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Task 4: Conduct facilitation and meeting preparation for any ancillary <br /> committees formed by the Public Workgroup (such as Drafting <br /> Committees). <br /> In 2012, the Hermosa Creek Drafting Committee continued to work with <br /> U.S. Senator Bennet's office to craft legislation that matched the Hermosa <br /> Creek Workgroup's final recommendations reflected in their report. In <br /> July of 2012, the legislation was submitted. The Hermosa Creek <br /> Watershed Protection Act is described as follows (from a one-page <br /> information sheet developed by the Senator's staff): <br /> Southwest Colorado is home to a remarkable set of forested valleys and crystal <br /> clear streams known by Coloradans as Hermosa Creek. Long treasured <br /> by the residents of the Animas Valley, this area is renowned for its beauty, <br /> magnificent vistas, wildlife and the economic,job-creating activity the <br /> landscape generates for local communities. The vast watershed offers <br /> something for almost every type of outdoor enthusiast. <br /> Recognizing the need to protect and preserve the watershed for the enjoyment of <br /> future generations, a diverse group of area residents known as the <br /> Hermosa Creek Workgroup came together in 2008 to discuss future <br /> management of this unique area. Following 22 months of negotiations, the <br /> Workgroup came to an agreement on the provisions of a blueprint to <br /> govern the future management of the watershed. For a copy of the <br /> Hermosa Creek Workgroup report please see: <br /> http://ocs.fortlewis.edu/riverprotection/pdf/Hermosa%20Creek%20Workgr <br /> oupFINALCOPYREVREVjune201 0.pdf <br /> Hermosa Creek Special Management Area: Under the bill, as drafted by <br /> Senator Bennet to reflect the recommendations of the Workgroup, roughly <br /> 108,000 acres of San Juan National Forest land (west of Hwy 550 <br /> between Durango and Silverton) would be designated as the Hermosa <br /> Creek Special Management Area (SMA) to "conserve and protect for the <br /> benefit of present and future generations the... resources"of the area. All <br /> of the area will be protected under the bill, but some areas in the <br /> watershed will receive higher levels of protection while others will allow a <br /> broader range of uses. <br /> In accordance with the Workgroup recommendations, 25% (27,433 acres) of the <br /> acreage in the SMA will allow all current and historical uses of the area — <br /> including mountain biking, motorized recreation, selected timber <br /> harvesting, grazing, etc. Another 40% (43,217 acres) of the watershed will <br /> still allow these activities to take place, but will no longer be eligible for the <br /> future building of roads or timber harvesting. All of the acreage in the SMA <br /> will be withdrawn from future mineral development, with the exception of <br /> 3 <br />