A proposal to double the miles of trails in the Phil’s World system east of Cortez could result in “significant impacts” to wildlife.
That’s according to Colorado Parks and Wildlife, which weighed in on the expansion plan in a letter Monday. The Southwest Colorado Cycling Association has proposed some 27 miles of new trails on BLM land, with a parking lot just a half-mile from an existing golden-eagle nest. The BLM is studying comments received about a preliminary environmental assessment of the proposal and two alternatives with fewer trail miles. In the letter, area wildlife manager Matt Thorpe recommends a greater buffer for the nest and seasonal trail closures to protect mule deer, which are in decline regionally. BLM officials have said seasonal closures are difficult to enforce. The Montezuma County commissioners, who support the expansion, have scoffed at concerns about the nest, which isn’t currently occupied.
