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People enjoy an evening at Mountain Tap Brewery earlier this week. (Photo by John F. Russell)
Over the past several years, Steamboat Springs and Colorado’s other mountain towns have found themselves in a dilemma: relying on tourism to sustain their economies while also preserving community character, protecting natural resources and ensuring longtime locals and employees can still afford to live in town and do their jobs.
“It’s definitely a balancing act between preserving town character and the environment that attracts these people and a city’s tourism-based economy,” said Margaret Bowes, executive director of the Colorado Association of Ski Towns. “Our communities absolutely need to protect the things that have made them a destination in the first place.”
The Chaffee Recreation Council offers opportunity for the public to review elements of the Chaffee Rec Plan starting today on the Envision Chaffee County website.
The planâs goals are to protect natural resources, maintain exceptional outdoor experiences and sustain the economic benefits of recreation tourism.
Initiatives potentially include:Â
⢠Getting the right infrastructure such as more restroomsÂ
⢠Focusing development like new trails near towns
⢠Protecting wildlife with habitat improvements and voluntary seasonal closures in sensitive areas
⢠Encouraging improved user behaviors and enforcing the rules
⢠Supporting rural landscapes as ranchers struggle with the costly impacts of recreation growth on their operations.