Letter from Ken Jessen
Piñon Canyon – November 2007 – Colorado Central Magazine
Editors:
In Doug Holdread’s letter in the October issue of Colorado Central Magazine titled, “Modern-day range war,” he points out the danger of letting the U. S. Army take over much of south-central Colorado for the expansion of its already large land area in the Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site.
For those that cannot hike long distances in the heat, the Forest Service has to get permission for its tours to cross the existing maneuver site to reach the treasures along the Purgatoire River. No telling what will happen to public access if the Army gets its way in its quest for expansion into areas that newspapers have reported as including much of Baca and Las Animas counties all the way to the New Mexico line (up to 1,000 square miles, depending on the source.).
Included along the Purgatoire River is the largest dinosaur track site in all of North America. In addition, there is the old Dolores Hispanic mission and associated cemetery dating back to the 1860s, plus the historic 1871 Rourke Ranch. Plenty of early rock art, some dating back an estimated 4,500 years, can also be found on sandstone surfaces above the river.
It is important to let our elected officials know how we feel. The military already owns thousands of square miles in California, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah.
Sincerely,
Kenneth Jessen
Loveland
