Zane Kessler, Executive
Director
Board of Directors:
Chuck Ogilby, President
Avalanche Ranch
Jason Sewell, Vice-Pres.
Sunfire Ranch
Judy Fox-Perry, Secretary
Water Gap Ranch
Ian Carney, Treasurer
Two Shoes Ranch
Dorothea Farris, Member-at-
Large, Colorado Natural Areas Program
Sue Anschutz-Rodgers,
CrystalRiver Ranch
Clare Bastable,
GarfieldCounty Energy
Advisory Board
Jock Jacober,
CrystalRiver Meats
Brook LeVan,
Sustainable Settings
Marj Perry,
ColdMountain Ranch
Office:
711 Main St.
PO Box 2045
Carbondale, CO81623
(970) 355-4223
/ MISSION
The mission of the Thompson Divide Coalition is to secure permanent protection from oil and gas development on Federal lands in the Thompson Divide Area including the Thompson Creek and Four Mile Creek watersheds, as well as portions of the Muddy Basin, Coal Basin, and the headwaters of East Divide Creek.
To achieve this goal, the Thompson Divide Coalition is seeking federal legislation to permanently withdraw the area from availability for future leasing. The coalition is also working with current leaseholders to retire existing leases.
The Thompson Divide area includes over 221,500 acres of Federal land in PitkinCounty (88,100 acres), GunnisonCounty (51,700 acres), GarfieldCounty (43,500 acres), MesaCounty (30,500), and DeltaCounty (7,700). There are 81 leases in the area covering approximately 105,000 acres. Half of the leases are in roadless areas and do not contain surface stipulations. There are two established units, the WolfCreek and RaggedMountain units. The Wolf Creek Unit is a designated storage unit and does not produce oil and gas.
The Thompson Divide Area is defined by abundant wildlife and wildlife habitat, essential watersheds, and environmental, economic, agricultural, recreational and social values. The area’s clean water, clean air, rural and agricultural heritage, and recreational and sporting activities would be negatively impacted by oil and gas development. Colorado River cutthroat, a species of special concern in Colorado, can be found in two forks of Thompson Creek. The area is an important migration corridor and provides key habitat for lynx, moose, bear, deer, elk, and mountain lions. The area is one of the last great swaths of undeveloped mid-elevation forest land in Colorado.
The Thompson Divide Area provides clean water for agricultural and domestic use. The North ForkValley, one of the most productive organic farming regions in the nation, is irrigated with water from the area. The lands provide crucial summer range for local ranchers with federal grazing permits. Access to nearby summer grazing lands allows ranchers to maintain their ranches as critical open space in the valleys.
The Thompson Divide area offers an array of recreational opportunities:
  • Area #43 is considered one of the best hunting units in the state, along with #521, #42 and #421.
  • Hikers, mountain bikers, dirt bikers, horseback riders, campers and anglers all enjoy the area.
  • The Sunlight to Powderhorn snowmobile route traverses the area from east to west.
  • The Thompson Creek Finns are a well-know sport-climbing destination. Ice climbing is a popular winter activity in the Hay Creek and CoalBasin watersheds.
  • Spring Gulch, a public Nordic ski area just outside Carbondale, is an enormous asset to the local economy as is Ski Sunlight, an alpine resort, near Glenwood Springs.
  • Tourism, Scenic Byway, and Aspen fall colors all support local economies.
The Thompson Divide Coalition believes that the values of these activities and the preservation of this unique area are greater than the potential value of oil and gas development in the area.

55 N. 4th St./PO Box 2045CarbondaleCO81623 (970) 355-4223