SLV GO! releases Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Survey

SAN LUIS VALLEY — The San Luis Valley Great Outdoors (SLV GO!) Coalition recently released the San Luis Valley Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Survey that will collect community input in regards to resident and visitor satisfaction, priorities, and perceptions of outdoor recreation and natural resource management in the SLV.

Survey participants will have the opportunity to win a gift card from Kristi Mountain Sports in Alamosa, a free ski or snowboard rental at 8200 sports in South Fork, or a half-day raft trip for two with Mountain Man Rafting out of South Fork. The survey will take approximately 15 minutes and is available in both English and Spanish. To take the survey, go to www.slvgo.com.

The SLV GO! Coalition is part of the Colorado Outdoor Regional Partnerships Initiative, a statewide initiative funded by Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Great Outdoors Colorado to support efforts that advance conservation and outdoor recreation planning at the regional level. The SLV GO! Coalition was selected as one of seven regional partnerships in 2021 to develop a regional conservation and recreation plan, in which regionally identified priorities will help inform the Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan. Through an extensive and inclusive public engagement process, including but not limited to the survey, the coalition is seeking community input to identify conservation and outdoor recreation priorities that will build the foundation of the valley-wide conservation and outdoor recreation plan. This plan will provide actionable strategies and tactics for coalition partners to ensure conservation and outdoor recreation are in balance.

In 2014, the SLV GO! Coalition underwent a similar process in which they developed the SLV Trails and Recreation Master Plan to lay the foundation for improving the San Luis Valley’s outdoor recreation opportunities. The plan sought to address common themes that emerged from public outreach and the 2014 survey:

  • The need for better information (e.g. maps, guides, signs) and more promotional media/tools to raise awareness of existing recreational opportunities.
  • The desire for more connectivity among communities and linkages between existing trail systems, towns and recreation areas.
  • The desire for more trails and a variety of trail experiences
  • The concern for lack of recreational activities and programs geared towards SLV youth
  • The desire for a wide range of recreational experiences across the Valley that caters to a broad base of residents and visitors.

Almost nine years later, it’s time for the coalition to revisit their work and see if SLV GO! and partners have made progress addressing these community needs. The only difference is that now, the SLV GO! Coalition is planning with conservation at the forefront. In addition to building increased awareness of the region’s recreation resources and facilitating greater exploration and enjoyment of the SLV’s outdoors, the coalition is asking our community “What are your conservation values, and how do we maintain these values while managing for increased recreation?”  The coalition recognizes proactive management solutions, combined with public education, are necessary to care for land, water and wildlife, and to provide the protections needed to maintain quality recreation opportunities.

For more information about the SLV GO! Coalition and the Colorado Outdoor Regional Partnership Initiative, visit www.slvgo.com.

The San Luis Valley Great Outdoors (SLV GO!) Coalition was formed in 2013 as a coalition by a group of citizens, educators, and community leaders who recognized the tremendous opportunity to enhance recreational experiences, improve wellness, and connect communities across the six-county region of the San Luis Valley in southern Colorado. Today, the coalition is a partnership between land management agencies, land trusts, local government, nonprofits, economic development agencies, agricultural entities, outdoor recreation users, sportsmen, and conservationists. Since the coalition’s formation in 2013, partner collaboration has been a focal point in outdoor recreational development while ensuring the long-term sustainability and conservation of our region.