Montezuma County advances Passamaeza Verde trail work, seeks GOCO funds and weighs dozer-line guidance from U.S. Forest Service

James Dietrich and county natural-resources staff told commissioners they will submit a concept paper this week to Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) seeking roughly $1.7 million to help backfill a funding gap for the Passamaeza Verde trail project on the Mancos side. Dietrich said Central Federal Lands has increased its construction commitment from about $4.7 million to $10.8 million and that the GOCO ask could change by about $80,000 after reconciling CDOT figures; the full application would be due Sept. 11 if the project is invited to apply.

The request covers segments C and D of the trail and, if funded, would help extend the project to the Mesa Verde area, Dietrich said. He said segment B design is at roughly 95% but will be held at that level while the county seeks construction funding so environmental clearances do not expire. Segment A is at 30% design and faces hydrology and right-of-way questions where the county is coordinating survey and legal descriptions with the city.

Dietrich also updated commissioners on wildfire and watershed work with the Dolores Watershed Collaborative and said the group is pursuing CWCB funding for a Wildfire Ready Watershed-type project to identify and protect critical infrastructure after wildfire (for example, water intakes). He said the collaborative and tribal partners have conducted community outreach, a cultural-resources review and a prescribed-fire demonstration at Boggy Draw.

On federal land-management policy, Dietrich said a U.S. Forest Service comment period on preplanned dozer control lines is open through Aug. 15. He described three proposed uses for dozer lines—minimally eroded areas away from canyon edges, seasonal cutting timed close to implementation, and requirements for restoration after use—and said controversy centers on access and potential creation of long-term unauthorized routes. Commissioners and collaborators discussed tradeoffs between cost and speed of machine-created control lines versus hand crews; Colorado Parks and Wildlife has expressed concerns about trails and wildlife. Dietrich said the collaborative will prepare comments and may brief the board if community feedback warrants.

The natural-resources discussion also covered county participation in the Montelores Coalition’s countywide recreation and conservation plan and an application by that coalition for additional GOCO funding; Dietrich said about $110,000 had been earmarked for early weed mitigation in the coalition’s plan.

No formal votes were recorded; staff will proceed with the GOCO concept submission and continue stakeholder coordination on hydrology, right-of-way and USFS comments.