The 92,000-acre Baca National Wildlife Refuge (BNWR)
was established by law in 2000 with the signing of the
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Act of
2000.
The pristine waters of five major riparian streams flow
out of the northwest Sangre de Cristo Mountains, through
the town of Crestone and Baca Grande subdivisions, into
the flatlands of the upper San Luis Valley into the BNWR.
Over 4,000 acres of wetlands registered in the National
Wetlands Inventory occur here. These wetlands are considered
by many to be among the most pristine and biologically
diverse wetlands in the state, indeed, in the entire
southwestern US.
Wetland and riparian areas are important, not only
for the filtration services they provide in maintaining
regional
aquifers, but because they support some of the richest
plant and animal communities in the world. A recent
biological assessment was conducted by the prestigious
Colorado
Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) in the Baca Grande
subdivision, directly adjacent to the refuge. The CNHP
study indicates
that the refuge supports at least twenty-eight rare,
threatened or endangered species, including the federally
endangered Southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax
traillii extimus) and one of the largest known populations
of the globally imperiled slender spider flower (Cleome
multicaulis). Colorado Division of Wildlife (CDW)
biologists recently discovered a genetically unique
population of
the endangered Rio Grande sucker in the refuge. This
robust population is considered by CDW to be critical
to the recovery of the species throughout the Rio
Grande watershed. The CNHP study also identified healthy
examples
of the endangered plant community (Populus angfustifolia-
Juniperus scopulorum woodland) along the intermediate
stretches of Cottonwood, South Crestone, Spanish,
and Willow Creek riparian corridors.
In all, 45 animal species were identified in the
Baca, including the rare Brazilian free-tailed
bat, mountain
plover, northern goshawk, Wilson's phalarope, and
a locally unique subspecies of the globally vulnerable
northern
pocket gopher. All of these species and plant communities
are expected to occur in the refuge.
US taxpayers paid between $30 - $35 million dollars
to purchase the Baca National Wildlife Refuge
in perpetuity for the American People. When Lexam
Explorations notified
the refuge of its intention to explore for natural
gas,
the US Fish and Wildlife Service, who manages
the refuge, determined that no Environmental Impact
Statement was
necessary. As Lexam’s convoy of six 14,000-pound
seismic vehicles roll systematically across the wetlands,
there has been no significant biological studies of
the refuge to identify sensitive areas and species,
nor is
there independent monitoring being conducted to ensure
that these biologically important areas, and thus the
taxpayers investment, are being protected.
Allowing Lexam Explorations the “cart blanc” exercise
of its mineral rights on public land is in direct
contradiction to the purpose in which the refuge was
established.
According to the USFWS Conceptual Management
Plan,
the Baca NWR
was created with the purpose of:
“Restoring, enhancing and maintaining wetland, upland, riparian and other
habitats for wildlife, plants and fish species that are native to the San Luis
Valley, Colorado. Management of the refuge will emphasize migratory bird conservation
and will consider the refuge’s role in broader landscape conservation
efforts.”
This situation is neither rational, nor prudent given
the extraordinary natural and biological values to
be realized by protecting the refuge
lands.
SHORTER VERSION
The Baca National Wildlife Refuge: Wetlands, Wildlife
and Endangered Species Issues
The 92,000-acre Baca National Wildlife Refuge (BNWR)
was established in 2000 with the signing of the
Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Act of
2000. The pristine waters of five major riparian streams flow out of the
Sangre de Cristo Mountains, through the town of Crestone and Baca Grande
subdivisions,
into the BNWR. Over 4,000 acres of wetlands registered in the National
Wetlands Inventory occur here. These wetlands are considered
by many to be among the
most pristine and biologically diverse wetlands in the state, indeed, in
the entire southwestern US.
Wetland and riparian areas are important, not only
for the filtration services they provide in maintaining
regional aquifers, but because they support
some of the richest plant and animal communities in the world. A recent
biological
assessment conducted in the adjacent Baca Grande subdivision by the prestigious
Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) indicates that the refuge supports
at least twenty-eight rare, threatened or endangered species. Among these
are the federally endangered Southwestern willow flycatcher (Empidonax
traillii extimus), the globally imperiled slender spider flower (Cleome
multicaulis),
and a genetically unique population of the endangered Rio Grande sucker.
The
CNHP study also identified healthy examples of the endangered plant community
(Populus angfustifolia- Juniperus scopulorum woodland) along the intermediate
stretches of Cottonwood, South Crestone, Spanish, and Willow Creek riparian
corridors. In all, 45 animal species were identified in the adjacent
Baca Grande subdivision, including the rare Brazilian
free-tailed bat, mountain
plover,
northern goshawk, Wilson's phalarope, and a locally unique subspecies
of the globally vulnerable northern pocket gopher.
All of these species and
plant
communities are expected to occur in the refuge.
The US government paid more than $30 million dollars
to hold the Baca National Wildlife Refuge in perpetuity
for the American People. When
Lexam Explorations
notified the refuge of its intention to explore for natural gas, the
US Fish and Wildlife Service, determined that no Environmental Impact
Statement
was
necessary. As Lexam’s convoy of six 14,000-pound seismic vehicles roll
systematically across the wetlands, there has been no significant biological
studies of the refuge nor any independent monitoring to ensure that the biological
values, and thus the taxpayers investment, are being protected.
Allowing Lexam Explorations unmitigated exercise
of its mineral rights on public land is in direct contradiction
to the purpose in which the
refuge was established.
According to the USFWS Conceptual Management Plan, the Baca NWR was
created with the purpose of:
“Restoring, enhancing and maintaining wetland, upland, riparian and other
habitats for wildlife, plants and fish species that are native to the San Luis
Valley, Colorado. Management of the refuge will emphasize migratory bird conservation
and will consider the refuge’s role in broader landscape conservation
efforts.”
This situation is neither rational, nor prudent given
the extraordinary natural and biological resources
contained within the Baca National
Wildlife Refuge. |
