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MTG is continuing to take an active role in protecting our public lands from illegal trespass. We encourage each person who enjoys the trails to contact their public lands managers and elected representatives to voice your concern regarding this land grab. 
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It's also important, especially with the damage caused by fence (now removed) to remind folks that there are folks that have legal easements in the Chicken Creek area. Rush Ditch (the creek) is one such easement. There is a 50 foot easement on either side that shareholders use heavy equipment and OHVs in order to maintain the ditch. Like other trail systems in the area many current trails use historical roads. We ask that trail users traveling in the Chicken Creek area assume positive intent, as there are folks with legally established easements.  You may have heard about the recent construction of new fencing in the Chicken Creek area. MTG has been in contact with the Forest Service since it came to our attention last week, and like many Montezuma County recreationists, we are concerned. As of Saturday, 10/12/24, all of the fence has been taken down by volunteers from the Mancos community. This has been a unique opportunity for virtually all citizens of the county to come together - cattle ranchers, grazing allotment holders, motorized trail users, cross country skiers, hunters, horseback riders, snowmobilers, trail runners, hikers, mountain bikers, dog walkers, and virtually every other user group worked side by side for two days to remove 4.5 miles of new fencing. We are all united in our use of and love of the national forest. However, we are not out of the woods yet regarding this issue as the next step is for the Forest Service to file litigation to prove ownership in the courts. It's important that word gets out that the people of Mancos LOVE our public lands, and that we LOVE Chicken Creek! It's important that everyone knows that we care. What can you do? -Nick Mustoe, District Ranger [email protected], 928-266-5226 -Dave Neely, Forest Supervisor [email protected] -Senator Michael Bennet, 202-224-5852, https://www.bennet.senate.gov/public/?p=contact Facebook, @SenatorBennet -Senator John Hickenlooper, 202-224-5941, https://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov/email-john/.... Facebook, @senatorhick There has been a lot of news coverage, see below for links to several news sources that provide some background information. https://www.the-journal.com/.../residents-remove-free.../ https://www.ksjd.org/.../free-land-holders-land-dispute... https://coloradosun.com/.../free-land-holder-forest-service/  |
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