What matters for Oak Creek

I've lived in rural mountain communities for over twenty years. Like Oak Creek, these communities were developed to support workers and families in the mining and timber industries. Over time, the coal resources were no longer plentiful; the virgin timber had been clear-cut, and these industries and thousands of residents moved on, leaving behind struggling local economies, unique mountain cultures, and wild and vast landscapes. But why did some folks decide to stay and plant generational roots rather than follow the industries that financially supported them? I know that's a loaded question, but I believe the answer is simple: the mountains and valleys called to them, just as the Allegheny Mountains called to me at nineteen when I left my childhood home in Champaign, Illinois.

I can't fault folks for wanting to visit and relocate to rural mountain landscapes like Oak Creek; I am one of them. I love skiing, hiking long-distance, and paddling lakes and rivers as a family. The close and ample access to public lands was one of the reasons we settled in South Routt. But this love that attracts folks like myself to this area is almost becoming our demise. Adventure travel and tourism have proven to revitalize struggling economies. Still, they can also lead to overdevelopment and population explosions that stress local infrastructure, public safety and services, and the overall quality of life in rural living. Oak Creek is in a unique position, though. We can learn from others' mistakes, and I hope we can agree preserving Oak Creek's local, small-town way of living is critically important to protect.