens for the season on Memorial Day weekend, with regular daily summer operations starting June 16.
STEAMBOAT RESORT UPDATES PLANS AT TOWN HALL
Geothermal energy plays a key role in the energy transition of the Yampa Valley, especially with our water sources and hot springs. A presentation is at 6:30 Wednesday, May 17, in Library Hall at Bud Werner Memorial Library. All are invited. It’s presented by Yampa Valley Sustainability Council.
To learn more and register for the event, please visit https://yvsc.org/events-V2/yampa-valley-geothermal-workshop/.
The Town Board of Yampa is meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday, May 17. The meeting starts with a work session on the Yampa Comprehensive Plan. The meeting is in the upstairs board room at Crossan’s/Town Hall on Main Street.
The Steamboat Sailors Lacrosse team lost in their CHSAA State Playoff game last night to Evergreen, 10-5.
Chase Seymour of Steamboat Springs has been chosen as co-president of the NCAA Student Athlete Advisory Committee at the University of Colorado in Boulder. Seymour competes on the CU Ski Team.
Check out what’s happening in the Yampa Valley on the Community Calendar.
For the KRAI Time, Temp, and Weather Hotline, call 970-824-1918.