Garfield County urges U.S. Forest Service to select Alternative 3 for Sweetwater Lake

PRESS RELEASE
September 23, 2026

The Garfield County Board of County Commissioners is urging the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) to select Alternative 3 as the preferred and final alternative for the Sweetwater Lake Recreation Management and Development Project.

The county says Alternative 3 meets and exceeds the forest service’s stated purpose and need, while providing expanded public access and recreation, without turning Sweetwater Lake into a highly developed destination.

As a Cooperating Agency under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), Garfield County has submitted detailed comments urging the forest service to retain federal management, protect the lake’s natural and cultural resources, and ensure that all alternatives receive objective consideration before a final decision is made.

“Sweetwater Lake has already achieved the central goal that united the community: the property is publicly-owned and protected from the private development proposals that threatened it for decades,” said Tom Jankovsky, chair of the Garfield County Board of County Commissioners. “The next decision should expand safe public access while preserving the landscape, wildlife, historic character and rural experience that made the lake worth saving.”

Alternative 3 provides lower-impact public recreation
According to figures reviewed by the county from the Draft Environmental Impact Statement, Alternative 3 would result in approximately 33 acres of short-term disturbance and 6 acres of long-term disturbance, compared with approximately 100 acres of short-term disturbance and 40 acres of long-term disturbance under Alternatives 2 and 4.

Projected annual visitation under Alternative 3 is approximately 13,000 to 26,000 visitors, compared with approximately 60,000 to 78,000 visitors under the more developed alternatives.

The county believes the lower level of use is better suited to Sweetwater Lake’s remote location, narrow rural roads, wildfire exposure, emergency response limitations, geologic hazards and sensitive natural and cultural resources.

Alternative 3 would retain U.S. Forest Service management, preserve the existing White River National Forest management framework, and avoid the forest plan amendment contemplated under Alternatives 2 and 4.

Garfield County asks for review of USFS purchase of Sweetwater Lake property
Garfield County is calling for further review of the legal, financial, and procedural circumstances surrounding the U.S. Forest Service’s 2021 acquisition of Sweetwater Lake using $8.5 million in Federal Land and Water Conservation Funds. The county has raised questions about the reported $6.25 million Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) loan used for the initial $7.1 million purchase, the subsequent transfer to the USFS, the use and representation of donor funds, retained water rights, the property’s valuation, and compliance with federal land acquisition and planning requirements.

The county also objects to the lack of consultation regarding the subsequent state park and recreation plans, and believes these unresolved issues should be fully examined before decisions are made regarding future development at Sweetwater Lake.

County raises concern about predetermined outcome
Garfield County is also asking the USFS to address what the county describes as a significant procedural concern: detailed records cited in comments obtained via a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request indicate that the forest service and Colorado Parks and Wildlife were discussing and planning a state park management outcome before the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) process had begun evaluating alternatives and invited meaningful public review. Based on this evidence, the county raises the serious question about whether the proposed action selected by the USFS in the DEIS was predetermined.

“Alternative 3 is not a compromise — it is the alternative that accomplishes the mission,” Jankovsky said. “It meets and exceeds the forest service’s purpose and need by providing safe public access, sustainable recreation and long-term resource protection. It also honors what the public supported through Save the Lake: federal ownership, protection from intensive development and preservation of the landscape and experience that made Sweetwater Lake so special.”

The Save the Lake commitment
The county maintains that Alternative 3 is consistent with the fundamental objectives presented to the public during the Save the Lake campaign: prevent private development, secure public ownership, protect the lake and surrounding landscape, and provide appropriate public access and recreation within the White River National Forest.

The county says that fundamental objective has now been achieved. Sweetwater Lake is publicly-owned, and protected from the private development proposals that threatened the property for decades.

The county believes the next step should build on that success by expanding public access and recreation, while preserving the landscape and rural experience that made the lake worth saving.

County requests additional review
In addition to selecting Alternative 3, Garfield County is asking the forest service to:

• Complete site-specific geotechnical analysis before issuing a Record of Decision.
• Conduct meaningful consultation regarding historic and cultural resources under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
• Address traffic, wildfire, emergency response and resource capacity concerns.
• Explain how the agency’s preferred alternative was developed, and demonstrate that public input can still affect the final decision.
• Address the disposition of the $1.1 million stewardship fund and the water rights associated with the original property.

County land use authority remains separate
Garfield County’s federal comments do not constitute a decision or prejudgment of any future county land use application. If the forest service authorizes management or development by Colorado Parks and Wildlife or another entity and a proposal triggers Garfield County’s 1041 regulations, the applicant would be required to obtain county land use approval before development within county jurisdiction.

Any such application would be considered by the Board of County Commissioners in its quasi-judicial capacity, based solely on the application, evidence presented at public hearings and the applicable Garfield County Land Use and Development Code criteria.

Garfield County is urging the U.S. Forest Service to select Alternative 3 and build on the successful public acquisition of Sweetwater Lake by expanding recreation opportunities, while protecting the natural, cultural and rural character that made the property worth saving.

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