The Mad Rabbit Trails Project has certainly generated controversy and passion from across Routt County. We locals love our outdoor recreation and our abundant wildlife, so it is not surprising that we see passionate debate when there is a proposal that seemingly pits the two against each other.

We were disappointed to see the debate recently morph into unfounded attacks on Keep Routt Wild. This is unfortunate. We live in a small community. We need to respect others, even if we disagree. The merits and flaws of the Mad Rabbit project should be debated purely on the facts, the science and the law.

So, who is Keep Routt Wild? Let us answer that. As we have stated since our creation, “Keep Routt Wild is a community organization dedicated to preserving wildlife and wild places in Routt County. Our mission is to promote policies and practices for the benefit of conserving the Yampa Valley for future generations of outdoor enthusiasts by balancing opportunities for recreational development with the habitat needs of wildlife.”

We execute this mission through education, engagement and practicing conservation through informed science. We led the citizen charge to update Steamboat ordinances to include bear-resistant trash containers through these three practices, reversing public opinion.

KRW volunteers have aided in wet meadow restoration, helped to radio-collar moose, participated in bighorn sheep surveys, partnered with other conservation organizations, and presented to the local high school. You can view our Board members and their considerable expertise on our website. We have no paid staff, so all of our donations go directly to programs. We deliver incredible conservation value per donated dollar.

Most relevant to Mad Rabbit, we have used best available science to assess the considerable impact of Mad Rabbit on wildlife habitat and have proposed a compromise proposal that increases recreational opportunities while protecting the needs of wildlife. “Special interest” group indeed! We believe, unlike the current proposal, that our compromise is defensible and would survive challenges in a court of law.

We are not alone in our objections to Mad Rabbit. Other local objectors include the Routt County Cattlemen, Friends of the Routt Backcountry, and the local chapters of the Sierra Club and Great Old Broads for Wilderness. Regionally, objectors include Rocky Mountain Wild, Colorado Wildlife Conservation Project, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, and the Colorado Wildlife Federation. Approximately 20 organizations in total have objected to the Forest Service analysis. The project has attracted a lot of attention because the negative precedents of the proposed action extend well beyond Routt County. All of this is occurring as our local elk herd faces unprecedented winterkill, declining calf-cow ratios and plummeting population, putting the future of the herd in doubt.

A recent Steamboat survey showed just 18% of respondents favored using accommodation tax dollars to fund amenities to attract tourists. This is the funding method for much of Mad Rabbit. In light of the decreasing support for Mad Rabbit, the City should consider a ballot issue that would allow the escrowed funds to be redirected to higher priority projects, such as extending the Core Trail to the west.

Our own objection comments, along with those from others, may be viewed on the KRW website at KeepRouttWild.com, along with our compromise proposal. We don’t know how Mad Rabbit will eventually be decided, but we hope that the issues are discussed civilly with a focus on the facts. No matter what, Keep Routt Wild will continue to fight for wildlife and wild places in Routt County.

Larry Desjardin is the president of Keep Routt Wild.