History

In the 1970’s a group of locals proposed that an area of approximately 52,000 acres of the Routt forest be designated Sarvis Creek Wilderness. The area in this proposed Expansion was included in the Wilderness as originally envisioned. Concurrently, a developer was planning a community development in Pleasant Valley adjacent to the wilderness and applied to the USFS for a ski area permit that would be within the proposed wilderness. The USFS approved the permit application for 7200 acres (that included Mount Baldy) which were then excluded from the wilderness proposal and the area was reduced by that amount. Colorado Senator Tim Wirth submitted the Sarvis Creek Wilderness proposal as part of a larger wilderness bill that passed legislation and the reduced area (44,556 acres) was designated Sarvis Creek Wilderness in 1993. The planned development failed and subsequently a smaller community and reservoir were, built. The ski area was never developed and the USFS permit application has since expired. The 7200 acres are now an isolated part of the forest, designated recreational, and as such have only minimal protection from exploitive development and uses.

Features of proposed expansion area:

  • Elevation range; 7000 to 10,700 ft (sub-alpine ecosystem)

  • Wildlife: deer, elk, moose, bear, mountain lion, smaller species and birds

  • Vegetation: various grasses and forbs, trees (spruce, sub-alpine fir, lodge pole pine and aspen

For details on wildlife and vegetation refer to the “Sarvis Creek Expansion Biological Assessment July 8,9,10 and August 5,6 2022” in the Proposal Appendix

The TLC is on a roll, working on the following:

  • Raising public awareness through outings, presentations and public outreach

  • Producing materials for distribution

  • Engaging and influence public officials

  • Gaining public support though iPetition

  • Increasing financial resources for this long-term effort

  • We are now engaging with our legislator’s staffs to provide information necessary to craft legislation and to answer questions.

You can help by expressing your support (phone, letter, email) to our US senators and US representative, to your local City Council and County Commissioners and by signing the iPetition online. We greatly appreciate any financial support you can provide. Please donate.

Please read the proposal for more details.

Green Creek

Camp Site