Residents urge Montezuma County commissioners to scrutinize proposed National Conservation Area oversight

Two residents used the Montezuma County Board of County Commissioners’ public-comment period on Dec. 30 to press the board to oppose a proposed National Conservation Area (NCA) and its oversight structure.

Alan Mays of 21693 County Road 21 in Lewis told the board he agreed with his state House District 58 representative and was "100% against the NCA," saying existing protections and agency guidelines already protect river resources and that the key concern was who would sit on and control the NCA’s oversight committee. "My biggest concern with an NCA... is the controlling committee," Mays said, adding that some entities "say one good thing today and then change their mind down the road." He urged commissioners to look at the research and conversations that preceded the proposal.

Mike Lynch of 21730 County Road S echoed that concern, saying the oversight committee could remove local commissioners after it was established and that such authority would be "counterproductive" to the NCA’s stated goal of preserving local control.

Chair (unnamed) responded during commissioner reports by urging residents to "do their research and look at all the research and don't just listen to social media," and noted that the proposal is currently in Congress and said the area "is managed under Wild and Scenic right now. It is a federal project." No formal action on the NCA was taken at the meeting.

Why it matters: The structure and membership of any management or oversight body affect who makes decisions about land and river protections and how local uses are balanced with conservation goals. Commenters at the meeting framed the oversight committee as the central governance issue, expressing worry that outside interests could displace local control.

What the board did: The comments were part of the public-comment period; commissioners did not introduce or vote on any ordinance, resolution or formal position about the NCA during this meeting. The board closed public comment and proceeded to administrative and consent items.

Next steps: The chair asked residents to review prior meeting material on the topic; no vote or direction to staff was recorded in this meeting related to the NCA.