The area under discussion is comprised of the alpine meadow in the center of the picture, and some of the treed area to the left of the lake. To understand the immense travesty this village would bring, try to imagine this area filled with cheap condos, parking garages, restaurants and tourist stores.
Note the pink flags designating critical wetlands. Mr. McCombs wanted to avoid have to do an environmental impact statement on these wetlands by trying to have the land designated as "agricultural". This designation is ridiculous since he wants to build a city here!
Note again the pink wetland flags. Wetlands in high alpine meadows are critical for wildlife and for downstream water quality.
This high-altitude lake is a refuge for Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout. The impact of 10,000 residents in the immediate vicinity bodes ill for this species.
This area is already designated a Wildlife area. Putting 10,000 residents, most of them rich tourists from other states, will endanger the efforts to protect the native fish and wildlife in the area.
