Sweetwater Lake · primary documents
Raptors · August 25, 2021
“Minimize development near these areas, including trail development, and maintain buffer zones during nesting periods.”
CPW Area 8 staff, after identifying Bald Eagle, Osprey, and Peregrine Falcon hunting and nesting areas.
Open CPW Area 8 commentsElk & mule deer · August 25, 2021
“Year-round disturbance in this area in the form of an admin/employee site would discourage use by elk, further reducing continually shrinking elk winter habitat.”
Area 8 also said the north side of the county road is winter ground, elk-calving ground, and deer-fawning ground.
Open CPW Area 8 comments, p. 2Agency standard · August 25, 2021
“CPW is attempting to bring deer and elk numbers back up in this DAU and as an agency we should set the example when it comes to development in sensitive habitat.”
The same comment recommends a December 1–June 15 closure for the proposed horse-camping and parking area.
Open CPW Area 8 comments, p. 2Planning sequence · November 12, 2021
“As a team, we are putting the cart before the horse by creating these illustrations ahead of performing property specific resource inventories and resource condition assessments.”
Jeff Thompson, CPW Resource Stewardship Program, on the concept facility-layout maps.
Open Jeff Thompson memorandum, p. 2Nest buffers · November 12, 2021
“This area falls within the CPW nest buffers of the bald eagle (400m) and peregrine falcon (800m) nests.”
Thompson’s comment on the proposed west-side water-access and day-use area.
Open Jeff Thompson memorandum, p. 3Seasons & distances · November 12, 2021
“Nesting bald eagles — nest buffer 400m; no surface occupancy from Dec 1 through July 31.”
“Nesting peregrine falcons - nest buffer 800m; no surface occupancy from March 15 through July 31.”Open Jeff Thompson memorandum, p. 4
CPW’s cooperating-agency request · August 5, 2024
“Adverse impacts to identified resources should be first avoided.”
“Applying & enforcing seasonal timing limitations on human activities in sensitive wildlife habitats;”
“Applying & enforcing no surface occupancy buffers to sensitive locations;”
Big game
“Thoughtful site design to avoid adverse impacts on big game current use of the parcel is critical.”
An earlier project warning · March 15, 2021
“Bald Eagle, and especially Osprey, are limiting to the point it likely goes against the recreation purpose for the acquisition.”
Forest Service leadership-meeting notes for Sweetwater Lake.
Open March 2021 leadership notesCPW’s site-specific conservation plan
The March 2024 Sweetwater Lake Property Resource Stewardship Plan identifies 33 raptor nests, including 11 active nests in 2022. It also identifies temporary raptor trail and lake-access closures during breeding season, plus seasonal public-access closures in sensitive elk and mule-deer habitat, as High-priority actions.
A written raptor rule exists elsewhere
Fishers Peak State Park
CPW’s Fishers Peak regulation directs visitors to remain outside a posted one-half-mile Peregrine Falcon nest buffer from March 15 through July 31.
Open Fishers Peak regulationSweetwater Lake
CPW has documented the nests, distances, sensitive seasons, elk winter habitat, calving ground, and deer-fawning ground. The Commission should require CPW to state the Sweetwater protections it supports—and where they will be binding.
Use the Commission talking pointsUse the record
Direct quotes, specific requests, and the Commission’s official public-comment channel are more useful than a popularity contest.