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STATE WILDLIFE AREA TO BE RENAMED IN HONOR OF FORMER BIOLOGIST
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The Colorado Division of Wildlife has renamed one of its state wildlife areas after a long-time dedicated employee who died while in service to the agency.

The Lone Cone State Wildlife Area, located in Dolores County, has been renamed the Jim Olterman-Lone Cone State Wildlife area.

Olterman started his career in Ridgway as a district wildlife manager. During his career he moved on to become a terrestrial biologist in Montrose and then the senior terrestrial biologist for the DOW's southwest region. Olterman also served as a pilot for the agency. He died in September 2002 when his plane crashed while stocking fish in a high lake in the Sangre de Cristo mountains.

Olterman was instrumental in numerous major projects for the DOW. These included: the lynx reintroduction program; projects to relocate bighorn sheep and desert bighorn sheep; and the moose reintroduction effort.

Rick Kahn, terrestrial management supervisor for the DOW, supervised Olterman during much of his career. He said that Olterman worked passionately for wildlife.

"He was only constrained by what he thought was best for wildlife," Kahn said. "He spoke up about a lot of issues and he always spoke passionately and eloquently."

Tom Spezze, southwest regional manager, praised Olterman for his dedication.

"He was as dedicated a wildlife manager as you will ever find," Spezze said. "Above all he was a real field man who knew what was best for wildlife. His heart was always with the resource."

Olterman spent his entire career in southwest Colorado and was very fond of the Lone Cone area. This remote state wildlife area totals 5,000 acres at elevations that range from 8,000 feet to 9,000 feet, and is almost completely surrounded by other public lands. It provides great habitat for deer, elk, bear, grouse, birds and other wildlife.

A dedication ceremony to rename the area will be held at 2 p.m. on Sept. 12 at the Lone Cone cabin. The public is invited to attend the dedication ceremony.

To got to the area from Norwood: go 1.5 miles east on Colorado Highway 145 to USFS Road 610; then go 24 miles south.

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