August Newsletter Updates

Sunset over Sangre de Cristos and Baca NWR.

Photo: Nick Hall

Blog Post: SLVEC sees a legislative opportunity to designate an additional 110,000 acres of Wilderness within the lower reaches of Sangre de Cristo mountains, as well as the Great Sand Dunes National Park (GSDNP) and Preserve and the Baca National Wildlife Refuge. Within the Rio Grande National Forest there lies a half-mile wide ribbon of land located just south of the existing designated Wilderness.

This stretch, spanning over 60 miles from Poncha Pass to GSDNP, covers approximately 50,000 acres of forest land. This expanse was excluded from the 1992 Sangre de Cristo Wilderness Act because of unsettled mining claims, but it has been “recommended for wilderness” in the forest’s management plan. The Forest Service is no longer encumbered by the mining claims and now has an opportunity to move forward with designated wilderness.

Meet SLVEC's new summer intern: Sami Lofman

SLVEC has a new intern for the summer: Sami! She studies Earth Science and Government at Dartmouth College, and she is passionate about nature and the environment. She loves rock climbing, hiking, and just getting outside. She’s really excited to learn about environmental advocacy and conservation this summer. She also hopes to get involved with the San Luis Valley and learn more about the unique challenges of this region.

School of Public Health Awards Ceremony

SLVEC receives partner of the year award

from the Center for Health, Work, and Environment at the Colorado School of Public Health.

Could creating a National Conservation Area in Conejos County serve to “shine a light” on over 10,000 years of human history?

Blog Post: On June 29th, 2023, the San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council met with a group in Antonito, Colorado to weigh the benefits of creating a National Conservation Area (NCA) designation in Conejos County and garner local support to move forward and pursue designation.

The San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council (SLVEC) is exploring an opportunity to get an area of Bureau of Land Management (BLM) lands within Conejos County along the Rio Grande designated as a National Conservation Area (NCA). The Rio Grande (river corridor) is an ecological hotspot that has supported human occupation for over 10,000 years. This area's important cultural and environmental history can boost the economy for Conejos County, while simultaneously celebrating the story of its ongoing indigenous legacy, and embracing the recent contributions of hispanic and anglo cultures.

SLVEC Submits Forest Monitoring Comments

The at-risk flammulated owl chicks

that must be protected by Forest Service Monitoring Requirements

The San Luis Valley Ecosystem Council recently submitted comments to the Forest Service about ways to improve the Monitoring Report for the Rio Grande National Forest. The comments focused on  securing increased monitoring of individual species and other important aspects of the ecosystem. 
 

The Forest Service has been changing its approach to forest planning since 2012. While the emphasis used to be on monitoring specific species, it has shifted to managing key characteristics of the entire ecosystem. This is a great way to make sure the overall ecosystem is being assessed, but it leaves some species at risk of being overlooked. A healthy ecosystem does not necessarily mean there are enough shallow wetlands for the boreal toad to breed, for example. Or that the western bumblebee has enough nectar and pollen available throughout the colony season. In cases like these, it is crucial to set specific standards, guidelines, and monitoring indicators that cater to the needs of these species. 

SLVEC’s comments advocate for closer monitoring of at-risk species, while also urging the Forest Service to include the importance of maintaining connectivity within the ecosystem. We recommend designating more focal species and paying closer attention to old forest conditions. On top of this, SLVEC calls for the monitoring for white-nose syndrome in bat populations and more information sharing about the spread of pathogens to bighorn sheep herds. 

By providing these comments, SLVEC aims to hold the Forest Service accountable and push them to fulfill their monitoring requirements as mandated by law. These efforts are essential to protect the diversity and integrity of the forest’s ecosystems and species. 

Energy Grant Updates

SLV Ecosystem Council, in support of the SLV Rural Electric Cooperative and SLV Development Resources Group (SLVDRG), submitted two pre-applications recently to the Department of Energy (DOE) to stabilize the SLV Grid and enhance solar capability using hybrid Super Capacitors.

This proposed clean energy project could supplement SLV grid capacity, and enhance self-sufficiency to generate/store localized solar power. The San Luis Valley Rural Electric Coop (SLVREC) and Xcel Energy have shared “resiliency and reliability” transmission concerns and have convened for years to discuss solutions to build a more resilient SLV infrastructure that can endure extreme conditions, including temporary disruption of transmission through the pass.

Responding to the climate and energy crisis is rapidly evolving within the SLV and across much of rural AG America. This DOE pre-application grant is an opportunity to implement climate-resilient technologies, replicate projects that lower energy costs; and contribute to stabilization and planning for future renewable energy (solar) projects that include cost-effective, long duration energy storage (hybrid supercapacitors) at potentially three SLVREC solar farm locations. Stay tuned.

Village at Wolf Creek (VWC): Keeping a large resort development out of sensitive high-altitude lands.

The saga continues…

The legal wrangling’s surrounding the “Village at Wolf Creek” development, has gone on for decades.

