Picture: Scene from Buffalo Pass in Routt County
Routt County Board of County Commissioners Signs Resolution in Support of Public Lands
Routt County, CO, June 24, 2025 – On June 24, 2025, the Routt County Board of County Commissioners unanimously adopted a resolution reaffirming the County’s commitment to the protection, stewardship, and sustainable management of public lands.
The resolution highlights the vital role public lands play in Routt County’s economy, environment, heritage, and quality of life. Nearly half of the county is comprised of public lands, which support local agriculture, provide extensive recreational opportunities, and offer essential ecosystem services such as clean air and water.
“We continue to advocate for our public lands to be appropriately staffed, funded, and maintained by the federal government. Routt County residents have told the federal government, time and again, that Routt County’s public lands are not for sale,” said Chair of Board of County Commissioners Sonja Macys. “We will continue to work in partnership with federal land managers and other partners to ensure that the use and enjoyment of these lands is available now, and for generations to come.”
In the same meeting, the Board of County Commissioners ratified the Chair’s signature on this letter to the members of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee declaring Routt County’s official position in support of preserving integrity and public ownership of public lands.
The resolution reads:
A RESOLUTION SUPPORTING PUBLIC LANDS
Recitals
WHEREAS nearly half of Routt County, Colorado is comprised of public lands and these lands are integral to the County’s economy, environment, character and quality of life; and
WHEREAS the Routt County Board of County Commissioners affirmed their commitment to public lands through Resolution 2017-16, a resolution “Stating the Value of Public Lands to the County’s Economy, Recreation, Heritage and Quality of Life, and Opposing Wholesale Efforts to Claim, Take Over, Litigate for or Sell off Federal Public Lands within Routt County”; and
WHEREAS Routt County voters have demonstrated their commitment to land conservation and the preservation of agriculture by authorizing in 1996, and reauthorizing in 2005 and again in 2022, a mill levy for the Purchase of Development Rights program, most recently with 84% of the vote: and
WHEREAS, the residents of and visitors to Routt County deeply value these public lands for their multiple uses and accessibility regardless of socioeconomic status, race, or gender, as evidenced by high participation in local stewardship, conservation, research, and trail organizations and events; and
WHEREAS, public lands provide grazing opportunities for cattle and sheep, supporting local agricultural producers and contributing positively to Routt County’s agricultural economy; and
WHEREAS public lands are essential to the quality of life in Routt County providing extensive recreational opportunities for hiking, hunting, fishing, horseback riding, skiing, snowboarding, backpacking, wildlife viewing, bicycling, sightseeing, and other opportunities; and
WHEREAS, public lands provide essential ecosystem services including clean water, clean air and habitat for fish and wildlife; and
WHEREAS, public lands conserve historical and cultural places and provide all Americans access to a distinctly American treasure; and
WHEREAS, Routt County has formally objected to workforce reductions at the U.S. Forest Service that will significantly compromise the agency’s capacity to respond to growing visitation numbers; manage rangelands; maintain trails and trailheads; educate and inform visitors of regulations and provide law enforcement; and will reduce their ability to fight wildfires and conserve these lands for the benefit of future generations; and
WHEREAS, current attempts to transfer, lease, or sell off public lands without local public involvement are inconsistent with the values and interests of the residents of Routt County, the broader Colorado community and the nation as a whole; and
WHEREAS, the 2025 Colorado Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP) revealed that outdoor recreation in Colorado contributed $65.8 billion in economic output, contributed $36.5 billion to the state’s GDP, supported 404,000 jobs, and generated $11.2 billion in tax revenue, demonstrating the profound economic significance of public lands and outdoor recreation to the state.
WHEREAS, the 2024 Conservation in the West Poll found that 85% of Westerners support creating new national parks, national monuments, national wildlife refuges and Tribal protected areas to protect historic sites or areas for outdoor recreation; and
On June 24, 2025, the Board conducted a public hearing following notice as required by law, to consider the adoption of this resolution; and
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Routt County, Colorado that Routt County:
- Expresses its strong support for the continued federal management and stewardship of public lands within the County, across Colorado, and throughout the nation.
- Recognizes the multiple uses of public lands and encourages a balanced approach to land management, including implementation of the BLM’s Public Lands Rule, which recognizes conservation as an essential component of public lands management, on equal footing with other uses of these lands.
- Encourages the maintenance of appropriate funding levels and workforce numbers at public land management agencies to manage public lands for the benefit of all Americans.
- Opposes any efforts to sell, transfer, lease, or dispose of these public lands without a public process and significant public involvement.
- Encourages the Colorado Congressional Delegation to oppose any legislation that would negatively impact public lands or diminish the public process and instead support policies that ensure their long-term preservation and sustainable use for future generations.
- Urges federal land management agencies to continue tribal consultation and collaborative efforts with local communities, governments, and stakeholders to ensure effective and responsible management of public lands.
ADOPTED this 24th day of June 2025. BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF ROUTT COUNTY, COLORADO.
Contact: info@co.routt.co.us
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The Colorado Association of Ski Towns has sent a letter to multiple senators and congress people about their opposition to the sale of our public lands as proposed in the Senate reconciliation bill. That letter is below.
June 23, 2025
Sen. Michael Bennet, United States Senate
Sen. John Hickenlooper, United States Senate
Sen. Mike Lee Chair, Committee on Energy & Natural Resources
Dear Senators Bennet, Hickenlooper & Lee,
The Colorado Association of Ski Towns (CAST) represents 54 municipalities and counties that drive the ski industry and mountain tourism economy in Colorado and other western states. The economies of CAST communities are largely dependent on the adjacent public lands, and the protection of these natural places is key to maintaining our tourismbased economies. We write to you to strongly oppose provisions in the current congressional budget reconciliation bill that would require the sale of at least two million acres of Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management lands in 11 western states over the next five years.
Federal public lands are essential to every CAST member’s economy whether that be for skiing, agriculture, hunting, or family camping trips. These lands, entrusted to the people of this country, are central to the culture, lifestyle, and quality of life for residents and tourists alike. The current congressional budget proposal would undermine these values by enabling the expedited sale of federal public land without state, local, or community input. At face value, opening up these lands for local housing needs sounds positive but the reality is that such housing without affordability provisions will simply result in more trophy homes and vacation rentals, with no public housing benefit. Furthermore, a federal legislative process already exists for the transfer of federal public land for community housing through the 2024 Flexible Partnership Act, and the current reconciliation bill overrides that public and legislative process.
A strong majority of Colorado residents value the protection of public lands, regardless of political affiliation, with surveys showing that 98% of Coloradans believe public lands are essential to Colorado’s economy. The outdoor recreation sector contributes $36.5 billion to Colorado’s GDP, supporting over 404,000 jobs, according to Vail Valley Economic Development. The existing public federal lands are undeniably critical to this outdoor recreation economy.
We request that you fight to safeguard the public lands that are so critical to our Western U.S. economies and oppose the sale of public lands currently in the Senate reconciliation bill.
Respectfully submitted,
Shannon Haynes, President, CAST
CC: Congressman Jeff Hurd
Congressman Joe Neguse
Congresswoman Brittany Pettersen
Colorado Association of Ski Towns * PO Box 3823, Dillon CO 80435 * CoSkiTowns.com * 970.389.4347
