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<br />River biodiversity rich, valuable" says conservationist
<br />
<br />By Connie Young,
<br />Information & Education Coordinator
<br />u.s. Fis,h and Wildl~e Service
<br />: The atmosphere at the EroiiIonmental
<br />Defense Food in Boulder, Colo., is ca-
<br />sual. Some of the seven staffers dress in
<br />'shorts, T-shirts and sandals'. Dan Luecke,
<br />director of the Rocky MOlIDtain Regional
<br />.office, sits in front of a framed print of
<br />various' neckties. The caption reads, "In '
<br />case offormaJity, break glass." ,
<br />But the relaxed ambiance here be-
<br />, lies Luecke's no-nonsense approach to
<br />environmental advocac~.' ,
<br />For 15 years, Luecke has marshaled
<br />the Environmental Defense Fund's ef-
<br />forts, in the Rocky Mountain region, ,
<br />tackling tough issues, such as the pro- ,
<br />posed TwoForks Dam, Ii Icmillion-
<br />acre-feet project on the' South Platte
<br />,River that was to boost Denver's water
<br />,supply. apposed' to the project;
<br />Luecke's organization instead advo-
<br />cated solutions such as water conserva-
<br />tion, cooperation in developing water,
<br />supplies and construction of projects
<br />with less potential for environmental
<br />ruirm. .one such solution was the'
<br />60,000-acre-feet Wolford Mountain
<br />, project, fonnerly called Muddy Creek
<br />Dam, now under construction near
<br />,Kremmling,Colo.
<br />''EDF's approach is to understand
<br />the scientific and technological under-
<br />pinnings of an issue and then become
<br />involved in helping develop alterna-
<br />tives:' Luecke explained. "We don't go
<br />in with litigation in mind." ,
<br />In one of his more rewarding expe-
<br />riences, Luecke mariaged the construc-
<br />tion of a waste water treatment project
<br />in Tijuana, Mexico. A cooperative pro-
<br />ject of his organization and El Colegio
<br />de la Frontera ,Norte, or College of the
<br />Northern Frontier, the facility now
<br />treats and recycles waste water for irri-
<br />gation purposes.
<br />"In most places, water is used once
<br />and then dumped in the ocean," Luecke
<br />said. "The ability to reuse water is es-
<br />pecially important in Tijuana, which
<br />bas a very limited water supply."
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<br />.Photo by Connie Young
<br />The Environmental Defense Fund's
<br />Dan Luecke heads up the organiza-
<br />tion's regional office In ,Boulder, Colo.
<br />
<br />Luecke completed bacbelor's and
<br />master's degrees in ciVil engineering at
<br />the'University of Noire Dame in the
<br />1960s. After a two~year stint in the
<br />U.S. Marine COIpS, he enrolled in Har-
<br />vard University, earning a doctorate in
<br />environmental science and engineering
<br />in 1971. He now lives in Boulder with
<br />his wife, Rosemary, a psychotherapist
<br />in private practice, and their 15-year-
<br />old son, Andrew.
<br />'.over tbe years" Luecke has served
<br />on 13 different boards and advisory
<br />committees, including the board of
<br />High Country News and the DelWer
<br />Metropolitan Water Roundtable.
<br />In addition, since 1990 be has
<br />served on the top-level committee of
<br />the Recovery Program for Endangered
<br />Fish of the Upper Colorado River
<br />Basin: Although Luecke said he would
<br />like to see more progress toward re-
<br />
<br />II
<br />
<br />,covering the fish, he said the program
<br />is the best solution.
<br />"The Colorado River program is a
<br />very good example of keeping shoul-
<br />der to the wheel and continuing to push
<br />for solutionS,'" Luecke said. "I would
<br />be less sUpportive if tbere were still
<br />substantial federal fiui.ding for building
<br />
<br />'Where water is less abun-
<br />dant, river corridors are
<br />very rich places.'
<br />~ Dan Luecke
<br />
<br />federal dams. But my view is that some
<br />water development can occur as long
<br />, as there is a comprehensive recovery
<br />program ror the fish."
<br />, The program's success hinges on
<br />meeting deadlines set in the Recovery
<br />Action Plan, according to Luecke. Key
<br />'projects include changing the opera-
<br />tion' of Flaming Gorge and other fed-
<br />eral'dams and milking flood plain areas
<br />accessible to the fish.
<br />"It's not' just that we need a certain
<br />number of CFS (cubic feet per second)
<br />in the river, but that we need a healthy
<br />ecosystem and a connection between
<br />the river and adjacent flood plains," he
<br />said. 'The Recovery Program is the
<br />largest cooperative effort our office is
<br />ilWolved in, and despite the differences
<br />among participants, ,we have main-
<br />tained enougb harmony to continue
<br />, working together. I am optimistic that
<br />. it can succeed."
<br />Rliliing in rivers of the West brings
<br />Luecke a sense of adventure, escape '
<br />and appreciation for nature.,
<br />''Where water is less abundant, river
<br />corridors are'very rich places:' he said.
<br />Regarding the Colorado River' and
<br />its tributaries, he commented, 'These
<br />, resources are enonnously valuable and
<br />rich; it's easy tosee the importint role
<br />they play in biodiversity in this part of
<br />the world. And the en,dangered fish are
<br />part of the fabric of life in the Colorado
<br />Basin. They deserve protection be-
<br />cause of their inherent value."
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