A note from our Executive Director

I’m writing to provide an update on PCEC’s work over the past few weeks with community planning, flood response, and the state’s proposal to convert a section of public land in a critical wildlife corridor north of Emigrant to an industrial gravel operation.

A lot has happened. But first, how are you? 

The past few weeks have been tough here in Park County. I don’t think I am alone when I describe how I’ve been feeling – overwhelmed and heartbroken for our community. And at the same time, really proud. As floodwaters started to rise on the Yellowstone, people checked in with their friends and neighbors and rallied together in response. I heard from one rancher that because County Commissioner Clint Tinsley personally called her family, they were able to safely move their cows out of danger. In Livingston, people showed up and filled sandbags all day and worked to protect our most vulnerable friends and neighbors by reinforcing the levee late into the night. In Gardiner, Josh Wells walked through a flooded Yankee Jim Canyon to help take care of the community’s drinking water.

It was an incredible demonstration of the power of community. We should all be proud. The truth is, this is when we shine. We are a community that really cares about this place and the people who live here. 

It’s not the first time, and it won’t be the last time, that people have united to protect our home. Yet we still have a long road ahead. Over the past couple of weeks, more than 120 volunteers have signed up on PCEC’s volunteer list.

We are building community and working together, neighbor to neighbor. We are stronger when we work together. That’s my hope for our future.

The work ahead:

Update on the Ag and Residential Preservation Zoning District

We spent a fair amount of time with our members and community building support for the County's effort to put up guardrails on commercial and industrial development through the “Agriculture and Residential Preservation Zoning District.” 

The County Commissioners decided last Tuesday to stop working on the zoning district. 

This about-face was abrupt. In early June, the Commission said they fully supported moving forward with the new zoning district. Over the past couple years, we know dozens of you have attended a public meeting in support of the district, and more than 300 community members signed our petition expressing support for proactive planning. 

Although we are disappointed, after the events this month, we can see why they made this decision. The County is dealing with a natural disaster response, and they will need to divert significant staff time and resources to respond to the crisis at hand. 

What’s next:

Our problems with growth didn’t wash away with the floods. We can't quit. 

The County Commission meeting last week was a full house. The meeting was very civil, and most of the folks in the room said something very similar. No one wants the Commission to give up. 

People asked for a new and better process. After two years of Covid and a record-breaking flood, we need our Commission to commit to an inclusive and ground-up process that will guide responsible next steps to deal with a number of daunting issues: flood response, skyrocketing home prices, unplanned growth in our rural areas, and the never-ending threat of industrial development in an economy dependent on tourism and agriculture. 

Let's take this opportunity to reset, and start by talking about our shared values: this place, our quality of life, the river, open space, and public lands.

At PCEC, we're committing to working together with everyone – our friends, neighbors, city, county and partners. This isn’t about being for or against zoning, it’s about working together to protect what we love. 

Proposed gravel pit in Paradise Valley

If you missed our previous updates about the gravel pit, learn more on our website, here. 

Let’s be clear, there is a new and immediate need to rebuild roads in our community right now that will require gravel. However our research shows we already have at least twelve gravel operations in our community that are providing gravel for road repairs and rebuilding right now. Those are local folks and local jobs. That’s important work. We don’t need to industrialize public lands in the Paradise Valley to meet that need.

We live in the last intact temperate ecosystem with all of its endemic species in the Lower 48. This section of public lands provides a wildlife corridor from the Gallatin Range all the way to U.S. Highway 89. It is teeming with wildlife. It’s full of indigenous artifacts. This is not the place to mine gravel. 

Public comments are due to DNRC today. Add your name to our comment here. This is just the first opportunity to comment, there will be more.

For an update on our ongoing flood response and to sign up to volunteer, go here. 

We have a lot of work ahead. Let’s focus now on taking care of our neighbors and working together. 

In community,

Michelle