|
It’s been good to see folks out and about enjoying these golden days at Mountain Harvest, Applefest, farmers markets, and on the trails. September saw some major improvements out at the River Park, and October will see those celebrated at our Annual Volunteer Appreciation on Oct 15th - see below for details. Also read on for more opportunities to volunteer, nab a raffle ticket, hone your comment writing for substantive GMUG input, mark your calendars for Mountainfilm on Tour - Paonia, and more!
Excited for a busy October,
Tanya Henderson
Executive Director
|
|
|
Help make our first Fall Gear Raffle a success! We’ve been very generously assisted once again by Welfelt Fabrication and Seek Outside to provide the perfect cool-weather backcountry camp set-up to raffle off this fall. Details and tickets can be found HERE. The raffle drawing will take place at Ciderfest on 10/30--that means there's less than a month left to buy tickets!
|
|
|
|
Join us for our next River Park Workday on October 19th! We'll be adding a final layer of gravel to the entrance to the new community trail. Hope to see some of you there! Please RSVP by clicking the link below if you can make it.
|
|
|
|
As part of our Leave No Trace education program, we’ll be tabling at the Little Robinson trailhead on 10/31 during hunting season to educate visitors about Leave No Trace practices. Interested in sharing your LNT skills with others? Email ben@theconservationcenter.org to come help us out for an hour or two!
|
|
|
|
It's already October and that means it's time to get out in the river and collect some Macroinvertebrates! Our next sampling is scheduled for Wednesday, October 13th. Email jake@theconservationcenter.org if you’re interested in helping out!
|
|
We are always looking for more voices on WSCC's Volunteer Committees! Our committees are critical to the success of our programs, organization, community, and environment. We meet once a month; upcoming meeting dates are listed below.
Watershed Committee Meeting - 4:00 pm - October 14th
Public Lands Committee Meeting - 5:15 pm - October 25th
Email info@theconservationcenter.org for more information.
|
|
|
|
|
In September, our volunteers:
- Completed new sections of the Community Trail across from the River Park
- Led our last Mike's Hikes of the summer
- Tabled at Mountain Harvest Festival, Arbol Farmer's Market and other events
- Helped out at a Leave No Trace Education Day
Thank you volunteers!
As we wrap up our stewardship season, we hope you can join us on October 15th from 4-6pm at the River Park for a volunteer appreciation celebration. If you are able to attend, please RSVP here!
Haven't joined us as a volunteer yet, but want to? Click the button below to sign up for future opportunities.
|
|
|
|
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT
A monthly highlight of one of our many spectacular volunteers!
Elizabeth Yaari has been a welcome addition to the WSCC community. From London to Jerusalem to New York, Elizabeth has used her considerable skills to heal people as a nurse and connect people through Circlework. Now she is focused on regenerating the land. She came to Paonia to learn from local experts. She has adopted a small plot on an adobe hillside and is working to grow a food forest. Elizabeth has been a delightful regular at stewardship events at WSCC and we’ve recently struck a win-win bargain: We save up our office compost and she will take it to add much needed nutrients to her slowly, steadily growing land. If you have compost you are at a bit of a loss for what to do with it, or if you’ve been hesitating to start composting because you don’t have your own soil making plans, text Elizabeth at (631) 935-2212. She’s always looking for a way to create less waste and new food from old.
Thank you, Elizabeth, for all your support and for cheerily turning our scraps to soil!
|
|
|
|
Join WSCC from 6-7:30pm on October 28th to draft your comments for the USFS Draft Forest Plan for the Grand Mesa Uncompahgre National Forest. Commenting on the plan is an important way to provide feedback to the USFS and add your voice! This workshop will be held at the WSCC offices at 204 Poplar Ave, Paonia. Feel free to bring your own computer if you have one to write comments.
|
|
|
|
Save the date - Mountainfilm on Tour is coming to Paonia on November 18th and 19th! Keep your eyes out for online tickets sales going live in the next few days.
|
|
|
PUBLIC LANDS & WATERSHED UPDATES
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
COGCC Listening Session on November 2nd
Over the years, community members have sent videos and comments to our Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commissioners about the need to protect the North Fork Valley's rural lifestyle from oil and gas development. After listening to our concerns, they have chosen to come and meet with us face to face! Join us at this COGCC Listening Session in Paonia and thank the Commissioners for their work thus far while advocating for more protections.
Who: COGCC Commissioners
When: Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2021, 2:00 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Where: Paonia Community Center/ Town Hall, 214 Grand Ave., Paonia, CO 81428. https://goo.gl/maps/nfXKGxrGXAVdKRio7
|
|
|
|
Financial Assurances Update
The Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) is continuing with their rule changes to ensure the health, welfare, and safety of Colorado's communities during the oil and gas drilling process. Currently, the Commission is starting a process to determine what bonding (think security deposit) oil and gas companies need to provide up front so that taxpayers aren't left on the hook for the clean-up. WSCC thinks that oil and gas companies should clean up after themselves. Sign our petition today to let the commissioners know you agree!
|
|
|
|
The U.S. Forest Service recently released it’s much-anticipated draft revised forest plan and draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison (GMUG) national forests in Colorado. The plan directs how the Forest Service manages natural resources, including wildlife, on the GMUG.
The current forest plan is from 1983, so these plans last for decades. This is our chance to speak up for the National Forest lands that surround our community and to shape the future of the forest. Without a plan that protects our community values and conservation resources, we will be left fighting back development and further encroachment of our wildlands into the future.
We are advocating for increased protections for Wilderness, wildlife, water, and climate during the revision process, and think you should as well. We have a suite of events coming up for you to be involved in and make a difference. To find out more information, click the link below.
To have the biggest impact this early in the process, we recommend the following steps:
1.EMAIL YOUR COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Email Commissioner Koontz at: wkoontz@deltacounty.com
2. ATTEND THE SEPT. 21st USFS OPEN HOUSE FROM 5-7PM
The open house will be held over Zoom. See our website for more info.
3. COMMENT ON THE PLAN
You can submit comments using this online comment tool. The comment period for the DEIS closes on November 12th, 2021.
|
|
|
|
