Meeting today on El Jebel intersection
A public meeting regarding the future of the intersection at Highway 82 and Valley Road in El Jebel will be held today beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The purpose of the meeting is to give Eagle County commissioners feedback, and to discuss next steps for the project.

The commissioners will do a site visit at the intersection at 5:30 p.m. Then at 6 p.m., the meeting will begin in the Mt. Sopris room in the El Jebel Community Center, located at 20 Eagle County Drive.

Call (970) 328-8605 with questions.

Open house on Wexner exchange today
The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) is hosting a public open house meeting today in Carbondale to provide information, and to answer questions about the proposed Sutey Ranch land exchange.

The public is invited to stop by anytime from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Carbondale Town Hall, 511 Colorado Ave. The BLM is accepting written comments from the public on the exchange through June 20.

“Our goal with the open house is to answer questions and discuss the proposal with the public to help them provide specific written comments,” said BLM Colorado River Valley Field Manager Steve Bennett.

Under the proposal, the BLM would acquire the 557-acre Sutey Ranch adjacent to the popular Red Hill special recreation area in Garfield County, and 112 acres in Pitkin County along Prince Creek Road adjacent to “The Crown” mountain biking area.

In exchange, the BLM would give three parcels totaling 1,269 acres in Pitkin County, south of Carbondale, to the Wexner family. In Eagle County, the agency also would give the Wexners three parcels totaling 201 acres on Horse Mountain southwest of Eagle which has limited public access. Conservation easements would prevent development from occurring on the privatized lands.

The Wexners also are offering a $1.1 million donation to the BLM — $100,000 to cover BLM’s cost to develop a management plan for the newly acquired parcels, and $1 million for its long-term management.

“BLM will only go forward with a land exchange if it is in the public’s interest,” Bennett said.

A final decision is currently expected on the proposal in 2013.
 
Written comments will be accepted at the open house and can be emailed to BLM_CO_SI_CRVFO_Webmail@blm.gov [1] or mailed to BLM, 2300 River Frontage Road, Silt, CO 81652, Attn: Sutey Ranch Land Exchange.

Help build Skyline trail
Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers will work with Pitkin County Open Space to conduct a volunteer trail work day on Saturday, June 2, at the new Sky Mountain Park, located between Aspen and Snowmass Village. The work day runs from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and includes dinner for volunteers.

Volunteers will help build the new single track Skyline Ridge Trail from the airport’s Radar Road, which will connect with the Viewline Trail RFOV helped construct in 2011. This trail segment will replace a section of the old road that is very steep and eroding.

As the name implies, the Skyline Ridge Trail will be built along the highest ridgeline on the property and will offer panoramic views of Aspen, Snowmass Village and the Elk Mountains to the west. This trail also will be a key link in connecting Aspen and Snowmass Village via the trail system.

The work day is part of National Trails Day, the American Hiking Society’s signature trail awareness program that aims to inspire the public and trail enthusiasts nationwide to seek out their favorite trails to discover, learn about, and celebrate trails.

RFOV and its project partners provide the tools, materials, leadership and dinner after each work session. Project sponsors for the Skyline Ridge project include Pitkin County Open Space and Trails, Alpine Bank, Basalt Bike & Ski, Bluegreen, Holy Cross and Alpine Property Management.

To volunteer, log on to www.rfov.org [2], email rfov@sopris.net [3], or call (970) 927-8241.
 
Community float down the Fork
Roaring Fork Conservancy will hold its community float day on Saturday, June 2 along the Roaring Fork River. The half-day float trip along the lower Roaring Fork River from Carbondale to Glenwood Springs is provided by Blazing Adventures. The day will entail sightseeing, natural history, and a cook-out at the end of the float at Veltus Park in Glenwood Springs. Meet at 8 a.m. at that park to begin the day.

This event is open to the public (kids 60 pounds or more), but space is limited. Register online at www.roaringfork.org/riverfloat [4]. The cost is $20 for conservancy members and $30 for non-members. For more information, call Roaring Fork Conservancy at (970) 927-1290.