HomeMy WebLinkAbout03 March hrs minutes 20241
HEALTHY RIVERS AND STREAMS CITIZENS ADVISORY BOARD
Regular Meeting March 21, 2024 4:00 PM
123 Emma Road, 2nd Floor Basalt, CO 81621
River Board members present: Chris Wheatley, Bill Jochems, Chris Lemons, Kirstin Neff, Wendy Huber.
Maciej Mrotek arrived at 4:05
River Board members absent: Andre Wille
Attendees in addition to presenters: Lisa MacDonald, Lisa Tasker, Laura Makar,
Media Present: Heather Sackett
Board Comment: Chair Huber complimented all the board members who participated in the on-mountain interviews
organized by Matt Annabel and Aspen 82, and emphasized the challenge of the early hour of the day one needed to
commit to in order to attend. Lisa MacDonald mentioned that BOCC member Kelly McNichols Kury participated that
very morning discussing the Wild & Scenic efforts to date. Chair Huber, Ms. Neff and Mr. Lemons are all still scheduled
to appear for the last interviews over the next couple weeks.
Public Comment: None
Additions/Deletions to the Agenda: None
Approval of the minutes from February 15, 2024
Ms. Neff moved to approve the minutes from February 15. 2024. Mr Mrotek seconded the motion. The motion passed 6/0.
Processes for funding requests outside of established protocols- Staff
Chair Huber began by thanking staff for the extensive memo on this topic and the coverage of the past activities of the
board related to funding requests. The board discussed the memo provided by staff related to historical funding and
found within the meeting packet. Some history, the processes and key discussion points related to how funding
requests have been handled by the board were provided. Listed in the memo were all grant awards to date, denied
grants, and awarded sponsorships. The catalyst for this agenda item was the concern of how the board handles
requests for funding outside of the scheduled Spring and Fall grant cycles.
The Beaver Briefing – Staff
Staff reviewed various organizations and efforts underway across the country, especially in the Northwest U.S., to
support and mimic beaver activities on streams and rivers. Ms Neff suggested the board eventually look even more
deeply into lessons learned from elsewhere and what can be incorporated into their efforts to support beavers within
the Roaring Fork Watershed. What is unique about this watershed that is important to future projects? In general, how
are local landowners already interacting with beavers and is this an issue? Who is handling beaver conflicts now and
how are they being handled? Is that information available? Ms Neff suggested an individual who was on the Front
Range and has been involved with Defenders of Wildlife and bringing in someone like him to the valley. Staff mentioned
the intention to have a local event eventually that can do just that, answer questions from all the organizations involved
in the valley who are excited to enable everything available to them in order to increase and help beavers. Mention of
the Low Tech Process Based Restoration Workshop June 17 and 18 at the CMC Spring Valley Campus was made and
board members were invited to register and attend.
2
Monthly Staff Report
Staff provided an update on projects and work as contained in the report in the Board’s packet. The Crystal Wild and
Scenic Stakeholder’s shift to three subcommittees was discussed along with a subcommittee effort at investigating the
possibility of a “peaking” instream flow water right.
Open Discussion –
Discussed were the draft bills in the state house and senate being created to attempt to cover wetlands now missing
protections since the Supreme Court Sackett VS EPA decision. Staff discussed the county’s intent to support the bill in
the House introduced by Speaker McCloskey and the Governor’s office and not the bill in the Senate. Staff mentioned
the intent to help create a letter of support for the board to submit to the state.
Ms. Neff mentioned the sale of the Sanders Ranch and the article in the Aspen Daily News where the new owners are
quoted as looking to do a collaborative visioning process for the property. Cattle Creek and its confluence with the
Roaring Fork River are on the property with the riparian area along the Roaring Fork encumbered by a conservation
easement held by the Roaring Fork Conservancy. Healthy Rivers may have an opportunity to get involved with an
ecological lift/improvement of riparian corridor amenities for this degraded section of Cattle Creek and visible to
travelers of HWY 82. Mr Jochems said the irrigation water was intended to be stripped off the property by Union Oil in
the 1970’s and he was involved with that effort.
Mr. Jochems moved to adjourn the meeting. Mr Mrotek seconded the motion. The motion passed 6/0.
The meeting adjourned at approx. 6:10 pm.
Approved: Attest:
Wendy Huber – Chair Lisa Tasker