In October, 2022, Federal District Court Judge Christine Arguello ruled that the Forest Service acted unlawfully when issuing an access decision for the “Village at Wolf Creek” developers. The Court also found that the Fish and Wildlife Service violated the Endangered Species Act when analyzing the impacts of this decision on the Federally listed Canada lynx. Both the Forest Service and the Developer, the Leavell-McCombs Joint Venture, appealed Judge Arguello’s decision to the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals, in late December.

On July 20th, 2023, SLVEC, as part of Friends of Wolf Creek (FWC) partners, filed a 177-page response brief. In the response brief, FWC have also asked for an opportunity for Oral argument.“Conservation Groups respectfully submit that oral argument will assist the Court in resolving the Appeals and fashioning relief that will remedy the pattern of conduct and recurring violations of federal law linked to a 1986 land exchange proposal that was found not in the public interest.”

SLVEC has worked closely with FWC, in this longwinded legal battle to protect Wolf Creek Pass from development, that could greatly harm the local environment, for over two decades. We will continue to coordinate with legal counsel to keep the public informed and engaged with our concerns, including why it’s important to protect Wolf Creek Pass from large scale development; while simultaneously focusing on the comprehensive view to find a permanent conservation solution.

To remember, the current development proposal includes 1,711 units to be constructed in eight phases, next to the Wolf Creek Ski Area, beginning with 492 units.

This high-altitude location receives an average of 428 inches of snow annually and is an important wildlife corridor for many species. This property also contains fen wetlands, which contribute late season flow to the south fork of the Rio Grande. Stay tuned.

SLVEC partners with Professor Kathy James to study effect of heavy metals in drinking water on pregnant women in the SLV

For participants with elevated exposure to one of five metals (arsenic, manganese, cadmium, uranium, tungsten), they will be provided with a new innovative water filtration system specifically designed to remove metals from drinking water.

If you or someone you know is pregnant, age 18+, living in the San Luis Valley, and would like to participate, they can contact Dr. Kathy James at kathy.james@cuanschutz.edu or (303) 724-8169 or Francesca Macaluso at francesca.macaluso@cuanschutz.edu. Participation is at no cost and incentives for participation will be offered.

SLVEC project lead: Anna Lee Vargas, San Luis Valley Program Manager for CU Anschutz. slv.valleygirl@gmail.com

Colorado Native Plant Society Annual Conference

What: 2023 Colorado Native Plant Society Annual Conference (CoNPS) Annual Conference and Colorado Natural Heritage Program (CNHP) Rare Plant Symposium

Theme: Flora of the San Luis Valley: History, Culture, and Science

When: Friday, September 22 - Sunday, September 24, 2023

Where: Adams State University, San Luis Valley

Agenda:

Friday - CNHP Rare Plant Symposium, McDaniels Hall

Saturday - CoNPS Conference, Richardson Hall

Sunday - Field trips around the San Luis Valley

Hunters & Anglers Steering Renewables Development in the Right Direction

How do hunters and anglers reap the benefits of cleaner air and water, and healthier landscapes for people and wildlife while deeply engaging and working to conserve and protect natural resources from possible negative impacts?

Hunters and anglers know as well as anyone the negative effects of climate change and how fish, wildlife and their habitats need special consideration when developing any resource.

This film explores what and how we in the sporting community need to consider and do as our nation begins a huge new build out of renewable energy sources.

New Art Exhibit Opens in Hooper, CO

Marguerite Humeau, Artist

Located in Hooper, Colorado, the exhibit consists of the land in its entirety, as well as a series of eighty-four kinetic and interactive sculptures that invoke the land’s histories and vast network of interrelations. Dozens of whistling and rhythmic, plant-like sculptures inspired by the native and nomadic vegetation become activated by the wind, a legendary force in the valley, to summon the site’s energies. Also a part of the work are large-scale sculptures that hover over the ground and visually reference the outstretched wings of Sandhill Cranes, iconic birds that migrate through the region, which visitors can lay upon.

President Biden Designates Baaj Nwaavjo I’tah Kukveni – Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument

Photo By Natives Outdoors and Trout Unlimited: The Grand Canyon has a new monument.

New monument – marking fifth new National Monument created by President Biden – will conserve nearly 1 million acres of greater Grand Canyon landscape sacred to Tribal Nations and Indigenous peoples and advance President Biden’s historic climate and conservation agenda

In conjunction with the President’s visit, Biden-Harris Administration announces $44 million investment to strengthen climate resilience across America’s National Parks system.

New Moon Celebration at Frontier Drive in tomorrow night.

Volunteer at the Rio Grande Farm Park

Watershed Coordinator Costilla County Job Posting

Photo Credit: Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, photograph by Carol M. Highsmith

This is a new full-time (40 hrs/week) position. The Costilla County Conservancy District (CCCD) is looking for a self-starter who will exercise considerable initiative to create operating procedures and best practices to succeed.

Newsletter content and design by:

Isabel Lisle (Communications Manager, SLVEC) 

with help from Samantha Lofman (Intern)