By Jen Schumann | Contributor, Rocky Mountain Voice
Meet Bryce and Lisa Casto, sixth-generation ranchers on the Western Slope, who are worried that the Dolores Monument designation will close their roads and leave them unable to care for their livestock.
Bryce understands the importance of local communities managing the land around them.
“When it’s locally controlled, we control it better because we will harvest whatever can be harvested,” he said. “It’s close to home, so we want to make sure we’re taken care of.”
Their livelihood depends on the very issues discussed at Colorado Mesa University on Oct. 5 with U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert, during a listening session in which participants were encouraged to bring their concerns — and those of many like them — to the forefront, focusing on the intertwined challenges of agriculture, energy, water and land use.
Boebert highlighted her commitment to reducing government interference and representing Colorado’s needs in D.C.
“My job is to get Washington, D.C., out of your lives, to give a Colorado voice to legislation,” Boebert said, as she outlined her bipartisan work in the House of Representatives.
She referenced securing the Pueblo Jobs Act as a major legislative win, creating 1,000 jobs in Southern Colorado by preserving critical infrastructure.
“I’ve been able to pass eight bills out of the House of Representatives — all bipartisan,” she said, and despite working within a divided government, she’s found ways to deliver results. “It’s not just about pushing legislation — I’m working with people on both sides to get things across the line for Colorado.”
Boebert also stressed the importance of energy production, “Developing our energy is a huge part of reducing that inflation and really growing our economies once again.”
She added, “We have been regulated into poverty.”
Rep. Soper’s call for deliberate and thoughtful state legislation
State Rep. Matt Soper, who moderated the session, added a state-level perspective on the need for thoughtful and deliberate legislation.
Like Boebert, Soper pointed out the challenges of navigating politics in Denver, where he says too many legislators seem content with their titles, rather than taking action for their communities.
“We need people who are thoughtful, who understand that if something goes on the books, it’s probably not going to come off,” he said. “You need to be deliberate in what you’re writing,” he added.
Calling for expediting energy permitting
Delta County Commissioner Wendell Koontz brought decades of experience in mining and land management to the table.
His primary message was the urgent need for permitting reform, citing multiple examples of how lengthy permitting processes have delayed both fossil fuel and renewable energy projects.
“It took less time for the U.S. to defeat Nazi Germany than it took to permit a single coal mine,” Koontz said. “Permitting reform is crucial, whether you believe in renewables or fossil fuels. We need to permit projects in a timely manner.”
Koontz also emphasized the need to push for a balanced energy strategy, which includes nuclear, coal and oil, alongside renewable energy.
Chelsie Meira, executive director of the West Slope Colorado Oil & Gas Association, noted how regulatory uncertainty at both state and federal levels makes it tough for companies to plan and carry out energy projects.
“What we’re seeing is a six-month to a year timeline for permits, when it used to take only 60 to 90 days,” Meira said. “We’ve had zero leases on federal lands on the Western Slope under this administration. This is unacceptable.”
Meira also underscored how the absence of new leases on federal lands has hurt rural communities.
“Without new leases on federal lands, we’re seeing a decline in production, and that hurts our rural communities the most,” she said. “I don’t think people realize how much impact our activity has financially on our community — it’s schools, hospital districts, even mosquito districts.”
Jeff Hurd calls for energy policy that considers rural burdens
Jeff Hurd, an attorney and Republican nominee for the 3rd District seat in Congress presently held by Boebert, criticized current energy policies and the harmful impact they’ve had on rural communities. He pointed out the cost of shutting down power plants.
“Decommissioning them before their life cycle is complete is placing a huge burden on rural electric customers,” he said. “It’s the rural families that are paying for these decisions, not the investors.”
He added: “It’s the rural electric cooperatives that are paying the cost of these changes, and they have to pass those costs on to their customers, who are already struggling with higher energy bills.”
Hurd stressed the need for a responsible shift to renewables. It must not overburden communities that rely on affordable, reliable energy, he said. He also noted that energy demand, especially from data centers, is rising while reliable energy sources are being retired, making the problem worse.
Protecting public lands from monument designation
Sean Pond, a leader of the Halt the Dolores initiative, warned about the risks the proposed Dolores National Monument poses to local land use, energy development and ranching.
“This land is already protected. It doesn’t need more designations. It needs proper management,” Pond said.
He added that the proposed Dolores proclamation overlooks local communities.
“The people in these areas are forgotten,” he said. “They don’t listen to us when special interests come in with their money and charm.”
Navigating regulatory hurdles in farming and ranching
Bonnie Brown-Eddy, of the Colorado Wool Growers Association, spoke about the challenges in Colorado’s agriculture, particularly how regulations are squeezing farms and ranches.
“Farm and ranch families make up less than 2% of the U.S. population, yet we receive only 15 cents of every retail dollar spent on food,” Brown-Eddy explained.
She noted the regulatory challenges facing local communities.
“When you take away grazing, timber, and mining, you’re taking away our livelihoods,” she said. “We’ve managed this land for generations, but now they want to come in and tell us how to do it? It’s insulting.”
Water challenges and infrastructure in Western Colorado
Raquel Flinker, a senior water resources engineer, discussed the importance of water projects to the region.
“Water is the lifeblood of Colorado. We need to invest in infrastructure and ensure that projects like the Project 7 Regional Water Supply Program are fully funded and implemented,” she said. “Our goal is to protect the Gunnison River Basin and maintain a sustainable water supply for all users.”
She acknowledged the role of federal representatives like Boebert in securing funding and legislative support for key water infrastructure initiatives.
The future of Western Colorado depends on thoughtful legislative action, responsible energy policies and sustainable land and water management., the panel said.
They say decisions, based on the needs of those working the land and producing energy, will empower Coloradans to thrive.