In support of Browns Canyon
Posted: Friday, July 6, 2012 10:04 am
Residents travel to Washington, D.C. to campaign for Browns CanyonCailey McDermott, Mail Staff WriterTheMountainMail.com | 0 comments
Six Chaffee County residents and business owners traveled to Washington, D.C., last week to campaign for the proposed Browns Canyon National Monument. Chaffee County residents and business owners who support Sen. Mark Udall’s proposal to designate Browns Canyon as a national monument stand in front of the White House. The group visited Washington, D.C., last week to talk to Colorado politicians as part of Great Outdoors America Week. From left are Dick Scar, “Campy” Campton, Lindsey Levick, Nikol Noll, Keith Baker and Bill Dvorak.
The trip was in conjunction with Great Outdoors America Week.
Nikol Noll, campaign organizer for Friends of Browns Canyon, called the trip a success.
She said the group met with “important decision-makers” to tell them how the community supports the proposals – and why they should, too.
Noll said The Wilderness Society sponsored the trip.
Dick Scar, member of Republicans for Environmental Protection;“Campy” Campton of Kodi Rafting; Lindsey Levick from The Wilderness Society; Keith Baker, Buena Vista trustee and owner of The Trailhead; Bill Dvorak of Dvorak’s Kayak and Rafting Expeditions; and Noll went on the trip.
Included on their four-day schedule were meetings with Rep. Doug Lamborn’s office, Sen. Mark Udall’s office, the Obama administration’s Council of Environmental Quality, Sen. Michael Bennet and the Bureau of Land Management.
Noll said everyone they spoke to was “very supportive.”
She said Lamborn’s office said they are “open to supporting the proposal once they see the public’s support.”
Noll said support includes more than 150 businesses, 15 associations, rafting companies and Colorado River Outfitters Association.
While in D.C., Dvorak told representatives that outfitters in Browns Canyon have been losing business to the Royal Gorge and Clear Creek. He said the designation would help market the area and bring the numbers back up.
Noll said Campton discussed being a third-generation river runner and how Browns Canyon is an important stretch of river for him and his family.
Because it was Great Outdoors America Week, many senators and representatives talked about the importance of recreation, she said.
Noll said from their meetings she heard respect for their grassroots process.
“We got the impression that nobody wants to act without fully hearing from the community,” she said.