Spring Gulch to get new parking lot

By Amy Hadden Marsh Sopris Sun Correspondent

Construction could begin as soon as this summer on a new parking lot for the Spring Gulch Trail System outside Carbondale. After what

Commissioner Mike Samson called “the most prepared parking lot presentation” he’d ever seen, the Garfield County Commissioners (BOCC) made a motion, called the question and unanimously approved the land use change permit that greenlights the new lot. The approval comes with a few conditions but, basically, the lot will take up about a quarter of an acre near the intersection of Marion Cemetery Road and Marion Mine Road, with access to the Lariat Trail at Spring Gulch and serving skiers who use the higher elevation trails.

Matt Annabel, Mount Sopris Nordic Council (MSNC) board member, made part of the presentation, talking about the history of MSNC and Spring Gulch, and stating that use of the area has increased exponentially. “The current parking lot is capped at 75 cars,” he said, adding that in

State of the Arts the past few years, parking has overflowed onto County Road 123. Annabel also attributes the need for a new lot to climate change and shorter winters. With the exception of this past winter’s snowpack, he said that the Spring Gulch nordic ski season has been shorter for the past eight to 10 years.

“In 2020 and 2021, we opened on New Year’s Day and closed in March,” he recounted. “The shoulder seasons are closing in on us.” This means fewer ski days on the lower elevation trails, while the snow sticks around higher up. The new, 60-space lot would help people safely access the high trails.

Jen Dicuollo with DHM Design told the BOCC that the new lot will serve only crosscountry skiers using Spring Gulch and will be closed during the off seasons. She added that the lot will be gravel with native plant revegetation to satisfy the ranchers who graze cattle in the area. Water will not be available, but a porta-potty will be onsite throughout the winter. One of the conditions for the lot’s approval is that the chemical toilet be cleaned

and more pronounceable than “Latinx.”

weekly. The parking lot will be gated and closed during the summer and the potty mothballed until the next winter.

Carbondale rancher Bill Fales was on hand Monday, representing the North Thompson Cattlemen’s Association (NTCA), which has partnered with MSNC since 1986. Fales said that his father-in-law, Bob Perry, was president of NTCA when MSNC was founded.

“He was an avid skier,” said Fales. “He also thought, in the mid- to late-80s, that the cattlemen could use a little good will to diffuse the ‘CattleFree by ‘93’ mantra, which was gaining steam.” (Public lands advocacy groups and animal activists started the now welldocumented “Cattle-Free by ‘93” campaign in response to the Clinton administration’s failure to bring about rangeland management reform.) Spring Gulch is on land owned by the NTCA, which has allowed the MSNC to use the property for 30 winters.

The NTCA and CPW are okay with the new parking lot, but CPW says it cannot open continued from page 7

The day ended with two panels focused on funding. Regarding the high number of nonprofits in the Valley competing for donors, “relationship building eliminates competition…” offered Allison Alexander, director of strategic partnerships and communication at the Aspen Community Foundation. And, “impact doubles through collaboration.”

Regarding capital campaigns, “It is easier to invite people to join a party than ask them to start the party,” said TACAW Executive Director Ryan Honey. Meaning, organizations should get the ball rolling first, then solicit donations. And lastly, when it comes to asking for money, “If I ask you, you can say ‘no.’ If I don’t, you can’t say ‘yes.’”

Apple Tree continued from page 12 before Dec. 1 and construction must occur between July and October. The BOCC was so happy with the presentation that they did not question the civil design engineers. “It'll get a lot of use and it'll be a great blessing and joy to a lot of people,” said Samson.

Environmental Justice Division stakeholder discussions around resident outreach and education.” Since then, IPG has apparently been developing outreach materials for residents with instructions on how to take care of plumbing systems on their end. It is currently procuring bids for water treatment options and exploring available funding, including grants.

There will be a public stakeholder meeting, primarily intended for Apple Tree residents, management and state and county health department representatives, on Thursday, May 18, at 6:30pm at the Liberty Classical Academy, adjacent to Apple Tree.

VOICES: Nina Gabianelli continued from page 16 same job right out of college in 1985. No openings, I was told. I often wonder what would have happened had things played out differently, and I am reminded that my journey is exactly as it was supposed to be.

By staying sober, and helping others find sobriety I can say, without reservation, I am happy and content.

“Life on life’s terms” means that there are times when I am sad, there are times when I am lonely, but no more do I find myself alone or without hope. That is the greatest gift a sober life can bring – HOPE!

Tune in for VOICES Radio Hour, a collaboration with Circa 71 Production, on KDNK this Friday, May 12, at 6pm. The May episode is a Mother’s Day special: “The Moment I Found Out I Was Becoming a Mother!” Visit www.voicesrfv.org to listen to archives.

Earlier in the meeting, the BOCC approved grant requests from the Grand Valley Parks Association, the New Ute Theatre Society and the Roaring Fork Youth Orchestra for $5,000 each; the Roaring Fork Conservancy for $1,000; and Glenwood Springs Youth Hockey for $2,000. The BOCC did not fulfill requests from two summer STEM camps and the Suicide Prevention Coalition of Garfield County.

The Board approved purchase of vehicles for the county fleet, supplemental overtime for county airport employees due to heavy snow removal over the winter, and fee waivers for Rocky Mountain Baptist Church and the Flat Tops Cowboy Church for upcoming events at the Garfield County Fairgrounds.

Last but not least, congratulations to interim county financial director Jamaica Watts and her team for two awards from the Chicago-based Government Finance Officers Association. The county comprehensive financial report for fiscal year ending Dec. 2021 received a Certificate of Achievement which, according to the award letter, is “the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting.” Watt’s team received an Award of Financial Reporting Achievement for their efforts.