New Winter 2008 Newsletter:Newsletter.qxd - Roaring Fork ...

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4RIVER PROTECTION Responding to Concerned Citizens by Chad Rudow As your local river protection organization, Roaring Fork Conservancy responds to calls from concerned citizens and to reports of code violations along the river. Many incidents this year have resulted in damage or alterations to our local rivers or riparian zone. The good news is, thanks to citizens, we have been informed of these incidents and responded. Although RFC does not have regulatory authority, we have connections with agencies that do. When calls come in, we gather information, often visiting the location to take pictures, and then pass the information along to the proper authorities. Following is a brief summary of some of the many concerns we have responded to in the past year. Vegetation Removal on Roaring Fork Numerous calls came in regarding a new home project that had cut all vegetation in the riparian zone. RFC investigated and reported findings to Garfield County. The county responded, requiring the homeowner to re-vegetate the site. RFC staff also provided referral services including native plant lists and nurseries. This type of violation has been very common this year with RFC responding to incidents all over the valley including landowners in East County Set-Backs County set-backs help protect riparian habitat. If you intend to do work within this area, please contact your county for specific requirements. Pitkin Garfield Eagle Gunnison Permitted work at Carbondale Bridge last winter. Chad Rudow 100 feet streams; 25 feet - wetlands & riparian areas 30 feet 75 feet or 100-year flood-plain whichever is greater Voluntary use of buffer strip Basalt, Aspen Glen, Glenwood Springs, and near Ironbridge. Carbondale Bridge Project RFC received calls about the Highway 133 bridge project near Carbondale and its potential impact on the river. After visiting the site and taking photos, RFC staff contacted the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers regarding proper permitting for work in the river. Upon investigation, the Corps determined that the construction company had obtained proper permits and used Best Management Practices to minimize impact to the river. Bank Alterations on Cattle Creek While investigating calls concerning Cattle Creek, RFC staff noticed major bank alterations along one section. Photos were taken and sent to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Upon determining that the appropriate permits were not procured, the Corps sent staff to visit the site and meet with the landowner. Under the guidance of the Corps, the bank was restored to its original state and native vegetation was replanted. There are ways you can help. Contact us when you see concerns or potential code violations: clearing of riparian vegetation, major alterations to river beds or banks, dumping of anything in rivers, etc. You can also make a big impact by contacting city or county staff and representatives and encouraging them to adopt and enforce measures which better protect our rivers and riparian zone. River Protector Bruce Christensen Mayor Glenwood Springs, Colorado Nearby River: Roaring Fork River Favorite Place in the Roaring Fork Watershed: One of my favorite places is the confluence of Threemile Creek and the Roaring Fork River. What is one thing you do to help protect our rivers? I try to promote public awareness of the importance of water and our rivers. As Mayor, I have the unique ability to act and make decisions regarding our impacts on local rivers. I try to be open to public comments and concerns as well as to think about our impacts as I make these decisions. What is the most important thing RFC does? Our valley has the privilege of a local organization (RFC) with two important qualities: competent staff who are very knowledgeable about rivers and water related issues, and the ability to focus and act primarily on these issues.
Greening Riverfront Development by Tim O’Keefe “Opposing sprawl is apparently not a primary concern of the Roaring Fork Conservancy, which is not a surprise,” wrote a mis informed newspaper columnist in 1998. The author was referring to RFC’s work with the controversial Sanders Ranch development outside of Glenwood Springs. “In the late nineties,” recalls Executive Director Rick Lofaro, “RFC was heavily criticized for working with developers to set aside critical wildlife habitat in easements before the development received approval. People said we were in bed with the developers when, in reality, we were protecting land from development.” The result of the several years of negotiating with the development team was a 54-acre 2008 Roaring Fork Watershed Photo Contest Calling All Photographers Roaring Fork Conservancy invites all photographers to enter the 2008 Roaring Fork Watershed Photography Competition. There are amateur, professional and, new this year, student categories. We are looking for striking digital images of the rivers, streams, and wetlands of the Roaring Fork Watershed. This area includes the Fryingpan, Crystal, and Roaring Fork Rivers, and their tributaries. Deadline for entries is December 31, 2008. Please see our photo competition rules online at: www.roaringfork.org/photo An aerial view of TCI and Blue Creek Ranches where conservation easements will protect 51 acres along the Roaring Fork River. Jeanne Beaudry conservation easement that forever protects some of the most amazing habitat along a mile and a half of the Roaring Fork River in the lower valley. While Vicky Andreasen development is inevitable, responsible development is not. More and more, site planners are incorporating features into their plans that are not only benefiting wildlife, but also homeowners and rivers as well. Blue Creek Ranch outside of Carbondale is one such example of protecting riverfront habitat and creating sustainable human access. Originally a cattle ranch, the Blue Creek Ranch development set aside 49 acres (60% of the development) as open space and 21 of those acres along the river in a conservation easement with Roaring Fork Conservancy. The easement protects riparian habitat while maintaining public fishing and boating access. By moving houses away from the river and clustering them, planners created an amenity at the river rather than removing people from it. The benefits to both wildlife and people are tremendous. Land planners have used clustered development and open spaces within developments for decadesbut the concept is relatively new in parts of the west. “Garfield County had not really seen the cluster concept put into practice,” says Jon Fredericks of Nobel Design Studio, part of the company that developed Blue Creek Ranch. “So when the Blue Creek application came along it was almost a breath of fresh air for [the county commissioners].” At TCI Lane Ranch, a new development next to Blue Creek Ranch, planners are working to put another 32 acres of riverfront in conservation easement. “The riparian zone at TCI Lane Ranch is one of the last intact pre-settlement riparian landscapes in the valley,” says Fredericks. “The vegetative composition and river geomorphology is very complex; there are cottonwoods and Colorado blue spruce growing in harmony with ponderosa pine and Rocky Mountain juniper – where else do you see that?” Once the agreement between TCI and RFC is completed, Roaring Fork Conservancy will hold 51 contiguous acres in conservation easement between Catherine Store bridge and the Waldorf School. This will help protect wildlife and access to the Roaring Fork River. “These conservation easements,” adds Lofaro, “truly demonstrate that responsible development along our rivers can benefit both nature and people.” 5PROTECTING RIPARIAN HABITAT
Page 1 and 2: RIVER CURRENTS A semi-annual newsle
Page 3: Healthy Poor Poor Examples of healt
Page 7 and 8: Why Roaring Fork Watershed Plan Mat
Page 9 and 10: Million Dollar River Center Matchin
Page 11 and 12: y Jeff & Rhonda Fromm In Honor of T

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