Local meeting draws 40 to discuss Tamarron proposal to trade parcels

Opponents of the proposed land exchange between the U.S. Forest Service and Tamarron Properties Inc. met Wednesday to plan the strategy for their campaign.

The Forest Service currently is accepting public comment about the idea, which would see the Forest Service exchanging 265 acres of public land south of Haviland Lake for two 160-acre private parcels at Hermosa Park and Mitchell Lakes. The two parcels are the only private land left in the Hermosa roadless area.

Under the auspices of the San Juan Chapter of the Colorado Mountain Club, about 40 people, including La Plata County Commissioner Wally White and Durango City Councilor Leigh Meigs, came to the Durango Community Recreation Center to discuss the process and the approaches they will take.

"Write articulate, thoughtful, thorough letters," said Jimbo Buickerood, the public-lands coordinator for the San Juan Citizens Alliance. "They can't ignore them when we list specific facts. If they do, it gives us grounds for appeal. This is time to be smart, smart and mad."

Buickerood also told attendees that they should assume nothing about what the Forest Service is looking at because he thinks there are many issues that aren't even on its radar. And people aren't limited to sending just one letter.

"A letter a day keeps the project away," he said.

Opponents of the land swap have set up a Web site at www.savehaviland.org.

Swap opponents had concerns about the integrity of many steps of the process, including the appraisal and the environmental assessment.

"On the Little Molas Campground environmental assessment, they distorted people's remarks so much that they took the comments of people who opposed it and made it look like they supported it," said Kitty Benzar, who was involved in the opposition to the plan for upgrades that would have required a fee to use the area.

In addition to issues with views, noise, trails and parking, opponents were asked to discuss points about the historical nature of Chris Park, biology and ecosystem concerns and more development along the scenic San Juan Skyway corridor.

"One of the considerations is the type of wetlands as well as the surface area they cover," said Richard Robinson, a leader of the opposition. "Mitchell Lakes will have a far different aquatic population than a seasonal pond at Haviland Lake, which is full for three or four weeks, just enough time for the ducks to come and lay their eggs." The ducklings can fly away just as the pond dries up.

Robinson suggested that the group ask for an extension of six months for the end of public comments. The extension would be warranted, he said, because of the number of discrepancies in the original documentation information released by the Forest Service, including a map that didn't show some roads, the wagon road, wetlands and trails.

Michael Black, who fought the Animas-La Plata Project, wanted a longer extension.

"The best tactic is delay," he said. "In 18 months, we're going to have President Obama, and there could be a 180 degree shift in Washington with new people in the Department of Agriculture."