River Protection Workgroup Steering Committee

Home Browse Search

- The workgroups need to finish their work and then the regional discussion happens.The process has to remain real,grassroots and transparent. The fact that the basin discussion is going to occur should not deter each group from "working the model." - What could emerge from the San Juan Workgroup(and the other workgroups too) is a range of ideas such as:a)Support WSR as a concept(in which case it will be discussed at the basin discussion level); b) Do not keep it as an option;c) Reflect a range of opinion meaning both options are desired by some in the groups; and d)Another tool(s)could be crafted. - Our job is to reflect the desires and "range of opinions"of the group.Where there is consensus,great.Where there is not,that will be reflected in the group's report. - We have to keep the discussions focused on how to protect values,and reflect what the workgroups believe are the best tool(s)for doing so. It is not a failure if the workgroups do not fully reach consensus.The point is to reflect the community's range of ideas and wishes for the "best"ways to protect the values. Marsha noted that for the San Juan Workgroup so far,there is consensus that landowners have to be engaged and involved in crafting an alternative for the private lands. - The Steering Committee members discussed the end game.SWCD,Steve said,could live with one or perhaps two WSR segments but would want suitability removed on some others (named segments are part of the negotiation).The mechanics of getting a segment removed would be federal legislation or could happen in the context of the decision made in the final Forest Plan. Meghan noted that for conservation groups,agreeing to release suitability and eligibility is a big deal and they need assurance that tools are in place to protect values.Steve said he wanted to make it clear that WSR is not off the table but that SWCD will continue to discuss its positions and concerns related to WSR issues on each segment discussed. - It was agreed it is time to do a one-pager on the basin discussion so it's written down and more clear. Marsha will draft one and get it out to the group for consideration. Further, everyone agreed that the Steering Committee needs to design how these basin discussions will occur, and the workgroups should give input on the model. For example, Marsha said, Mely and Michael Whiting at the last San Juan Workgroup meeting had some important input. Mely said the negotiation team needs to be diverse and Michael said there is a danger of certain communities being"sacrifice"zones related to which rivers are protected. He said that smaller communities, like Pagosa,are worried about that based on this occurring with other projects/processes. • Pete said he heard that some in the Workgroup believe that the facilitator is extending the process so as to support the USFS keeping the segments eligible and suitable for WSR. Marsha noted that the timeline from the very beginning was advertised as"10 to 12"meetings and based on missing a June meeting,we are not off track.It is anticipated that the group will wrap up in January(11 months).The"table has been set"for the community/and affected landowners to craft and draft their ideas for protecting the values. Each person will have to decide if s/he wishes to participate in the process,she said. Hermosa Creek • With the election results,the next steps are unclear related to the Hermosa Creek legislation. Marsha was asked to see if John W.can provide a draft copy of the Hermosa Creek legislation,and everyone said they hoped that the legislation can be drafted before Congressman Salazar leaves in January of 2011. • Steve and Meghan requested that the Hermosa Creek Drafting Committee(HCDC) be called together once the draft is available,and to discuss the map.There are ongoing discussions and some level of conflict about the southern boundary.Trails 2000 wants a link between the Colorado Trail and the Hermosa Creek Trail.The Wilderness Society is interested in adding more wilderness on the southern end. Mark expressed a need for continued checking in with the USFS related to issues concerning the southern boundary.There has not been a lot of joint communication since March among the HCDC,and it is generally felt that a need for such communication exists(at the HCDC level to start with).