Walt Hecox, the Rockies Project Faculty Director, has served on a Steering Committee to draft content for and solicit signatories for a letter to President Obama at this critical time: deep fiscal dilemmas and an impending national election in 2012 combine to threaten the public lands in the Rockies.  Broad support exists for maintaining existing public lands managed under multiple-use, as is strongly supported by the Conservation in the West Survey results hosted by the Rockies Project.  The next annual Conservation Survey will be conducted in January 2012.
                Release of this letter to the president, signed by 100+ economists including 3 Nobel laureates, half located in the American West, seeks to inform public debate at this critical time.  The very context of the Rockies is inextricably intertwined with the exploration and settling of the West; uses and management change, but what has been steadfast for many decades is the value of these public lands for recreation and tourism, a stimulus to attracting employers and employees, and diverse local and regional economies adjacent to public lands involved in mining, agriculture, forestry, water, mineral and energy production.
                There can and should be a healthy debate about uses and management of public lands.   The fundamental purpose of the Colorado College Rockies Project is clear from our motto:
                RESEARCH—REPORT--ENAGE
Over 9 + years research by Rockies student researchers has shed light on a number of dimensions to our public lands and environment.