2017 Western States Conservation Scorecard

[katqanna]

2017 Western States Conservation Scorecard

At the end of the study are the one page overviews for each of the 8 states (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming).

 

[Oak]

Colorado gets fairly good marks. STL and stream access are our poor points. I'm surprised no group has challenged our stream access laws to date. Based on outcomes in other states, it seems like a worthwhile fight.

 

[huntid73]

And of course, my home state of Idaho is dead last...

 

[Irrelevant]

What's the deal with the actual Western most states not being considered western states?

 

[Ben Lamb]

What's the deal with the actual Western most states not being considered western states?

We don't take kindly to their kind 'round here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JaLAf4e-mc

 

[Zach]

We don't take kindly to their kind 'round here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JaLAf4e-mc

Maybe it's like the Olympics, they throw out the high/low scores based on possible judge bias.

 

[jlmatthew]

Colorado gets fairly good marks. STL and stream access are our poor points. I'm surprised no group has challenged our stream access laws to date. Based on outcomes in other states, it seems like a worthwhile fight.

I cant get over our piss poor STL access, especially since the state proclaims and celebrates "public lands day". Millions of acres of land off limits.

 

[HighDesertSage]

So I don't really follow this issue as closely as I should, but how does the STL program work? Who leases the majority of the land? I know on my onxmaps that they do a pretty good job of differentiating between what STL and are/are not open for access.

 

[vanish]

So I don't really follow this issue as closely as I should, but how does the STL program work? Who leases the majority of the land? I know on my onxmaps that they do a pretty good job of differentiating between what STL and are/are not open for access.

_Nobody_ leases the majority of them, for recreation. There is a ridiculous minimum $$ amount that nobody in their right mind would pay for access to some of these pieces. In my opinion, if nobody is willing to pay to lease a piece, it should be defacto _open_ to the public, rather than _closed_.

 

[HighDesertSage]

SO who leases these properties then. Outfitters? Ranchers?

 

[cfree]

This is funny...

Arizona’s access is even more restrictive. The Arizona Navigable Stream Adjudication Commission (ANSAC), has the power to decide which of Arizona’s waterways are navigable, allowing for more public access. To date, only the Colorado River has received such distinction. Outside of the Colorado River, boaters may only float above federally-owned streambeds.

As the Germans POW's found out when they escaped from Papago prison camp, there are very few floatable rivers in AZ.

 

[Zach]

So I don't really follow this issue as closely as I should, but how does the STL program work? Who leases the majority of the land? I know on my onxmaps that they do a pretty good job of differentiating between what STL and are/are not open for access.

https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/statelandboard

For those nights you can't sleep.

 

[375H&H]

This is very interesting. A bit tainted though considering the amount of energy that comes out of Wyoming dwarfs the other states and the amazing opportunities for recreation that are present in Wyoming, the balance that has been reached is quite good. There should also be a section on quality of outdoor experience or ability to find solitude as high population areas can inhibit that even though the outdoors are nearby. Conservation isn't only about responsible energy production but also putting up houses and cities that directly remove outdoor recreation areas that never get reclaimed.