Aimee Tooker, of Nucla, has been on a mission to make sure the West End has a “seat at the table” when it comes to what’s happening on public lands. When she discovered in the last few years a “coordination” process, through which municipalities were establishing agreements with the BLM and USFS, she wanted the towns of Nucla and Naturita to do the same.
It’s something Tooker has been working on, since the discussion of a proposed national monument along the Dolores River ensued. She’s researched Margaret Byfield, a Nevada community leader whose grandparents were part of a public lands battle over grazing rights and water. Byfield is now the executive director of the American Stewards of Liberty and continues to work, educating people about public lands.
According to the Congressional Western Caucus, in 2017, members of Congress signed a letter to President Trump, urging improvement of the coordination process, which has apparently already been in place for 30 years.
After working the last year, Tooker presented the coordination process to officials in Naturita last week. Then, Nucla Mayor Paula Brown and Nucla Trustee Tim Pierce attended to hear the presentation.
Tooker wants people to know Garfield County, with the support of Byfield, has established the coordination agreement, and it’s been successful there.
According to her, the coordination process can eliminate hearsay — producers hearing different versions of what BLM officials have discussed — whether that’s related to prescribed burns, resource management plans, road closures or something else. She said the communication becomes more clear through coordination.
What’s more, she said, is that it enables communities the ability to weigh in on other things that affect public lands, like cell towers, solar, travel management plans, wildlife, water, mining and more. That’s because as part of the coordination process, agencies have to legally confer with municipalities for updates and for the decision-making process.
“(Public lands agencies) have to sit down with the towns,” she said.
Tooker it’s part of the governmental process, under the coordination agreement.
She said it’s definitely about making sure the West End has a “seat at the table,” and that solutions are discussed in a way that is proactive rather than reactive.
Naturita and Nucla towns have agreed to move forward. Next, Tooker will be presenting to Montrose County. She wants to see Justin Musser, Montrose County’s Director of Ecological Services, be involved. She believes Montrose County being a part of the coordination process is key for the future.
Tooker said there is technical assistance available in becoming established in the coordination process. What does that look like? It’s something she said she’s still researching, but her hope is that it could include things like support for paperwork, Zoom meetings and potentially even consulting.
Tooker would like to see the coordination process for West End towns and the BLM or USFS meet quarterly, and then the designated coordination committee meet monthly. She said Dan Ben-Horin, BLM field manager in Montrose, has been supportive.
Ben-Horin confirmed the BLM’s support Monday morning.
“I think the BLM is required to coordinate with our partners, our partners in Nucla, Naturita and all of the West End. We are supportive of coordination … " he said.
He added the process was non-partisan, and the point is to work with communities to make sure goals align with the BLM’s projects.
