|
<br />003187
<br />
<br />11. PUBLICITY AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. ~~ny residents of the Dolores
<br />River area felt they had been poorly informed about meetings,
<br />workshops, and the Study Team's activities,
<br />
<br />Though time was tight, the Study Team made extensive efforts to
<br />involve and inform all segments of the concerned public. A Steering
<br />Committee was formed and opened to all interested citizens. Two sets
<br />of public meetings were, held, with over two-thirds of these
<br />sessions in western Colorado; these were publicized in local
<br />newspapers, and to some extent, on radio and TV; individual letters
<br />were also sent out to a large mailing list prior to the first
<br />public meeting. It is inevitable that some parties still missed
<br />out, but the Study Team's effort to gain public involvement has
<br />been genuine throughout its work, Nevertheless, tn~ Team acknowledges
<br />that its accelerated study schedule did not allow time to notify every-
<br />one of the public meetings, and for this we apologize.
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />The Dolores River area has been by far,the most active in its
<br />study interest. Over ,85 percent of, the total meeting attendance
<br />was recorded at sessions ;,,,ld in this region.
<br />
<br />~.,-~~...~
<br />~~~.
<br />
<br />12. A RIVER BASIN STUDY. A number of individuals and conservation
<br />organizations felt the Study Team was too limited in its approach
<br />to the Dolores. Some urged that the entire river be studied,
<br />including the segments not listed in' the January 3, 1975 enabling
<br />law. 'Others felt the entire river basin should be studied, incuding
<br />all tributaries. A few suggested and named specific tributaries
<br />and side canyons.
<br />
<br />I
<br />tl'~',ii!/
<br />~_~. ;...t.-.1
<br />~.......,.,.
<br />
<br />From,a total environment point of view, a basin-wide study is
<br />a worthy concept. However, it is not what Congress empowered the
<br />Study Team to do under provisions of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act.
<br />Four segments of the Dolores River were listed in the January 3,
<br />1975 legislation and those are what the Team considered.
<br />
<br />...."'r
<br />
<br />."
<br />
<br />It is the responsibility of. Congress to e~tab1ish the parameters
<br />of each wild and scenic river stUUj, These parameters vary widely
<br />from river to river; thus, for example, the clause defining the
<br />study of Colorado's Piedra River specifically includes "the tribu-
<br />taries and headwaters on national forest lands," If the Dolores
<br />River clause had listed various tributaries and side canyons, the
<br />Study Team would have considered them; if it had specified a basin-
<br />wide study, then the Team would have undertaken same.
<br />
<br />... -.....
<br />0"."."
<br />.:'~'--. .
<br />" ...-;'....
<br />-.
<br />..,...;....
<br />..~,;~'''.
<br />~,,:,"
<br />-"
<br />.~~:-.,.,\.
<br />:.~:". '
<br />;~/.:'
<br />\~.- ~ :,..
<br />
<br />~;'-'
<br />.:~~~
<br />~ ,.'~~t:
<br />
<br />Already, Congress is in the process of considering expansion of
<br />the Dolores River study in, one direction, On July 10, 1975,
<br />U.S. Senator Jake Garn of Utah introduced the "Dolores River Act
<br />of 1975" calling for study of 22 additional miles of the Dolores
<br />in that 'state.
<br />
<br />8
<br />
<br />.~'.~~:-:.f'.~....y..:,~~"": '.:'.~~ .~"'r"f,; .-'_~~: ~~.~~~...'v::... "";'"" _ 'I' ~,::.;c;...\..~,.. ~~ \;......-';. -r"'1-';'~'~-<'" l}';~';' 'l{....~<...,:~. :'4~~.').tf'~1'~7-'.,/.r:;"':,,\~~ '-;,}:~'_/~;~~'/:--' ~"'...\\~-. t;;,;:"'~'.l.v-~'1:.;
<br />',_' !.~~~~~~~l:~~'''':,'..fdf.:tS't''~~~j..:.1 "i';.;.;-c;.Jj; ':'~~)..iiJ,~ rt. \\+-,:,:=-:,,:.;~~~?~:~/ ;.iI'~._~-:,/~~..I';.:'~ ," ~':.I: ::c;....,.:....~ "~l'I''S-(.. ....~...,. .~...;"t....:,;"J.....t ~f..,,:.~~: .,.~\5~/.~~~_1~~~.,.
<br />'r-' ....ro....., ."_' ." . .',', ". .......,. -,~ '. .... .-,,' ..' ,". . .,. ......~'~...,....:;. .,."...., .;r,J.i!'''~l.'''
<br />
|