Reghan Cloudman
FORT COLLINS, Colo. – The Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland has released the Husted-Maitland Land Exchange draft decision. This land exchange is located on the Canyon Lakes Ranger District northwest of Drake, Colorado.
The land exchange includes conveying six parcels of National Forest System lands, approximately 356 acres in size, for four parcels of non-Federal land and a trail easement, totally approximately 367 acres.
Benefits of this project include securing legal public access and expanding recreational opportunities on 1.2 miles of trail crossing currently non-Federal land and secures permanent public access by an acquired easement for the Crosier Mountain Trail. It also secures motorized recreation opportunities in the Crystal Mountain area for the public and Forest Service management, including access for the implementation of a fuels reduction project.
Other benefits include eliminating a 40-acre inholding and a 17-acre inholding surrounded by private land with no legal public or Forest Service access. It also creates a net increase of Colorado Roadless areas by approximately 128 acres and a one-acre increase in wetlands.
A detailed description of the project and decision, along with a map is available at https://www.fs.usda.gov/
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Anyone who has been on the lands being proposed for exchange by the Husted Ranch knows this is a bad deal for the Forest Service and the citizens. This is a land grab by a wealthy out of state land developer to exchange worthless land for prime view development lots! These land exchanges should not be tied together and should be rejected!
The Husted Ranch is some of The National Forest’s best land in the region. If this exchange goes through it will be lost to development. Im sure this will have a major negative impact on wildlife with unforeseen consequences. I grew up hiking this land and Have always dreamt of bringing my children here someday. Many of the Estes locals enjoy this land. Now one of the Forest Service’s best assets, the local wildlife, the peoples’ recreation, and one of my long held dreams are threatened. All this for some scattered parcels that have no value. DO NOT LET THIS EXCHANGE GO THROUGH!
The Husted Ranch is some of the National Forest’s best land in the region. If this exchange goes through the land will be lost to development, all in exchange for some scattered parcels with no value. This is a terrible deal.