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Millions of Americans have sought refuge from the stress and confinement of the global pandemic in the outdoors, and the trend is expected to continue heading into this summer. Courtney Whiteman, a spokesperson for the National Park Service, cautions would-be visitors that "If you're planning on going out to a national park this year, or really any public lands, the first and most important thing right now is to plan ahead."
Several popular destinations in Colorado have started to require reservations, including the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests, which both saw a 200% spike in visitation last year. All Colorado state parks now require a reservation for camping, and some will soon require reservations for parking and shuttle service as well.
Rocky Mountain National Park became the first in the country last year to implement an entry permit system, a practice that will continue in 2021, much to the chagrin of some visitors. The park was the 4th most visited in the country and saw a 38% increase in visitors in 2020. Recognizing the impact of skyrocketing visitation on both natural resources and visitor experiences, the park is asking for public feedback on a proposal to better manage crowds.
Colorado cracks down on financial water speculation
At the direction of state lawmakers, a working group has been meeting regularly to explore ways to strengthen Colorado’s anti-speculation law, a reference to the practice of buying property specifically for the water rights to be sold for future profit. The topic is becoming more frequent at meetings among water managers, basin roundtables, and boards of county commissioners.
Under Colorado law, a water-rights holder must put their water to “beneficial use,” meaning the water must be used for the purpose it was decreed in order to hang onto the water right. However, Colorado also treats the right to use water as a private-property right, allowing for the buying and selling of water rights, that even allows for changing the use for the water, say from agriculture to growing cities. This system is used widely in the West, and has created an opening for investors who see water as an increasingly valuable commodity in a water-short future, driven by climate change and population growth.
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It is fundamental to responsibilities of the agencies entrusted with the stewardship of our public lands that they periodically assess policies and management actions to ensure these measures are serving their intended purpose. Likewise, any new administration has the right—and obligation—to review its predecessor’s policies, determine how they comport with laws and administrative priorities, and make any needed changes."
