Silver Mountain Industries (SMI) has received a Preliminary Subdivision Exemption for their Alta Cluster Development Plan.  The proposal includes 28 homes, a Ranch/Community Center, maintenance facility, plus 20 caretaker units at 11,000 feet elevation. The development will be spread across 400 acres, including mapped wildlife and riparian and wetland habitat and a realignment, improvement and year round maintenance of the current road.

SMI has applied to the Forest Service for the road improvements and realignment and the FS opted for the more comprehensive EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) process in order to analyze the potential impacts associated with the development. SMA submitted scoping comments to the FS and we plan to continue to challenge the SMI proposal to realign and upgrade the Alta Lakes Road to a year round access road.

FS EIS NOTICE

Colorado’s land and wildlife conservation partners, sportsman and agricultural alliances, public land agencies and The Department of Natural Resources recently gathered for the first time at Colorado’s Conservation Summit to address the rapidly increasing impacts from energy development, population growth and sprawl and climate changes on Colorado’s wildlife habitat. An urgent call for action was clearly articulated by participants.

“We have been entrusted with the stewardship of one of the best places on Earth. We must redouble our efforts to maintain and enhance the habitat that Colorado’s fish, wildlife and native plant populations need to survive, if we are to fulfill our responsibilities to future generations.”

Scientific analysis presented at the Summit projected increasing temperatures, reduced water supplies and the resulting threats to wildlife and plant habitats. Trends show Colorado’s lower elevation areas will transition to a permanent drought-like condition, while higher elevation areas will be less affected.  Lower elevation habitats and residents, both human and wildlife will be forced to adapt to dryer conditions or move. Animals will move to where the water is and people probably will as well.

We are blessed to live in one of the most beautiful, biologically diverse places in North America. As evidenced by the preservation of the Valley Floor, we have a strong sense of environmental stewardship. As it becomes more evident that in order to combat climate change, protect our wild habitats and water flows and preserve today’s ecological diversity for future generations, we must protect our headwaters and high altitude regions, we must continue our responsibility of stewardship.

SMA understands that Silver Mountain Industries (SMI), owner of the Alta Lakes property has a right to a reasonable return on their investment. We also recognize and appreciate that they have proposed their claims located in the High County Zone as Open Space. Nevertheless we have and continue to strongly urge that they seriously consider economically viable alternatives to the current proposal, such as a conservation buy out with associated tax benefits or a density transfer to an area in the region already developed.

MAP of Proposal