Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout05 May hrs mintues 2023 1 HEALTHY RIVERS AND STREAMS CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD Regular Meeting May 18, 2023 4:00 PM 123 Emma Road, 2nd Floor Basalt, CO 81621 River Board members present: Wendy Huber, Chris Lemons, Kirstin Neff, Chuck Ogilby, Bill Jochems, Andre Wille, Chris Wheatley River Board members absent: Attendees in addition to presenters: Lisa MacDonald, Lisa Tasker, Diane Schwener, Heather Sackett, Kate Hudson _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Board Comment: Mr. Wille encouraged members to attend a protest on June 6th at noon regarding the proposed crude oil train’s potential for derailment and harm to the river. Andre’s wife is organizing her group, Women for Wild Lands in conjunction with the local 350.org non-profit. The trains would ship crude oil through Glenwood Canyon and along the Colorado River to refineries in the U.S. The Unita Railway Basin Project could send trains 10 times a day through the canyon. Mr. Wille also noted the upper wave in the Whitewater Park is the best it’s ever been. He was on the wave a few days prior to the meeting and noted it was surfable and playable. Ms. Neff mentioned how pleased she was to attend the May 11th Roaring Fork Watershed Summit, organized by April Long and funded by the Healthy Rivers Board. She is also looking forward to the report expected after a summary is done of attendees top five watershed priorities for the next few years. Healthy Rivers gave out hats and showed a video update done by Back 40 Stories of our activities. Public Comment: Kate Hudson appeared in the professional capacity as an attorney with the Waterkeeper Alliance Ms. Hudson mentioned the effort to reduce methane emissions is probably one of the most significant activities we can do to try to reduce climate change in the short term. Ms. Hudson came to comment on the proposed methane capture project up in Coal Basin in the area of the old abandoned coal mine outside of Redstone. She has been following the efforts closely. Ms. Hudson expressed concerns about that project both as a resident of the valley and a professional working on these issues. Ms. Hudson proposed it is not the right project and it is clearly in the wrong place. Ms. Hudson stated the amount of methane that is going to be collected is relatively small, comparing it to other unaddressed areas of the state, and believes there are other places in Colorado where the money that is going into the Coal Basin effort could be better spent. Ms. Hudson stated her wish that USFS would direct the applicants to present the entire project, instead of current piecemeal approach now being used for the federal approval processes. The potential for opening the now reclaimed mining roads and those potential impacts to the river are a real possibility, if the bigger project is ultimately approved. Ms. Hudson is asking what makes sense for the river and the entire community and how do we want to see our federal dollars spent? Additions/Deletions to the Agenda: None Outstanding Waters and the Colorado River Basin Outstanding Waters Coalition – Chad Rudow, Water Quality Program Manager, Roaring Fork Conservancy- Chad presented, not just on behalf of the Roaring Fork Conservancy, but on behalf of the entire Colorado River Basin Outstanding Waters Coalition (CRBOWC). Members include American Rivers, American Whitewater, Audubon Rockies, Colorado Trout Unlimited, Eagle River Watershed Council, Friends of the Yampa, The Pew Charitable Trusts, Roaring Fork Conservancy, Trout Unlimited, Western Resource 2 Advocates and Wilderness Workshop. The candidate reaches within Pitkin and Eagle Counties were presented. Outstanding Waters is a designation potentially awarded to reaches of rivers or other bodies of water with high water quality and exceptional ecological or recreational significance that are deemed worthy of increased protections by the state. Maps were provided of the reaches in the packet and presentation and depicted Avalanche Creek, Hunter Creek, Middle and South Thompson Creek, Woody Creek, and then in Eagle County, Big Alkali Creek and Brush Creek. Water Quality sampling will continue over the next year and depending on results, these reaches could be designated next year. An OW designation is made through the Water Quality Control Commission (Commission) in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE). Rulemakings are held on a rotating basis throughout the state whereby the process is spread over three years from scoping to final action. The board was asked to provide a letter next spring supporting the designation for appropriate timing in the efforts. Chad will also be presenting to the BOCC in the next few weeks. Healthy Rivers Board Grant Committee Discussion – Kirstin Neff, Wendy Huber, Chris Lemons The Grant Committee presented survey results that were sent to past grant recipients. Only four of the 21 surveys were returned. Discussions regarding dollar amounts, small dollar grants, the process of hearing the grants and decision times were all discussed. Ms. Neff will draft new templates and criteria for further discussion at the next meeting. The Board thanked the committee for the hard work on this. Healthy Rivers Board Scholarship Committee – Andre Wille, Kirstin Neff Mr. Wille and Ms. Neff met to review and select winning applications. Twenty applications were received from all eligible high schools. The winners are as follows: Gabriella Yturri – Aspen High School India Butchart – Basalt High School Andrew Sebastian Bartnik – Watershed Wide – Glenwood Springs High School Staff Report – Lisa MacDonald and Lisa Tasker Staff provided an update on projects and work as contained in the report in the Board’s packet. Election of the Chair and Vice-Chair Chairman Lemons nominated Wendy Huber to be the Chair. Mr. Jochems moved to nominate Ms. Huber as the Chair and Ms. Neff as the Vice-Chair. Mr. Wille seconded the motion. The motion passed 7. Open Discussion – None Chairman Lemons moved to adjourn the meeting. Ms. Huber seconded the motion. The motion passed 7/0. The meeting adjourned at approx. 6:45 pm Approved: Attest: ______________________________________________ _________________________________________________ Chris Lemons - Chairman Lisa Tasker