The Colorado Air Quality Control Commission, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Air Pollution Control Division, the Environmental Protection Agency (Region 8), and the National Park Service’s Air Resources Division have been named the recipients of the 2007 Rocky Mountain National Park Stewardship Award.
The National Park Service presents this award to outstanding individuals and organizations that contribute significantly to the stewardship of the park and the surrounding environment. All of these agencies were selected for this award in recognition of their collaborative support in advancing the long-term protection of the park by assisting in preparing the park’s nitrogen deposition reduction plan.
On August 16th, the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission endorsed the plan, representing a significant milestone concerning nitrogen deposition issues at the park. The state, the EPA and the NPS worked collaboratively to develop the plan, which included a public participation process facilitated by the Colorado Air Quality Control Commission. A memorandum of understanding was utilized to guide the development of the plan.
“There is still a long way to go to achieve the goals, but an important framework has been established,” said superintendent Vaughn Baker. “The agencies believe this strategy has the potential to provide benefits in the near term to reducing nitrogen deposition. The nitrogen deposition reduction plan for the park will hopefully put us on the path to reducing the effects of nitrogen on the park's ecosystems. We are proud to partner with these state and federal agencies to help protect the resources of this great park.”
Past recipients of the park’s stewardship award include:
the towns of Estes Park and Grand Lake, for support in advancing the long-term protection of Rocky Mountain National Park;
the Bureau of Land Management’s Kremmling Field Office for coordinating a complicated land exchange that enabled the park to preserve and protect a particular tract of land in its undisturbed state for wildlife habitat;
the National Trust for Historic Preservation for the protection of the McGraw Ranch Historic District and other historic resources in the park;
the Rocky Mountain Nature Association for preserving natural and cultural resources and contributing greatly to the education of millions of people who visit the park and for its lasting and outstanding contributions to the mission of the park;
the Estes Valley Land Trust, for preserving open space in the Estes Valley and for adding to the park through protecting adjacent lands; and
the Estes Park Chapter, League of Women Voters, for its critical role in achieving a ban on commercial tour overflights above Rocky Mountain National Park.
