Trust Our Land: Your comments matter for the future of Sweetwater Lake

It’s been five years since the “Save The Lake” campaign kicked off a daunting effort to purchase and protect Sweetwater Lake so that it could remain open to the public forever. Public participation and energy in that campaign were critical to its success, and public comments are just as important now for the future of the property.

Sweetwater Lake proposed action

The White River National Forest is designing a proposed action for Sweetwater Lake, which kicks off the National Environmental Policy Act process. It’s essentially a proposed plan that will determine what Sweetwater Lake will look like in the future. The year-long process to build the proposed action involved Colorado Parks and Wildlife, cooperating agencies including Eagle County, Garfield County and the town of Gypsum, and input from the local community and the Eagle Valley Land Trust. The proposed action, which is now available for public viewing and comment, details the proposed plan for the site, including maps with proposed locations for improvements.

When the property was first protected, the White River National Forest, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and Eagle Valley Land Trust created a vision statement to guide the planning: “Sweetwater Lake is where current and future generations of Americans can recreate, connect with the natural environment, appreciate the cultural and natural history, and experience the freedom from the developed world like their grandparents may have 50 years ago. Here partnerships are paramount to deliver public benefits. Sweetwater Lake provides cultural, historic and social value to local communities.”

Three overarching goals were also defined to guide the collaborative planning process: 

1. Improve access, modernize facilities, and provide updated and sustainable recreational services that are appropriate to the environment, desired by the public and keeping within the character of the area. 
2. Retain and protect the natural and social characteristics of the area.
3. Incorporate public input while honoring the historical legacy of this special place during the planning process.   

The proposed action, which can be accessed at EVLT.org/sweetwater, includes authorizing a 20-year special use permit to CPW to implement improvements and manage the 832-acre site; redesigning the current site to promote recreational opportunities compatible with capacity, historic use, resources, and the surrounding area; new rental cabins; expanded equestrian opportunities; and a new lodge, among other things. 

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A link to all of the documents and maps is available at EVLT.org/sweetwater.

How to comment on the proposed action

As part of the official National Environmental Policy Act process, the public is encouraged to comment on the proposed action. The White River National Forest released the Sweetwater Lake Recreation Management and Development Project for public comment on May 6, 2024. The public comment period will be open for 90 days until August 5, 2024. 

Comments should be specific, within the scope of the proposed action, have a direct relationship to the proposed action, and include supporting reasons for the responsible official to consider. Please note that all comments will be public.

Many folks in our community have commented in various ways over the past few years. Those comments were incredibly valuable and helped shape the current proposal. However, those comments do not carry forward into this official process. Therefore, please submit a new comment based on the proposed action and encourage your community, family, and friends to submit comments, too.

Eagle Valley Land Trust offering access to Sweetwater

During the public comment period, Eagle Valley Land Trust is engaging our community at Sweetwater and exploring new ways to break down barriers to accessing this incredible and newly public property.

Keri Inouye, Eagle Valley Land Trust’s community engagement manager, has run two horseback riding programs this summer in partnership with A.J. Brink Outfitters at Sweetwater Lake for the public and the Eagle Valley Outdoor Movement, and she has planned several more riding events for this season. Are you interested in riding with A.J. Brink Outfitters free of charge thanks to the Sweetwater Stewardship and Equity Fund? Or maybe joining an ethnobotany tour at Sweetwater Lake? Head over to the “join us” tab at EVLT.org to learn more and register, or reach out to Keri at Keri@evlt.org.

In addition to programming, Eagle Valley Land Trust is working with two graduate students from Colorado State University’s Conservation Leadership program to help us learn more about and develop a strategy to honor the Tribal history of the region, build awareness among local residents about Sweetwater Lake’s cultural significance, and identify how Eagle Valley Land Trust can support the present and future of local Tribes.

Remember, the public comment period for the Sweetwater action plan closes on August 5, 2024. 

Bergen Tjossem is the Eagle Valley Land Trust’s deputy director. To learn more about EVLT’s local conservation work, how to comment on the proposed action, or how to sign up for community programs, visit evlt.org or email community@evlt.org.