the San Luis Valley Ecosystem council

CONTENTS

Introducing SLVEC's New Logo! 

~ Designed by Rowan Lyford ~

SLVEC is proud to introduce our brand new logo, designed by San Luis Valley local Rowan Lyford. Since the San Luis Valley is full of striking scenery, the SLVEC team felt our logo should immediately locate viewers to this rare and distinct Valley. Depicting the iconic sandhill crane, native Rocky Mountain bee plant/bumble bee, and the treasured view of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains behind the Great Sand Dunes, there is no mistaking this geography for any other than the SLV.

We feel this logo also speaks to our mission for encouraging ecological harmony among water, soil, air, sun, and all the beings that inhabit this landscape. Rowan did an amazing job taking in our suggestions and bringing forth a beautiful piece of art that reflects the sacredness of the SLV. 

Learn more about the logo's design and symbology by reading our latest blog: "SLVEC Honors the San Luis Valley with a New Logo"

                     Learn about the Artist

Using her strong background in art and a love for her home landscape (the SLV), Rowan worked with us to design our beautiful new logo. Digitally painted, we feel Rowan put her technical skill for painting and love for the natural world to excellent use! 

Follow Rowan on Instagram at rowan_l_art or visit her website

Meet Isabel Lisle!

~SLVEC's New Communications Manager~

It is with great excitement that SLVEC welcomes our new communications manager, Isabel Lisle. Isabel is passionate about building community awareness and engagement around protecting, restoring, and celebrating the natural environment in the San Luis Valley and beyond. In her new role with SLVEC, she aspires to educate the greater San Luis Valley community about the important environmental issues that impact these fragile and beautiful ecosystems, and she hopes to inspire the SLV community to take action to protect our home. To read more about Isabel's background, visit our staff page: https://www.slvec.org/staff

For all future communications inquiries, contact Isabel at isabel@slvec.org.

After several years working as SLVEC’s communications manager, Zaylah is now passing her role off to our wonderful new CM, Isabel Lisle. As a life-long resident of the Valley, nature lover, and environmentalist, working to protect the fragile ecosystems and vibrant life of the Valley has been a dream come true for Zaylah. While she is leaving her work with SLVEC to prepare for life as a new mother, Zaylah aspires to stay in touch with the wonderful work that SLVEC continues to do and to always be a voice for the Valley that she loves so much! 

Latest regarding the Renewable Water Resources proposal

~ By Christine Canaly ~

On your marks, get set…...Are you ready to write a letter and stay vigilant on behalf of protecting the San Luis Valley aquifers and upper Rio Grande landscape? SLVEC, along with many partners, will be galvanizing an awareness campaign starting Tuesday, February 1st --- lasting through mid-March. PLEASE STAY TUNED.

As if we don’t have enough scratching at our doorsteps, now Douglas County
Commissioners are considering using a portion of their just endowed 68.2 million in
federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds, and plan to deliberate earmarking a
portion, $20 million (roughly a third of their total allotted ARPA funds) towards the
recently submitted Renewable Water Resources (RWR) project proposal. Yes, the same,
unimaginative, extravagantly engineered and expensive RWR San Luis Valley trans-basin water export scheme, first proposed back in 2017.

Over the next few months, Douglas County will be receiving/reviewing public comments on their $300 million total in ARPA funds proposal requests, and prioritize which projects to move forward. Two of the three Douglas County Commissioners have already taken public positions, one supportive and one against RWR’s proposal, and you can read about it in the below articles:

Water proposal a bad idea for region, Douglas County 

Time to come together to address county’s water future 

Douglas County needs to hear from you, the public, no matter where you live in Colorado. SLVEC will strive to provide the best, most accurate information to guide your participation starting in February, so your letters will be meaningful and effective. We understand your time is precious.

If you want to read more background on the RWR proposal, please visit our SLVEC website or Protect San Luis Valley Water. 

Updates on the Wolf Creek Pass Case

~ By Christine Canaly ~

Get the latest update on the Wolf Creek Pass case from SLVEC Director Christine Canaly:

- Judge Kane confirms a major decision sought by San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council  and our Friends of Wolf Creek (FWC) partners, who have focused efforts to protect Wolf Creek Pass, including the south fork of the Rio Grande headwaters. 

- A quick history of Lynx reintroduction.

- A brief history of “Village at Wolf Creek”.

- A history of circumvented regulations, and the dangers of development to an extraordinary landscape.

- How the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (ANILCA) relates to and impacts the current Wolf Creek Pass case. 

- Our desired outcome and how supporters can help. 

For the children of today and tomorrow, San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council is committed to protecting the 3.1 million acres of public lands that surround the Valley.