Single Track threatened by Single Desire for Oil and Gas

Energy Development Could Impact Aspenites Bike Trips to Fruita

By Mitzi-Jill Rapkin, 5-01-06

There aren’t many trees on the high plateau along I-70 between Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction. The tallest and most dense tree-like structures are oil rigs. And that denseness is set to increase. Today the Aspen Times is reporting that a May 11th BLM lease sale on thousands of acres of the federal agency’s land in Colorado includes leases next to some of Fruita, Colorado’s most popular mountain biking trails.

It wouldn’t be fair to say Fruita is the Moab of Colorado because it’s just Fruita – and for most mountain bikers that says it all.

As early as March, eager mountain bikers from Aspen and the Roaring Fork Valley searching for a respite from the fluffy white stuff (that would be snow) head to warmer climes and hit the dry, red singletrack trails of Fruita without having to leave the state.

Shawn Hunsberger, a personal trainer from Basalt told the Aspen Times he’d be opposed to oil drilling right next to the trails. “There’s plenty of places they can get oil without drilling there,” he said.

Sarah and Troy Rarick own Over the Edge Sports in Fruita, a bike shop and meeting place for bikers near and far. Sarah said she’s heard mountain biking brings in about $6 million dollars net into the community yearly.

The most noticeable aspect to the city’s website at www.fruita.org is a huge color photo of a mountain biker on the home page.

News of the impending lease sale spread in Fruita last month. Chris Herrman is president of the Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association (COPMOBA), based a few miles away in Grand Junction. COPMOBA's mission is to build and maintain mountain bike trails, work to preserve singletrack, and promote responsible riding. Herrman described the mood of the mountain bikers in the area as one of “outrage.” He told the Aspen Times that the BLM recently concluded a four-year planning process which dedicated a portion of the North Fruita desert to mountain biking, which makes the lease sale difficult to swallow.

Sarah Rarick said COPMOBA sent out information to all members and are encouraging them to contact the BLM to make their concerns known.

Last weekend the Fruita mountain biking community had an ample opportunity to spread the word. Last Thursday more than 2,000 people flocked to Fruita for the 11th Annual Fat Tire Festival.

“Our festival brings people from Colorado, Utah, the East Coast, West Coast, UK and Germany,” Sarah said. ““We try to make the least sale known. Obviously we’re not going to get on a political soapbox in the middle of the festival but all of our visitors are willing to write a letter. If the leases are sold it can really affect the quality of mountain biking and camping here. No one wants to camp next to an oil well. Even some in the oil and gas companies say this is silly economically because mountain biking brings in so much money to Fruita.”

The largest area of concern is along 18 Road north of Fruita and 27 ¼ Road in Grand Junction. Popular trails like Chutes and Ladders and Zippety Do Da would be most impacted.

COPMOBA’s Board of Directors filed a formal protest over the inclusion of the parcels that could affect trails and asked that they be removed from the lease auction. The letter states “The COPMOBA Board can not stand by and let energy development destroy our quality of life and our sustainable economy. Grand Valley residents pursue a high quality of life that includes our world class mountain bike trails. Our local businesses profit from mountain biking, one of the mainstays of our current recreation and tourism based economy. Our energy needs can be met and the resources beneath the Grand Valley accessed, without destroying our quality of life and our economy.”

Mel Lloyd, Public Affairs Specialist for the Western Slope Western Region with the BLM said 45,721 acres in Mesa County are up for auction.

Even though COPMOBA and others have protested the inclusion of specific parcels in the May 11th lease auction, she said they will still be offered for sale. “Protests are noted 15 days prior to lease sale and are still included,” Lloyd said. “Whoever wants to bid is made aware that certain parcels are under protest and whoever wins is still required to put money down. If the protest is upheld the buyer receives a refund. The outcome of the protest could take 60 days and we’ve received so many protests it can take longer. We have gotten more and more protests with the increased activity and the public interest depending on the area.”

Lloyd said she has no track record of how the BLM has decided on protests. The lease sale begins at 9 a.m. on May 11th in Lakewood Colorado.

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