HomeMy WebLinkAboutWilderness Workshop Crystal River Wild and Scenic Campaign contract 2024 signed530 E. Main Street Suite 301 Aspen, CO 81611 970.309-2139 pitkincounty.com/healthyrivers
Grant Award 2024 Applicant: Wilderness Workshop Project: Campaign Support for the Crystal River Wild and Scenic Designation Amount: $35,000.00 Date: September 30, 2024 This Grant Agreement, is made this 30th day of September, 2024 by and between Wilderness Workshop (“WW”) PO BOX 1442 Carbondale, CO 81623 and the Pitkin County Healthy Rivers Board (“Pitkin County”) 530 E. Main Street Ste 301 Aspen, CO 81611. The purpose of the Grant Agreement is to provide a process for payment of public funds to be used exclusively for costs incurred by WW to support their Campaign for protection of 39 miles of the Crystal River with a federal Wild and Scenic River Designation. Specific support is provided for a myriad of efforts including strategic legislative, advocacy, organizing, and communications work to ensure no dams or out of basin diversions could be built and the river is managed to preserve the amazing recreational, ecological, and scenic values through a final objective of Wild and Scenic Designation. With the Crystal Wild and Scenic and other Alternatives Steering Committee stakeholder process reaching consensus in early 2024 to pursue three river protections tools for the Crystal River via subcommittees, including an intergovernmental agreement, an instream flow water right, and a proposal for a Wild and Scenic package, Wilderness Workshop will co-chair the W&S Subcommittee and participate in the other two in addition to their numerous on-going advocacy efforts listed below. WW intends to play a leadership role in the work by bridging the gap between National Organizations, local groups, grassroots activists and local governments. Through this Agreement, Wilderness Workshop and Pitkin County have agreed that:
WW shall: Overall continue their robust public relations efforts including:
530 E. Main Street Suite 301 Aspen, CO 81611 970.309-2139 pitkincounty.com/healthyrivers
Continuing to develop and utilize a robust set of communication tools such as long-term storytelling assets, updated printed and digital messaging content for the coalition, print and digital ads, photography and video assets, and templates for activist engagement like letters to the editor and elected officials, leverage community organizing activities, including focused communications and grassroots networking, hosting a shared photo library and hosting field trips along the River, to educate community members on the benefits of a Wild and Scenic designation for the Crystal River, the importance of engaging in the stakeholder process and how they can take action in support of protecting the River. Engage in the following actions they feel are specifically funded by this grant:
•Work with the Crystal Wild and Scenic Coalition to plan two events toeducate and energize public support for Wild & Scenic designation.
•Provide public education and drive grassroots and grasstops engagementand support for Wild and Scenic designation
•Strategically and actively lead and engage in the ongoing stakeholder processand its newly formed subcommittees.
•Update and create communications assets for the current phase of thecampaign, including messaging toolkits, supportive LTEs, story-tellingelements for the website, paid ads, video and photography assets, and atabling kit for activist to utilize.Over the next year, include the following activities:
•Co-chair the Wild and Scenic Subcommittee and in partnership with partnerslead the effort to develop draft language and maps for Wild and Sceniclegislation.
•Work with the local conservation community to ensure that community-heldvalues for the river are reflected in any recommendations that come out ofthe Wild and Scenic Subcommittee;
•Continue to educate community members on key parts of the stakeholderprocess, and the benefits of Wild and Scenic;
•Provide the public with opportunities to engage in the campaign, such aspublic meetings and action alerts;
•Host informational and action-oriented events that educate and engage localcommunity members;
530 E. Main Street Suite 301 Aspen, CO 81611 970.309-2139 pitkincounty.com/healthyrivers
•Cultivate and highlight community members and their voices in support ofWild and Scenic protection;
•Continue our outreach with conservation and recreation partners, privatelandowners, and other community partners to increase their participation inadvocacy efforts and in some cases participation on the formal steeringcommittee and subcommittees;
•Activate diverse allies to write letters to the editor and op-eds and meet withdecision makers;
•Implement robust grassroots and grasstops organizing efforts;
•Earn local and state-wide media attention of our efforts and the benefits andsupport for protecting the Crystal River with a Wild and Scenic designation;
•Continue to build on the extensive list of supporters for a Wild and Scenicdesignation for the Crystal River and leverage that list for calls to action.
•Develop media and other communications assets and information to supportthe above activities.Deliverables:
•Work with the Crystal Wild and Scenic Coalition to plan two events toeducate and energize public support for Wild & Scenic designation.
•Provide public education and drive grassroots and grasstops engagementand support for Wild and Scenic designation.
•Strategically and actively lead and engage in the ongoing stakeholder processand its newly formed subcommittees.
•Update and create communications assets for the current phase of thecampaign, including messaging toolkits, supportive LTEs, story-tellingelements for the website, paid ads, video and photography assets, and atabling kit for activist to utilize.
Reporting schedule: WW shall continue their current reporting process with the Healthy Rivers Board, specifically submitting brief written quarterly reports via email or a preferred format and presenting on progress to the Board and staff on an annual basis. Reporting may include, but is not limited to, the following WW collected metrics: number of community contacts made through newsletters, email alerts, social media contacts, public presentations;
530 E. Main Street Suite 301 Aspen, CO 81611 970.309-2139 pitkincounty.com/healthyrivers
support for the stakeholder process, number of public comments and letters we generate in support of a Wild and Scenic Designation; earned media amplifying our messages and/or in favor of our issues; and support and collaboration from elected officials including resolutions, introduction of bills, public statements and official letters to decision-makers. WW will continue to closely collaborate with and update Healthy Rivers staff as necessary including scheduling coordinating meetings or other communication while maintaining the close partnership with the Healthy Rivers Board in supporting this initiative.
Pitkin County shall: Grant $35,000.00 to Wilderness Workshop as recommended for funding by the Healthy Rivers and Streams Board on April 18, 2024 and approved by the Board of County Commissioners of Pitkin County on July 9, 2024. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to be executed as of the latest date written above: Pitkin County Healthy Rivers Wilderness Workshop
/s/ Lisa Tasker Lisa Tasker Will Roush, Executive Director