May Newsletter

May Newsletter

Photo Contest Winners, Blog Post, and RWR Updates!

Check out our latest blog post: Slowing Down in Nature

Featuring:
John Milton (Founder and CEO of Way of Nature)
Karen Henderson (El Sagrado Farm, La Jara)
Emilia Trujillo (Student, Antonito, CO)
"I’ve had the pleasure of chatting with three nature experts around the San Luis Valley who have encouraged me to look outside myself to connect mind, body, and spirit, with the life cycles of the earth. They delve into the idea of what it means to be human through the lens of the natural world." 

Blog Post

Winners of the Earth Day Photo Contest

Winner
Photographer: Esther Mendoza 
Location: Big Meadows Resevoir 
Caption: A playful day at the falls
 
Thank you to everyone who participated. Check out our website to view all of the submissions!

Winners

Help Plant a Tree 
The City of Alamosa invites citizens to help plant a tree at the Alamosa Recycle Center on Thursday May 19th, at 4:30pm. Please reach out to the Alamosa Family Recreation Center and speak with Krystina George (Office Supervisor) for any questions regarding this activity!

Event Details

(Photo: Second Place. Photographer: Kevin RogersLocation: Trujillo Meadows Reservoir Caption: Lake Therapy)
RWR Updates!
1.Douglas County will make a decision on whether or not to move forward with the Renewable Water Resources (RWR) proposal next week at the earliest. Stay tuned. 
2. SLVEC sent them 255 signatures in a letter against the Proposal. 

255 Signatures

Position on Biomass: 
SLVEC believes that any biomass operation in the San Luis Valley must be appropriately scaled and  ecologically sustainable.
 
1. THE PERCEIVED FIRE RISK WILL NOT BE SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED BY REMOVAL OF DEAD  TREES.
 
2. THE RIO GRANDE NATIONAL FOREST IS RECOVERING AND VULNERABLE TO ADDITIONAL  DISTURBANCE. 
 
3. Biomass removal needs to take place next to Wildland Urban Interface (WUI), areas next to the forest that are subdivisions, trailheads, or areas where public safety is an issue.  

More Info

Response to  Summitville Proposed RV Park
1.Impacts to certain Species of Conservation Concern (SCC) would occur with this proposed development. 
 
2. In terms of sustainable development, SLVEC does not see this type of planning and management being offered in this Summitville, RV proposal.

SLVEC's Public Comment to Rio Grande County

Tips to Prevent Wildfires
Keep vehicles off dry grass.
 Cautiously burn debris and never when it’s windy or restricted. 
 Regularly maintain your equipment and vehicle.

Tips (and excellent fire photos)

Newsletter content and design by Isabel Lisle (SLVEC Communications Manager)