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Residents urge Glenwood Springs council to oppose proposed federal land sales; council asks staff to prepare targeted letter
Summary
Residents from the Glenwood Springs Citizens Alliance told the council the Senate reconciliation bill could make National Forest and BLM lands near Glenwood eligible for sale, risking the city's watershed and scenic backdrop. Council directed staff to prepare a focused, evidence-based letter and to be ready to convene a short-notice meeting if the bill advances.
Heather McGregor, vice president of the Glenwood Springs Citizens Alliance, told the City Council on June 19 that a provision added in the U.S. Senate could require the government to sell millions of acres of federal land across 11 Western states. "The provision does not affect national parks, national monuments, or wilderness areas, but our front country is at risk," she said, and she named National Forest lands around Glenwood Canyon and the city's watershed in Grizzly Creek and No Name Creek as areas of local concern.
The Alliance asked the council to adopt a formal resolution opposing the provision or, alternatively, to send letters urging Colorado’s congressional delegation to remove the language. Sharon Young and Robert Semrau, local residents, echoed McGregor’s request and described the potential consequences for tourism, water supply and scenic values.
City staff told councilors that the measure had not reached the full Senate floor and that its final text remained uncertain; staff advised that individual councilors may send letters on their own but that the city typically needs a formal action to "go on record." Staff recommended preparing a focused, impact-driven letter that highlights local consequences — for example, watershed risk and tourism impacts — and offered to draft materials and addresses for the congressional delegation. Council members agreed to have staff monitor developments and to prepare to convene a short-notice special meeting or Zoom session if urgent action is required.
The council did not take a formal vote on a resolution during the meeting. Instead, members directed staff to develop a draft letter that is "thoughtful" and details how the community would be directly and materially affected, and to return advice about timelines and next steps.
The council’s next formal meeting is scheduled per its calendar; staff said it would likely have better clarity about the bill’s progress within a week and could call a special session if needed.
