Recreation and Wildlife Conflicting On Upper Slate River

An increase in the number of river users on the Upper Slate River from the Gunsight Bridge to the town of Crested Butte is creating a conflict between recreation and wildlife. The Crested Butte Land Trust, who manages lands in this corridor, says they need to work towards a solution that takes into account a new and rapidly growing use - paddleboarding - while stewarding for wildlife and ranching along the waterway. Courtney Burton of CB SUP - a paddleboard rental company - believes there a solution to reducing the conflict between recreation and wildlife can be found through education, awareness, discouraging use of the river when necessary, and by spreading use away from the waterway.