The Crestone Eagle, March 2007:

Rio Grande National Forest Service begins formal scoping for new ‘Baca Tract’ east of the Baca Grande
By Lisa Cyriacks

With the acquisition of the Baca Ranch, the US Forest Service (USFS) received an additional acreage along the eastern edge of the subdivision, above the spiritual centers. The USFS is using an Environmental Assessment (EA) to provide the analytical basis for amending the Revised Rio Grande National Forest Land and Resource Management Plan.

As part of the scoping process, comments regarding issues and concerns from the public are being requested. Comments can be mailed to: San Luis Public Land Center, Attn: Baca Mountain Tract Amendment, 1803 West Highway 160, Monte Vista, CO 81144 or emailed to: mailroom_r2_rio_grande@fs.fed.us. The preferred deadline was March 1, so don’t wait to submit your comments.

The existence of private property between subdivision roads and the boundary of this newly acquired land presents some problems of access. There are no existing official public access easements. Current use of the three riparian corridors —Willow Creek, Spanish Creek, and Cottonwood Creek—by locals and visitors are causing significant trespass issues for the private property owners. These Manitou Foundation lands, which are being used for spiritual retreat centers, are highly sensitive to disturbances from recreational users.

Information and public input from the Great Sand Dunes Management Planning and the Sonoran Institute’s Saguache County Northern Access Study Group have identified the following preliminary concerns:

• Public motorized access to the Baca Mountain Tract
• Elk/wildlife habitat
• Compatibility with other agencies land management on public lands
• Positive and negative impacts to nearby residents
• Recreational opportunities
• Trespass issues on private property.

Currently, legal access to the Baca Mountain Tract only exists from the trailhead at South Crestone/Willow Lake, the roads in the Baca Grande subdivision, and Liberty Road. The section of Liberty Road closest to the subdivision is under the jurisdiction of the Great Sand Dunes National Park Service (NPS). The NPS and USFS have already agreed to use Liberty Road for administrative access to their respective lands. Whenever a joint access point is determined for the NPS backcountry access and parking lot, the two agencies will share access to that point.

The proposed amendment divides the property into two Management Areas: Special Wildlife Areas —Bighorn Sheep (5.42 acres) and Deer and Elk Winter Range (5.41 acres). The general proposed management practices include: motorized access on the Liberty Road from the NPS boundary to a small parking area (15 vehicles) located in the vicinity of Deadman Creek. Snowmobiles, ATVs and ATV big-game retrieval would be prohibited. Land and vegetation management would emphasize restoration and benefits to bighorn sheep and big game species. More detailed information can be obtained at: www.fs.fed.us/r2/riogrande/projects/forcomment/index.shtml.

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