San Juan River Workgroup Meeting Minutes Draft

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never technically disbanded, although it hasn't been meeting recently. He said if a zoning district is recommended, the regional commission perhaps could play a role. It was agree that, for there to be consensus to establish an overlay zoning district: • Landowners must support it and buy in, or it will not move forward. • Another group must be willing to take it on. The San Juan River Workgroup would be the group to broadly suggest this recommendation. However, a smaller group committed to the idea would have to "take it and run with it", Marsha suggested. • The county must be involved. • It would be an alternative to WSR. • Bob Formwalt needs to be consulted because it was his idea. It was suggested that a possible alternative to forming a large zoning district could be that the half-dozen landowners and Boot Jack's owner might agree to put in a deed restriction to protect the values of the San Juan. Some people like this idea and others didn't.There was agreement that of course the landowners would have to support this concept. Jimbo Buickerood of SJCA said there are two parts to the values to be protected: the geologic value that is the Forest Service's Outstandingly Remarkable Value (ORV), and the broad values listed in the values statement. Water Commissioner Pete Kasper said almost all the geology ORV is protected by the conservation easements. Marsha asked whether there is consensus that current protections (conservation easements, instream flow, zoning and other private-land regulations) are adequate to protect the values, including the broader values, on the private stretch of the West Fork.There was more discussion. Group members asked whether the Forest Service can ignore the group's recommendations if the group says current protections are adequate. Becca Smith of the Pagosa Ranger District said the Forest Service does reserve the ultimate decision-making authority, but she believes if this group said current protections are adequate and/or if an alternative for protection can be found, San Juan National Forest Supervisor Mark Stiles would take that into consideration and would seriously consider removing the suitability finding. Steve said if the group says current protections are adequate, it needs to be able to say why. Mely said private landowners may not want to sell their land or have a dam on the river, but the possibility exists that an entity could force something like that to happen through eminent domain.This group must make sure the landowners are comfortable with any protection recommended, but must consider the threat of water impoundment too. Jimbo said there is a long stretch of the river that is not protected by an easement, and said the Pagosa Area Water and Sanitation District may want to further protect water quality upstream. 4