BLM report takes Christo river project closer to final decision

Artist Christo’s $50 million project to drape the Arkansas River with fabric took a major step toward resolution Friday when the Bureau of Land Management released its draft environmental impact statement.

Formulated with his late wife, Jeanne-Claude, Christo’s plan is to build a system of anchors, frames and cables that will suspend 5.9miles of silver, luminous fabric across eight spots along a 42-mile stretch of the Arkansas between Salida and Cañon City. Exhibition of the work is proposed for two weeks in August 2013.

But before any anchors are set and cables strung, Christo must first obtain a BLM land-use permit. That’s because “Over the River” requires use of federal, private and state lands — about 80 percent of which in an area identified with special environmental concerns.

The 1,395-page report takes construction, logistics, traffic planning and visitor management as starting points. From there, the agency offers seven alternatives to Christo’s proposal, including reducing the number of panels and/or construction time, increasing allowed boat traffic to view the work, closing recreation sites along U.S. 50 to limit traffic and rejecting the proposal outright.

“In general, with the inclusion of appropriate constraints, stipulations, and mitigation measures,” states the report, “the applicants’ proposal appears to be broadly consistent with the overall RMP (resource management plan) objective of providing a ‘variety of levels, methods and mix of multiple use resource management (and) utilization.’”

The report also details nine areas needing additional analysis.  They include the problem of emergency response in the remote area, possible pollution and sanitation, the economic impact on the area and the effects of the work on the wildlife and habitat.

As it stands, the installation, exhibition, and removal phases are projected to attract 416,000 visitors over three-years, including 344,000 visitors during the exhibition. It’s also estimated that U.S. Highway 50 lane closures would occur on 380 days over the 28-month installation period.

The bureau will take public comment until Aug. 30. The agency will release a final environment report in February, 2011 and make the final decision in April.

Christo is silent on the matter: He doesn’t do phone interviews. And his team hasn’t had time to review the report. But after 18 years of debate, it’s good to finally reach this point, says Steve Coffin, Colorado spokesman for “Over the River.”

“What I haven’t yet come across is that the original length of the project was 10.4 miles,” Coffin said. “Then he scaled it back to 7.7 miles and finally settled on 5.9 as the minimum that he wanted to see. Christo is very concerned about anything than less 5.9 miles because that’s his artist vision. A shorter version of ‘Over the River’ is not ‘Over the River.’ ”

Supporters contacted for this story hadn’t yet read the report. Those in favor of the project include many area arts groups, river outfitters and all nine members of Colorado’s congressional delegation.

Marshall Nichols is opposed to the project — with or without the BLM report.  The vice-president of the most vocal opponents of the project — Rags Over the Arkansas River (“Just say no to Christo,” the website proclaims) — has read most of it, though.

“I’d personally prefer the no-action alternative,” said Nichols, who works with the Howard Volunteer Firefighters and is an Arkansas Valley Ambulance driver.

“It’s just such a problematic area here,” he said of the remote area. “I know they have these pie-in-sky proposals, but just because you say something doesn’t make it so.  It’s the whimsy of one man — and I think he’s arrogant — one arrogant man’s dreams. It boggles my mind.”

To get involved

• Read the Bureau of Land Management draft environment impact statement  click here.
• To submit written comments use an online form here or through email at co-otr-commentsblm.gov, faxed to 1-719-269-8599 or mailed to OTR Comments, 3028 E. Main St., Canon City, Colo., 81212
• Attend a town hall meeting on the subject: 4 p.m. to last comment on Aug. 9 at Harrison K-8 School, 920 Field Ave., Cañon City;  4 p.m. to last comment on Aug. 10,  Salida High School, 905 D Street, Salida;  4 p.m. to last comment on Aug. 11,  Cotopaxi School, 345 County Road 12, Cotopaxi;  4 p.m. to last comment on Aug. 12, Doubletree Hotel Denver, 3203 Quebec St., Denver

What's next?

• Through Aug. 30: The Bureau of Land Management accepts public comment.
• July 24:  The Business of Arts Center in Manitou Springs hosts a presentation from the Christo team.
• July 28: Christo delivers a lecture on the project at the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center. Framed, signed prints by Christo and artwork by the members of Manitou Springs Arts Council will be on sale, and all proceeds will benefit the arts council.
• February, 2011: Final environmental report released
• April, 2011: Final decision announced

Warren Epstein contributed to this story.