The history of Fort Carson expansion goes back nearly 40 years. In the late 1970’s opposition by citizens in Pueblo and El Paso Counties, who were concerned about negative economic impacts in their region, blocked a proposed expansion of Ft. Carson proper. Several years later the Piñon Canyon Maneuver Site (PCMS) was created 150 miles southeast of Ft. Carson where those who feared negative impacts would be out of sight and out of mind.
The creation of Piñon Canyon was possible only by means of the largest condemnation action in U.S. history. The Army promised economic stimulus, but the community of Southeastern Colorado has received only financial hardship from a 235,000 acre black-hole in an economy driven by land and water resources. Meanwhile, federal dollars have flowed into the Ft. Carson vicinity, creating dependency on the federal government. History is poised to repeat itself with a proposed expansion of PCMS. However, this time the Southeastern Colorado Community has rallied in unity and built a political platform to stop expansion.
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