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Wild Connections Conservation Plan
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WCCP complex map Jean Smith, Wild Connections
Interior Department Completes Removal of “Sq___” from Federal Use
WASHINGTON — The Department of the Interior today [9/8/2022] announced the Board on Geographic Names (BGN) has voted on the final replacement names for nearly 650 geographic features featuring the word sq___. The final vote completes the last step in the historic efforts to remove a term from federal use that has historically been used as an offensive ethnic, racial and sexist slur, particularly for Indigenous women. “I feel a deep obligation to use my platform to ensure that our public lands and waters are accessible and welcoming. That starts with removing racist and derogatory names that have graced federal locations for far too long,” said Secretary Deb Haaland... Together, we are showing why representation matters and charting a path for an inclusive America.” The list of new names can be found on the U.S. Geological Survey website with a map of locations.
New names were given to four locations in the WC region:
- Tabeguache Creek, a stream in Chaffee County at 38.583115 -106.081753
- Soapy Creek, a stream in Fremont County at 38.6063839 -105.5308298
- Evening Star Mountain, a summit in Teller County at 38.71480589 -105.1465493
- Maize Gulch, a valley inTeller County at 38.7309915 -105.1605981
- The WCCP is organized around major geographic features into 11 complexes Arkansas Canyons, Mosquito Range, Mt. Evans (Mount Blue Sky*) High Peaks, Pikes Peak Massif, Rampart Range, Sangre de Cristo, Sawatch Range, South Paak, South Platte Canyons, Spanish Peaks and Wet Mountains. They encompass the Pike-San Isabel National Forest (PSI), but are spread across the entire geography which includes BLM, National Park Service, State, County and privately owned lands. Management recommendations are intended only for the PSI and BLM lands. WCCP outline
- Introduction and description of the Pike-San Isabel National Forests and Comanche National Grasslands and general threats to public lands.
- Wild Connections methodology includes the components of the core reserve system and the three-track approach to network design.
- Forest-wide management recommendations for broad categories such as grazing, fire management, invasive species, etc.
- Thematic planning framework for management emphases on specific parcels of land across the forest, for example Wilderness, quiet use areas, motorized recreation, etc.
- Geographic complexes descriptions with ecology, natural values and a summary of management.
*Mount Blue Sky in line for name change
Mt. Evans is a step closer to being renamed Mount Blue Sky to honor Colorado's indigenous peoples. Clear Creek County Commissioners aproved the name change in March 2022 at the request of Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho tribal represenativies. The Arapaho were known as the Blue Sky People, and the Cheyenne hold an annual renewal of life ceremony called Blue Sky
Wild Connections sent a letter of support to the Colorado Geographic Naming Advisory Board, copied to Gov. Jared Polis and the U.S. Board of Geographic Names. The U.S. Board makes the final decision.
John Evans, Colorado’s second territorial governor, resigned after the 1864 U.S. cavalry massacre of more than 200 Arapaho and Cheyenne people, most of them women, children and the elderly, at Sand Creek in what is now southeastern Colorado. Today Sand Creek Massacre National Historic Site is a place of commemoration and healing. Source: The Colorado Sun