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Gunnison County approves letter of support for Trout Unlimited restoration at Forest Queen and Willow Creek
Summary
The board approved a letter supporting Trout Unlimited’s Forest Queen tailings removal and Willow Creek floodplain restoration projects, citing alignment with the county strategic plan and noting EPA classifies the Forest Queen tailings as non‑urgent under CERCLA.
Trout Unlimited Central Colorado AML Project Manager Jesse Bryan asked the Gunnison County Board of County Commissioners for a letter of support for two restoration efforts: overburden and tailings removal at the Forest Queen Mill Site and floodplain restoration and resilience work on Willow Creek.
Bryan told the board the Environmental Protection Agency has identified the Forest Queen tailings as non‑urgent under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA), and he said the Town of Crested Butte’s Wildfire Ready Action Plan has identified the project area in Independence Basin as high risk for post‑wildfire debris flow. Bryan said implementation at Forest Queen is anticipated next summer, while the Willow Creek project is expected in 2028 or 2029.
Commissioner Jonathan Houck asked whether the Town of Crested Butte supports the Forest Queen effort; Bryan said he has been working with Public Works Director Shea Earley, who supports the project. The board noted the project aligns with water‑quality objectives in the BOCC Strategic Plan.
The board approved the requested letter of support and authorized signature by the full board. The motion carried unanimously.
