Interior Department opening Colorado's North Park to gas and oil drilling

The North Park area holds a special place in my heart. It's the home of some wonderful fishing, but more importantly a place full of memories of great times with family and friends. It is also a place of unspoiled beauty which is now set to to be scarred by drilling pads, truck traffic and all the associated noise and dust.

Over the protests of conservation groups, federal land managers are moving to open 11,160 acres of North Park for gas and oil drilling.

The valley between the Zirkel and Medicine Bow mountains sustains antelope, elk, moose, bighorn sheep, raptors, trout and sage grouse.

LINK (Via: The Denver Post)