Montelores Coalition Seeks Public Input on Outdoor Recreation Plan

The Montelores Coalition, a partnership of local governments, tribes, land managers, recreation organizations, farmers and conservation groups, wrapped up a series of public meetings on Dec. 4 to solicit input on its draft Outdoor Recreation and Conservation Plan. Five meetings held between Nov. 17 and Dec. 4 attracted roughly 50 participants overall, including local officials, business owners, ranchers, recreation users, wildlife experts and nonprofit representatives. The coalition invited final comments on the draft through Dec. 31 via the coalition’s draftplan webpage.

At the center of the draft are goals and strategies to maintain existing outdoor recreation opportunities while balancing conservation of natural and cultural resources, working lands and wildlife. The plan is explicitly framed as adaptive, designed to evolve as recreation demand grows and user preferences change. That adaptive emphasis signals a policy approach that favors ongoing monitoring, periodic adjustment and coordination across jurisdictions that together manage lands in Montezuma and Dolores counties.

For Dolores County residents the plan has immediate implications. Meetings held in Dove Creek and Rico brought local concerns into the process, and the draft addresses outreach and land use considerations that affect local trails, ranching operations and tourism businesses. With roughly 50 stakeholders participating across five meetings, the input reflected a cross section of the local economy and community values, though turnout suggests further outreach may be needed to capture broader public sentiment.

Market implications include potential shifts in visitor management, infrastructure investment and land use rules that could affect lodging, guiding services and ranch operations. An adaptive plan may improve predictability for local businesses by establishing shared objectives, but it will also require funding and governance mechanisms to translate strategy into maintenance, signage, enforcement and habitat protections.

Next steps for the coalition include reviewing submitted comments and refining the draft before final adoption. The coalition thanked local meeting hosts, including the Dove Creek Public Service Meeting Room and the Rico Town Hall. Residents who missed the meetings can read the draft and submit comments online through Dec. 31 via the coalition’s draftplan webpage.