HomeMy WebLinkAbout09 Sept hrs minutes 2023
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HEALTHY RIVERS AND STREAMS CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD
Regular Meeting September 19, 2023 4:00 PM
123 Emma Road, 2nd Floor Basalt, CO 81621
River Board members present: Wendy Huber, Chris Wheatley, Chuck Ogilby, Bill Jochems
River Board members absent: Chris Lemons, Andre Wille
Attendees in addition to presenters: Lisa Tasker, Lisa MacDonald, John Ely (left at 5:55PM), Laura
Makar, Matt Annabel, Heather Sackett came later in the meeting
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Board Comment: Mr. Jochems stated “maintain and improve water quality and quantity”.
Public Comment: None
Additions/Deletions to the Agenda: None.
Approval of the Minutes 4.20.23 and 7.20.23
Mr. Wheatley moved to approve the minutes of August 17, 2023. Mr. Jochems seconded the motion. The motion passed
4/0. Ms. Neff abstained as she was absent from the August meeting.
The grant presenters were not in attendance after approval of the minutes, so Chair Huber moved to the next items on
the agenda.
Speaker Series Discussion- Healthy Rivers Board- Chair Huber suggested the board pursue a living author and ask
them to come and present to the community. Mr. Wheatley suggested that Explorer Booksellers is always looking for
those people. The discussion then moved to the next agenda item.
Community Reads Initiative- Healthy Rivers Board- Ms. Huber again described the board finding an author related
to the boards efforts in water and then having them come and speak to us in a venue in Aspen or somewhere else and
inviting the community to join. Ms. Neff asked if we have the outreach to ask the community to join us and Matt Annabel
suggested if the community is interested, they will come but if it is a series you may just get the same people to come.
Ms. Neff suggested this idea is good for outreach to adult. Chair Huber suggests homework is for the board to find
books they would suggest and Laura Makar suggests we investigate the Pitkin County Library and Aspen Word’s
Annual Community Read and talk to them. Mrs. Neff suggests we consider The Water Knife, a gripping fictional story
about the future of water in the Southwest.
EcoFlight Grant Application-Aerial Advocacy for Protecting the Crystal River. EcoFlight’s Conservation Program
Manager Lea Linse spoke to the board describing EcoFlight’s desire to continue overflights of the Crystal River with
increased emphasis on media coverage of the current stakeholder efforts to explore federal Wild and Scenic
designation. They intend to focus on continued education of the broader public on Wild and Scenic federal designation
and on participants of the current ongoing facilitated stakeholder process including elected decision makers. The
board will be voting on the request for $35,000 at their next meeting in October.
East Mesa Water Company- Sinkhole- Richard McIntyre, representing the ten shareholders on the East Mesa ditch,
described how a large sinkhole formed on the last third of their ditch on Sept-06-2023 impairing water delivery ever
since. Approximately 250 acres were described as losing access to water with 360 acres out of the 740 total unaffected.
Tim Nieslanik was also present to answer questions as his property resides along the lower reaches of the ditch and is
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therefore particularly impacted. The ditch company had just reached out to the Colorado Water Conservation Board
last week and received the okay for a loan of $414,000 (plus a 1% fee for staff time). Mr. McIntyre said the ditch co still
owes $287,000 from their last loan for ditch improvements from the CWCB. The path forward for repairs is dependent
on the findings by geophysicist consultants and their schedule is full for several weeks. They are also in discussions
with the Colorado River Conservation District regarding application to their Community Fund for potentially > $50,000
grant. The intent to do some work “in-house” was also described by Mr. McIntyre as a pursuit to potentially decrease
overall costs of repairs. There were four Feasibility Cost Estimates described in their handouts with costs ranging from
$340,800 to $414,000. They also are in conversations with their insurance company regarding any coverage and they
continue to work with the NRCS on various other irrigation issues. They will come back for a formal request for a grant
from this board after they have the geophysicists report and therefore understand the scope/costs of the project in
more detail.
Healthy Rivers 2024 Draft Budget -
Staff provided 2024 budget information to the Board. Recent sales tax estimates for the future were provided along
with a detailed budget worksheet. The board proposed a new line item be added for $150,000 for “Infrastructure
Partnerships”, in reference to projects focused on irrigation efficiency and related items.
Staff Report –
Staff provided an update on projects and work as contained in the report in the Board’s packet.
Open Discussion –
Chair Huber reminded the board to continue to pursue the Speaker Series idea and the Community Reads Initiative
with some discussion about a new venue in Carbondale near True Nature selling books and hosting authors.
Mrs. Neff moved to adjourn the meeting. Mr. Wheatley seconded the motion. The motion passed 5/0.
The meeting adjourned at approx. 6:32 pm
Approved: Attest:
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Wendy Huber – Chair Lisa Tasker