Rio Grande National Forest invites public to forest planning meetings in October

The U.S. Forest Service and National Forest Foundation will hold four public meetings in October to discuss and receive public input for the Rio Grande National Forest’s forest plan revision. The first two meetings will occur in Antonito and South Fork THE FIRST WEEK OF OCTOBER (see below for details). “Management of Read more…

Rendering of the Village at Wolf Creek

No Legislative Land Exchange – At Least For Now

Colorado Wild recently sent the last of your 1,856 petition signatures to Congressman Salazar regarding the proposed legislative land exchange. Thankfully, after hearing from many of you, and after holding his own meeting in Alamosa to discuss the issue with key stakeholders, Congressman Salazar is encouraging Mr. McCombs to undertake Read more…

Rendering of the Village at Wolf Creek

McCombs Applies for Land Exchange

Mr. McCombs has taken the advice of Congressman Salazar and has applied for a land exchange from the Rio Grande National Forest through the Forest Service administrative review process. In coming months, the Forest Service will be conducting a feasibility study on the Land Exchange proposal recently submitted by Mr. Read more…

Rendering of the Village at Wolf Creek

Village Myths, Misconceptions, and Issues Needing Consideration

It is either Plan A (original plan) or Plan B (legislative land exchange plan), so why not go with Plan B. Fact: The original land use plan was found illegal, and any re-approval is complicated by new easements. The old plan can NEVER be built, and is not a fall Read more…

Rendering of the Village at Wolf Creek

“Village” Goes Back to the Drawing Board Entirely New Development Proposal in the Works

In what we hope will be the final chapter in McCombs’ proposed 10,000-person “Village” at Wolf Creek debacle, the Rio Grande National Forest officially cancelled the new EIS for the project on February 12, 2009. Ten years after Colorado Wild’s original objection to a proposed access route through the ski Read more…

Rendering of the Village at Wolf Creek

Forest Service Grants Extension to Public Comment Period

UPDATE: The Forest Service granted Colorado Wild’s request for an extension of the public comment period for the “Village” on Tuesday October 7th. The agency has requested a new development plan from McCombs, and will share the new plan with the public once it is received. This is great news Read more…

Rendering of the Village at Wolf Creek

Forest Service Suspends “Village” EIS Process Project on Hold Yet Again

Holding true to its promise to the public, the U.S. Forest Service yesterday officially suspended the Village at Wolf Creek Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process. The agency had not received an updated development plan from the developer Red McCombs, and determined it was appropriate to simply shelve the EIS process Read more…

Rendering of the Village at Wolf Creek

Friends of Wolf Creek Win Reconsideration of the “Village” at Wolf Creek

The Friends of Wolf Creek celebrated a monumental victory on February 19, 2008. Culminating 16 months of legal wrangling, the U.S. Forest Service and developer Red McCombs agreed to go back to the drawing board and complete a fair and unbiased Environmental Impact Statement for the controversial development proposed at Read more…

Rendering of the Village at Wolf Creek

Court Suspends “Village” Construction

On October 16th, US Federal District Judge Kane issued a 10 day Temporary Restraining Order (TRO) ceasing road construction and other activities related to the proposed Village at Wolf Creek. After negotiating with the other parties, we reached an agreement this week converting this Order into a Preliminary Injunction (PI) Read more…

Rendering of the Village at Wolf Creek

Judge Halts Proposed “Village” at Wolf Creek — No Construction to Occur Before Public’s Concerns Heard

Another Huge victory for the Friends of Wolf Creek! On Thursday Oct 4th, US District Court Judge John Kane halted billionaire developer Red McCombs’ plans to begin road construction to his controversial year-round resort development. Following Magistrate Judge David West’s June 6th recommendations, Judge Kane’s order identifies numerous potential flaws Read more…