A strong resource management plan for eastern Colorado can ensure a healthier future
As a nurse with firsthand experience in public health, I am writing to express my support for the Bureau of Land Management's (BLM) recent Eastern Colorado Resource Management Plan (ECRMP). This proposed plan, which would protect nearly 300,000 acres of public lands — most of which is just upriver from Pueblo in the Arkansas River Canyonlands — not only reflects the decades-long efforts of diverse stakeholders but also plays a pivotal role in safeguarding our environment, public health, and well-being.
After our nation turned to our great outdoors during and following the COVID-19 pandemic, we now know that one cannot underestimate the profound impact that exposure to nature has on our physical and emotional health. Studies have consistently demonstrated that spending time in natural settings reduces stress, anxiety, and depression while improving overall mental well-being. As a nurse, I have seen firsthand the physical and emotional benefits of individuals who are able to connect with the natural world.
Furthermore, these protected public lands also contribute to the quality of our precious clean drinking water. By conserving natural landscapes, we protect watersheds and aquifers that are essential water sources to our communities.
One of my favorite places the plan would conserve is Cooper Mountain, a 20,200-acre wild area bounded by the historic Gold Belt Byways of Phantom Canyon Road and Shelf Road, just northwest of Penrose. Established trails from either side of the mountain take you from the arid canyon terrain through mixed-forests, to high elevation grasslands. Cooper Mountain’s rugged topography and diverse ecosystems support many valuable bird species, including American peregrine falcon, bald eagle, golden eagle, scaled quail, and great blue heron.
While the plan safeguards public lands and waters, it regrettably falls short in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. As far too many health professionals have seen, climate change, specifically air quality and dangerous weather, poses a significant threat to public health, particularly in vulnerable communities. The ECRMP unfortunately leaves over 2.7 million acres open to oil and gas development. Failing to reduce greenhouse gas emissions could lead to dire consequences, including more frequent and severe weather events that disproportionately affect marginalized populations.
The ECRMP has been nearly a decade in the making, and I want to thank the BLM for taking into consideration the concerns of diverse stakeholders and users. The importance of maintaining a strong management plan for the area cannot be overstated. Our physical and emotional well-being, access to clean drinking water, and efforts to mitigate climate change all rely on the preservation of these public lands. As a nurse, I have witnessed the positive impact of nature on human health, and I urge the BLM to finalize the comprehensive and robust proposed plan.
Peg Rooney, RN, PhD was born and raised in Pueblo, Colorado and is a registered nurse in addition to being the president of the Arkansas Valley Audubon Society
This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Resource management plan for eastern Colorado can ensure healthy future
