| Week Eight November 12 - November 18 | ||||
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| The Schwartz rig at night [11-17-07] |
| Entry - 11-00-07
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Stakeholder Relations called this week and
reported no changes. |
| Entry 11-17-07 |
Canary Watch "Canary Watch" has begun. We suspected it would only be a matter of time - and time is up. Click here for details |
Entry - 11-14-07
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Elk
Letter Forwarded to BLM On the 14th, I sent the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) a copy of the letter regarding protection for the elk herd which I had previously sent to other agencies and authorizing parties. The BLM has a great deal of authority in allowing disruption to elk herds within a federal unit. [for more information on a federal unit, please see Citizen Resource Guide and Federal Unit visual aid]. In other areas of this region, the BLM has restricted drilling activities during sensitive times of the year for elk populations. As of the end of the week - no word from BLM on whether they will step in to protect this herd. To see a copy of the letter, click here. I've added Dean Riggs from the Colorado Department Of Wildlife (DOW) to the Beacon page. He has been the only one to respond to the letters I sent out asking for help for the elk herd which use the Schwartz site and surrounding area for critical winter habitat [migration, forage, calving]. He may be limited in what he and his division can do, but he is standing tall in a strong ill wind. His is a voice of concern for wildlife. Rock on Mr. Riggs. I've seen very slight bubbling in the old beaver pond this week - but only two eruptions and then nothing. I know there is a significant amount of trapped gas in the soil, so maybe it's only a matter of time before we see new activity there. But so far - so good. |
| Entry - 11-13-07
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Pond Update
Checked out the pond this week and was a little surprised to see such a
significant increase in bubbling. The photos are below. I cannot seem to
load video onto this particular web editing program, so an alternative is to
post it on MySpace - which I'll try to get around to when I get a
spare minute. |
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Here, left and below are 11-13-07 observations from the newly enlarged area of the beaver pond. |
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| Entry 11-18-07
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Note: The summary below each headline and corresponding date is my own account of the referenced article (strong editorial license included). Each article is, of course, recommended reading... if you're coming to this posting late, the Post Independent has an archive search feature.
In the Post
Independent... Industry consultant:
U.S. should tap gas resources
In the Post
Independent... Change in Garfield County land use code would
encourage solar power
In the Post
Independent... Drilling's cumulative impacts on habitat sounth
of Silt are worrying DOW I think it's a tragic shame that Mr. Hock doesn't see any practical way to mitigate impacts and is simply willing to allow the process involving the COGCC's pending rules changes which involve DOW and industry's input to "work its way through". These changes aren't expected to be in place until Summer of 2008. What about the elk herd this winter, Mr. Hock. Once again, it is policy which has driven even some small consideration on the part of industry to the table. I ask again, what about the elk this winter? According to the article, the question of cumulative impacts to wildlife arose earlier this year "when three wildlife conservation groups protested a BLM decision regarding a 139-well natural gas development project. The BLM found that the drilling by EnCana would have no significant environmental impacts." Yet, in the same article, Mr. Hampton, of the DOW, states: "When you start stacking relatively small impacts on relatively small impact, suddenly wildlife starts running out of habitat." Damn right it impacts wildlife. Period. An interesting side note is that the DOW is governed by the state of Colorado. The BLM - by the federal government. EnCana is in a position to defer drilling in this area, but will they? They are in a position to bring other solutions to the table, but will they? It doesn't appear so. And it pretty much figures.
