NOREEN: City sheepish about blazing new trail
As Dr. Dolittle famously speculated, “If we could talk to the animals, just imagine it.”
Why, conceivably we could ask a Pikes Peak bighorn ram, “What would be worse — watching an occasional hiker walking by in the summer or getting shot with a rifle in the fall?”
Feigning over-arching concern for bighorn lambing areas, Colorado Springs Utilities has ruled out allowing a segment of the Ring-the-Peak Trail on the mountain’s South Slope. At the same time, the utility has added a provision in the South Slope plan to allow limited hunting, including a fall rifle season for bighorn sheep.
To Springs Utilities, agitating the sheep apparently is unthinkable, but shooting them is Ok.
The Colorado Division of Wildlife, which knows quite a lot about bighorns, told the utility that a trail through the lambing area is workable, although seasonal closures would be required, as is routinely done. DOW area manager Shaun Deeney confirmed that advice was given to the utility, which decided on its own the trail could not be allowed.
Scott Campbell is the general manager for water systems operations who for years has personified Springs Utilities’ opposition to opening the South Slope. He told City Council members Wednesday the Ring-the-Peak segment (highly prized by many local trails enthusiasts) could not be completed because of “sensitivities.”
Campbell didn’t inform council members that wildlife experts say the trail can be built and managed without harming bighorn populations. He didn’t mention that after recent public meetings, the utility quietly added the provision for limited hunting on the South Slope.
Truth is, both the trail and the hunting, which would involve only a couple of bighorns, can be allowed.
As for completing the Ring-the-Peak Trail, Campbell said, “We’re committed to finding solutions.”
That is the same message about the South Slope Springs Utilities has been giving the community for the last 12 years. It has ceased to be believable.
Campbell told the council of an “accelerated schedule” for building trails on the South Slope, which has been closed to the public for more than a century. Deputy Mayor Larry Small asked the plain question: “When?”
“There’s not a date set,” Campbell replied.
The same utility that says it will build a 43-mile pipeline from Pueblo Reservoir in four years remains unable to construct a timetable for a few miles of trails that will be built with volunteer labor.
Maybe Springs Utilities should hire Dr. Dolittle as a consultant. It could pay to have discourse with some bighorn sheep.
A great lambing season would be sure to follow.
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