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County approves comments on GMUG draft environmental assessment for trail construction
Summary
San Miguel County submitted comments to the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) National Forest Ranger District on a draft environmental assessment for trail construction and reconstruction near Telluride, urging coordination with wildfire mitigation and wetland protection.
San Miguel County commissioners voted April 2 to authorize county staff to submit formal comments to the GMUG Ranger District on the draft environmental assessment (EA) for a proposed trail construction and reconstruction project on National Forest System lands near Telluride.
Natural Resources and Climate Resilience Director Star Jamieson told the board the county has supported trail projects during forest-plan revision and that county comments emphasize coordination between trail planning and wildland-urban-interface (WUI) / fuel-reduction planning. "This is the 1 from the packet. We submitted comments in March ... and we have supported throughout the forest plan revision, a lot of these trails," Jamieson said during the meeting.
The county's letter asks the Forest Service to consider wetland-friendly trail construction standards (the county suggested a wetland trail-design guidance document), to ensure trail alignments are consistent with WUI and defensible-space objectives where appropriate, and to consult with county wildfire partners in final designs. The board approved staff signature and submittal; the county will transmit the letter before the Forest Service deadline.
Ending: County staff will send the agreed comments to the GMUG Ranger District and notify local stakeholders of the submission.
