The Gunnison Outdoor Resources Protection (GORP) Act is the collaborative product of a locally-driven, grassroots effort initiated in 2014.
The Gunnison Public Lands Initiative (GPLI) drew together a coalition of stakeholders, representing diverse interests, and tasked them with developing a single vision for the protection and conservation of 1.7 million acres of public lands in Gunnison County. Stakeholders include groups in ranching, water, conservation, motorized recreation, mountain biking, hunting and angling.
The Western Slope Conservation Center (WSCC) has been committed to the protection of public lands in the Lower Gunnison Watershed for nearly 50 years. As the GPLI advocates for congressional protections in the GORP Act, WSCC has supported their efforts and worked to build support in the North Fork Valley and Delta County for public lands protections within the North Fork Valley Watershed. In April 2024, the Delta County Commissioners formally supported the GORP Act.
Why is the GORP Act Important to the North Fork Valley?
The GORP Act would provide for the long-term management of public lands in Gunnison County by recognizing Wilderness and designating other Special Management Areas which generally provide protections with a specific focus (e.g. Wildlife Conservation Area).
In Delta County, restrictions on new oil and gas leasing and development are a welcome new addition to the GORP Act, resulting in part from WSCC’s advocacy efforts. If enacted, these protections will provide a direct clean water benefit for North Fork Valley communities.
The North Fork Valley Watershed withdrawal would limit oil and gas development on most surface-managed BLM lands in Delta County, which includes Jumbo Mountain and the Town of Paonia’s source water area. The GORP Act also includes a no No Surface Occupancy restriction on oil and gas development in the Currant Creek, Electric Mountain, and Elk Park Roadless Areas in the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests, providing additional certainty for significant landscapes in the North Fork Valley.
While this oil and gas withdrawal does not fully protect the entire North Fork Valley, it protects areas like Jumbo Mountain and the Town of Paonia’s drinking water source areas, which are currently open to oil and gas development.
Click here to view WSCC’s GORP Fact Sheet!
North Fork Valley GORP Act Areas
Lamborn Wilderness Addition extends from the current West Elk Wilderness boundary, following the Roadless Area boundary west, to the Gunnison County line. Erickson Springs Wilderness Addition incorporates the Munsey-Ruby Stock Trail into the Raggeds Wilderness, from the existing Raggeds Wilderness boundary to the Raggeds Trail. A Wilderness designation prohibits new mining, drilling, or other extractive processes. It protects the natural and undeveloped character of the land and allows for only primitive (non-mechanized) recreation.
Pilot Knob Special Management Area and Clear Fork Special Management Areas are generally in the upper North Fork watershed north of the town of Somerset and have important roadless and wildlife values.
Beckwiths Special Management Area and Horse Ranch Park Recreation Area are in the Kebler Pass area off of the West Elk Loop Scenic Byway. They would be managed with an emphasis on conservation and recreation.
Munsey Creek Wildlife Conservation Area provides for the potential development of the Carbondale to Crested Butte Trail while limiting new routes along the Raggeds Trail.
Clean water protections for the North Fork Valley Watershed and permanent public access to the Gunnison Forks (Pleasure Park) boat ramp to help enjoy it!
