Stewardship while flying in Colorado

www.TreadLightly.org

Backcountry Stewardship

One of the best ways you can help is by being a good steward while using backcountry airstrips. This includes using existing campsites and fire pits, picking up after yourself (and others), managing personal waste, being respectful to others (and wildlife), and leaving the area better than you found it.

The BLM and USFS recommends that the best way we can maintain and preserve these airstrips is by forming active groups that will care for them and by policing ourselves.

Tread Lightly Principles

• Travel Responsibly on land by staying on designated road, trails and areas Go over, not around, obstacles to avoid widening the trails. Cross streams only at designated fords. When possible, avoid wet muddy trails. On water, stay on designated waterways and launch your watercraft in designated areas.
   
• Respect the rights of others including private property owners, all recreational trail users, campers, and others so they can enjoy their recreational activities. undisturbed. Leave gates as you found them. Yield right of way to those passing you or going uphill. On water, respect anglers, swimmers, skiers, boaters, divers, and those on or near shore.
   
• Educate yourself prior to your trip by obtaining travel maps and regulations from public agencies. Plan for your trip, take recreation skills classes, and know how to operate your equipment safely.
   
• Avoid sensitive areas on land such as meadows, lake shores, wetlands, and streams. Stay on designated routes. This protects wildlife habitats and sensitive soils from damage. Don't disturb historical, archaeological, or paleontological sites. On water, avoid operating your watercraft in shallow waters or near shore lines at high speeds.
   
• Do your part by modeling appropriate behavior, leaving the area better than you found it, properly disposing of waste, minimizing the use of fire, avoiding the spread of invasive species and repairing degraded areas.