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Entry - 11-18-07
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A new buck moves into Summerhawk. I've seen a lone buck three different times this week - the third time occurred today. He has taken up residence in Summerhawk valley. This buck may have lost his stature during a rutting (mating) season rivalry, or he could have been startled and separated from his herd during one of the hunting seasons. During hunts where multiple hunters are involved, one hunter may attempt to flush the herd from an area, running it past a waiting hunter who will then make the killing shot. In such cases, ATV use is not necessarily an uncommon tactic used to startle and flush the herd. The more startled a buck is, the less likely he is to pay attention to where he is leading or pushing his herd. Regardless of how this buck was separated, his chances of survival depend in many ways upon his union with a herd. Deer have an evolved habit of raising their heads
every 3 seconds or so from whatever foraging activity they are engaged in
(unless they happen to be foraging in the higher brush). They do this in
order to take stock of their surroundings and gauge unusual activity. This
astute pattern of observation protects them from the threat of predators, of which man,
mountain lion, bear, feral dogs, and even coyotes are considered. His
chances for survival, then, are reduced by the number within a herd he finds
himself without. For the sake of both the herd left without a buck this
hunting season, as well as this handsome guy milling around on the valley
floor, I hope he picks up the scent of the herd and falls in. Lion track spotted... A neighbor called this week to report a lion track found in the irrigation ditch running across both our properties. The six foot wide ditch makes a perfect run for coyotes, lions, and coons. The soft, dry silty soil of the ditch preserves a nearly perfect track. The track, he reported, was a big as a man's hand. That's a big cat. Generally, when one of us notes the presence of a mountain lion we share the news. This is because a big mountain lion can pose some interesting challenges to the unaware. Most lions will not bother humans, preferring to stay away from them; but, on occasion an old, wounded, hungry or young and inexperienced cat will venture near dwellings or outbuildings. Myself and my daughter once found ourselves the subject of a watchful cat from the canyon rim as we traversed the trail from the valley below. This cat seemed in good condition, but was definitely checking us out from a convenient and higher vantage point. Those that have lived with large cats in wild situations can often tell when one is near just by sensing it. We've lived with these cats for twenty years and there is no other energy like it. It feels as if someone is watching you, but it doesn't possess the same complicated presence of man. It is primal, direct and engaged, with a highly refined stealth. We both sensed it on our hike and looked up to the rim, where we saw the cat. Partially concealed by low cedar branches, it took a step forward, but then quickly turned away from the rim. Giving a lion time and space to evade an encounter can be a useful technique in avoiding confrontation. Never run from or turn your back on a lion, and while experts suggest that making yourself appear larger to a potential predator like a lion can also be a useful technique, I believe that animals are quite sensitive to physic intent. I've found (from experience) that communicating telepathically with an animal through strong visualization, confident projection and clear messaging can be infinitely more effective than crazed bodily movements. It's been my experience that, like humans, a wild animal prefers to not be threatened nor confused when faced with making an important decision. Though an implied sense of slight urgency can work in your favor! The rocky rim and slopes of Summerhawk valley is definitely mountain lion habitat. Their range within this environment is around 200 miles, and they generally swing by once or twice a year and hang out on the mountain for a couple of months. We've seen den areas in the cliffs and found areas where deer and wild turkeys have been ambushed. A lion track differs from a dog track in that it is more rounded in shape. Once, at the canyon rim to the North, we saw a perfect track about 4" across, where a large cat had leapt over a fallen log and caused a firm impression in the soft mud. It's an extraordinary feeling to place your hand in the print of as solitary, evasive and capable an animal as a mountain lion, who had occupied that very spot only perhaps moments before. The path that followed ahead of the track appeared an evasive one; and it's likely that our approach inspired the cat to leap over the log rather than negotiate a different, more leisurely path. The cougar, like many wild animals, must compete with human occupancy within their shrinking territories and is therefore considered an endangered North American species. We are honored to share this rugged and extraordinary place with lions. We, however, discourage personal and potentially threatening encounters by exercising common sense and allowing the cat its hours of preferred activity without our interference. Putting the chomp on any one of us is definitely off limits.
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| "Within a circle of one meter
You sit, pray and sing." ... "Now within a circle ten billion light years large -- Nanao Sakaki |
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All contents of this site, unless
otherwise noted are copyrighted by Lisa Bracken, 2007. All rights are
reserved. |
