Blue Valley Ranch Land Exchange
Public Comments must be sent by August 18, 2005
Send comments to: cobvexch@blm.gov
These comments are very important! This is the only way the decision makers know what the public thinks!
The link to the following document was drawn up by a group of concerned citizens to identify problems and positive points to the proposed swap. Blue Valley Ranch Land Swap Concerns
River Floaters and Fisherman Issues:
The take out at Spring Creek Rd. is owned by Blue Valley Ranch. They have control of what activities are allowed there. They could, at any time, decide to close access to all boaters and fisherman. This would permanently close the run from Green Mountain Reservoir to Spring Creek Bridge. The only way to float the Green Mountain Canyon would be to float the entire stretch from the Green Mountain Dam to the confluence of the Blue River and the Colorado River. They currently restrict the access to take out only. If this stretch is effectively closed, what would keep them from acquiring this parcel in the next land swap?
The Blue River runs through predominantly Blue Valley Ranch land from Spring Creek Bridge to the Trough Road in Grand County. There are currently three parcels of BLM land that would be acquired by Blue Valley Ranch in this proposed swap. These parcels are currently used by boaters that float the stretch of NAVIGABLE federal water that runs through the ranch as a place to dock. They are leased to Blue Valley Ranch for grazing from the BLM. The ranch currently uses these lands agriculturally. Do they need total ownership of the land adjacent to the Blue River from Spring Creek to the Trough Road? In the my opinion, they need these public parcels to continue their plan to turn the Blue into NON NAVIGABLE WATERS! This has been done on another river in the area. It is, believe it or not, designated on a stretch of the Colorado River upstream of Kremmling. THE COLORADO RIVER! There is a private ranch that has been able to designate the Colorado flowing their property as non navigable. The ranch doesn't need to string wire across the river to keep cattle in. It is Elktrout Lodge Ranch that caters to private clients. They have had a section of the COLORADO RIVER designated as NON NAVIGABLE so their clients can be the only ones to hunt and fish.
Public access to the Blue River is under seige! It is your right and duty as a concerned citizen to comment on this proposed swap. Time is running out! All comments must be submitted by August 18, 2005. Send your comments to:cobvexch@blm.gov
You may copy and paste the following document or parts of it and email it to the BLM.