Hatch town council member urges county to keep Proctor Canyon road open, citing tourism revenue

Russell Riggs, speaking for the Hatch Town Council, appealed to the Garfield County Commission to support keeping Proctor Canyon and other trail access points open for tourism and for annual ATV events that local businesses rely on.

"If we lose that half of the county of trails, we don't have those 45 or 50 vehicles to park in the parking lot . . . We lose those people stopping to fuel up or stopping to grab a burger," Riggs said, describing a local business owner's estimate that revenues rise about 40 percent during tour visits.

Riggs asked what the county could do to ensure continued access and maintenance; commissioners said they would respond to closures and use county equipment to repair washouts as needed. The Forest Service representative explained temporary gate closures in saturated or hazardous conditions are intended to prevent irreparable road damage and protect public safety, and said roads are checked regularly and reopened when safe.

Commissioners encouraged residents to call the county when they find gates closed and to work with county staff and the Forest Service to prioritize repairs and access.