Skip to main content

Colorado Cutthroat Trout Protected by New Federal Plan

Colorado Cutthroat Trout Protected by New Federal Plan

A new federal plan for oil shale development in the Rockies is a significant improvement, encouraging research on the still unproven technology while protecting wildlife habitat, having cutthroat trout protected and taking more time to assess the impacts, say members of a conservation coalition.

Sportsmen for Responsible Energy Development said the Bureau of Land Management's proposal, released Friday Feb. 3, takes the right tack because the potential impacts of extracting the oil from rock under Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah haven't been thoroughly assessed. Companies are still exploring ways to mine kerogen, a precursor to oil, from the shale.

"The BLM's prudent approach to development makes sense," said Brad Powell, energy director for Trout Unlimited's Sportsmen Conservation Project. "Fish and wildlife populations in the West are dependent on the availability of clean, cold, clear water. Our water supplies in the West are too valuable to put at risk until the technology is better developed."

The BLM's preferred development scenario in the draft environmental impact statement would protect many key wildlife areas, including habitat for greater sage-grouse and Colorado cutthroat trout, said Kate Zimmerman, the National Wildlife Federation's senior policy adviser on public lands.

The 180,910-acre Adobe Town in southwest Wyoming's Red Desert would also be excluded from development.

The new proposal encourages companies to seek leases for research and development projects. They could pursue commercial production after fulfilling the terms of the research leases.

The proposal revises a 2008 plan to open about 2 million acres to the development of oil shale and tar sands. Several conservation groups challenged the plan on grounds that it didn't adequately analyze the potential effects on water quality and supply, air quality, wildlife and other natural resources. The BLM agreed to re-evaluate the plan.

"As pressure mounts to find more sources of sustainable, domestic energy, we cannot forget that America's Western public lands form a key part of our outdoors heritage and national identity," said Steve Belinda, director of the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership's Center for Responsible Energy Development. "The BLM's revisions are an improvement in the effort to balance the wise of our public lands with preserving our public-lands heritage." For more information, go to: http://sportsmen4responsibleenergy.org




GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Recommended Articles

Recent Videos

Ross Purnell and a crew of climber-anglers make a once-in-a-lifetime trip to “middle Earth” to fish for an isolated popu...
How-To/Techniques

G. Loomis's “Feel Connected” Episode 2: "Rolled Up"

Ross Purnell and a crew of climber-anglers make a once-in-a-lifetime trip to “middle Earth” to fish for an isolated popu...
Gear

How to Tie Chicone's Magnum Mantis Fly

Ross Purnell and a crew of climber-anglers make a once-in-a-lifetime trip to “middle Earth” to fish for an isolated popu...
How-To/Techniques

Small Stream Hopper Fishing

Ross Purnell and a crew of climber-anglers make a once-in-a-lifetime trip to “middle Earth” to fish for an isolated popu...
How-To/Techniques

Fly Tier's Bench: How to Tie Egan's Poacher

Ross Purnell and a crew of climber-anglers make a once-in-a-lifetime trip to “middle Earth” to fish for an isolated popu...
Destinations/Species

The Tightest Line

Ross Purnell and a crew of climber-anglers make a once-in-a-lifetime trip to “middle Earth” to fish for an isolated popu...
How-To/Techniques

How to Tie Craven's Mr. Jones Dry Fly

Ross Purnell and a crew of climber-anglers make a once-in-a-lifetime trip to “middle Earth” to fish for an isolated popu...
How-To/Techniques

How to Tie Craven's Mr. Jones Dry Fly

Ross Purnell and a crew of climber-anglers make a once-in-a-lifetime trip to “middle Earth” to fish for an isolated popu...
How-To/Techniques

How to Fight Trout Effectively and Get them in the Net Quickly

Ross Purnell and a crew of climber-anglers make a once-in-a-lifetime trip to “middle Earth” to fish for an isolated popu...
News

Patagonia Advocates for Dam Removal

Ross Purnell and a crew of climber-anglers make a once-in-a-lifetime trip to “middle Earth” to fish for an isolated popu...
Destinations/Species

Science in the Thorofare

Ross Purnell and a crew of climber-anglers make a once-in-a-lifetime trip to “middle Earth” to fish for an isolated popu...
How-To/Techniques

How to Tie the Picky Eater Perdigon

Ross Purnell and a crew of climber-anglers make a once-in-a-lifetime trip to “middle Earth” to fish for an isolated popu...

Fly Fishing the Plunge Pools of Yosemite Falls

Fly Fisherman Magazine Covers Print and Tablet Versions

GET THE MAGAZINE Subscribe & Save

Digital Now Included!

SUBSCRIBE NOW

Give a Gift   |   Subscriber Services

PREVIEW THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

Buy Digital Single Issues

Magazine App Logo

Don't miss an issue.
Buy single digital issue for your phone or tablet.

Get the Fly Fisherman App apple store google play store

Other Magazines

See All Other Magazines

Special Interest Magazines

See All Special Interest Magazines

GET THE NEWSLETTER Join the List and Never Miss a Thing.

Get the top Fly Fisherman stories delivered right to your inbox.

Phone Icon

Get Digital Access.

All Fly Fisherman subscribers now have digital access to their magazine content. This means you have the option to read your magazine on most popular phones and tablets.

To get started, click the link below to visit mymagnow.com and learn how to access your digital magazine.

Get Digital Access

Not a Subscriber?
Subscribe Now

Enjoying What You're Reading?

Get a Full Year
of Guns & Ammo
& Digital Access.

Offer only for new subscribers.

Subscribe Now

Never Miss a Thing.

Get the Newsletter

Get the top Fly Fisherman stories delivered right to your inbox.

By signing up, I acknowledge that my email address is valid, and have read and accept the Terms of Use