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Sheriff seeks county support for seasonal alpine ranger program to patrol backcountry and aid visitors
Summary
The Ouray County sheriff’s office asked commissioners on May 7 for interim funding and community help to launch a June–October alpine ranger patrol this summer. The proposal would add seasonal rangers to provide education, low‑level enforcement and visitor services on forest and BLM roads while the Forest Service capacity is reduced. The office
The Ouray County sheriff’s office requested short‑term funding and community support at the May 7 work session to stand up a seasonal alpine ranger program to provide education, light enforcement and visitor services in the county backcountry from June through October.
Sheriff’s staff said federal land‑management patrols are limited this year and that county rangers would provide “eyes and ears” on popular routes such as Red Mountain Pass, Imogene and Yankee Boy, monitor OHV registration and fire‑ban compliance, hand out maps and safety materials, and refer incidents to deputies when necessary. The office has applied for a Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) grant but said those awards would not be available until June and, if funded, would not be deployable until 2026.
The sheriff’s proposal outlined personnel and equipment costs and asked the county to consider gap funding for a 2025 pilot. The draft budget presented included four part‑time rangers (20 hours/week each) at a proposed pay rate of $35/hour for a five‑month season, yielding roughly $66,000 for personnel and about $22,800 for equipment and incidentals in the presented scenario. The largest single item discussed was options for all‑terrain vehicle (ATV) access: the office had an estimate of about $1,650 per week if rented heavily, versus a one‑time vehicle purchase price (varied by model) if the county could acquire or accept agency equipment. The presenter said the total “up‑front” ask for a fully staffed pilot was approximately $88,800, while noting some costs could be reduced with donations, in‑kind partnerships or multi‑agency equipment sharing.
Sheriff’s staff asked the county to explore multiple short‑term funding options: (1) gap funds held in county general fund lines, (2) donations from local businesses and rental companies (several local operators were named as potential partners), and (3) agency partnerships with CPW or the Forest Service for vehicle or equipment loans. Staff also suggested a community‑level fundraising model such as voluntary “tips for trails” contributions at rental counters or a local donation drive, and asked the county clerk’s office and county PIO to help publicize OHV registration requirements and backcountry safety guidance.
Commissioners asked for program details and encouraged the sheriff’s office to pursue partnerships with CPW, rental agencies and local nonprofits. Commissioners also discussed internal budget options and asked staff to look for available gap funds to cover a pilot this season; one commissioner referenced a recently adjusted “other administration” line and asked staff to check whether funds there could be repurposed as a one‑time bridge. The sheriff’s office said it will also track outputs such as increased OHV registrations and contacts to strengthen future grant applications.
Ending: Commissioners directed county staff to work with the sheriff to identify short‑term funding and community partners and to report back on options; the sheriff’s office will continue to pursue CPW and other external grant opportunities for longer‑term sustainability.
