I am writing in response to, “Montezuma County irked by BLM map,” (Journal, Sept. 29). We’ve all come to know and love the public lands here in our backyard in Montezuma County. Whether mountain biking at Phil’s World or on a family outing in Mesa Verde National Park, our public lands provide an amazing quality of life for local residents and those that visit our area from around the world.

Those recreational activities are also an economic boon to companies such as ours — Osprey Packs — that design and sell gear for the enjoyment of the outdoors. In fact, travel and tourism employs more than 6,700 of us locally, and Mesa Verde National Park generates nearly $50 million in economic activity on its own.

However, there’s a lot of competing uses on our public lands, including oil and gas development. That’s why I was pleased to see the BLM’s Tres Rios Field Office begin a master leasing plan to help avoid conflicts before they start.

This effort is also a perfect opportunity for local stakeholders to engage and have meaningful input on what happens in the lands we all love and depend on. So why is Montezuma County taking a pass at giving local businesses and other stakeholders a seat at the table to help determine the future of our public lands?

Even if they don’t want to participate, our community values deserve to be heard.

I hope our county commissioners rethink their current position, and I’m glad that the BLM has provided this opportunity for recreation businesses like Osprey, and citizens like me, to get involved in determining the future of our public lands.

Mychal McCormick

Cortez