The idea of transferring federal lands to the states is absolutely a move in the wrong direction. I fully support the job of the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management but I am partial. After all when the Missionary Ridge Fire was bearing down on La Plata County it was the bold effort of firefighters who saved my home. This kind of firefighting response could have never happened without the full resources of the federal government. Also, doesn’t it bother anyone else that locally the state of Colorado can do nothing with the Lone Mesa Rec Area other than lock it up.
If you want to see the day-use fee system in place then travel to Utah’s Paria River area where a day hike will cost you $5 per person per day and get this – $5 per day per dog. So a nice hike with the family and our mutt would run a cool $25 per day.
This isn’t about who can maintain our public lands better; this is scripted anti-federalist soapbox nonsense with the message that “The federal government is evil”. My words of advice to our county commissioners and our state representatives: Don’t take the bait. There are far to many voters that share my non-extremist point of view that you may find yourselves out of work after the next election. I love the the United States of America and I love the federal government (are they not the same thing?).
James Lein
Dolores