Statement and signatures from SLV Ecosystem Council opposing RWR water export plan
Douglas County Commissioners;
We, the undersigned, were very disappointed to learn that the public forum portion of your site visit to discuss the Renewable Water Resources (RWR) proposal in the San Luis Valley, at Ski Hi in Monte Vista, on Saturday, March 26th, was canceled.
We need to understand why you asked several individuals from the San Luis Valley (SLV), including professionals from state agencies, to take time out of their busy schedules to participate in your “due diligence work sessions” meetings to explain RWR potential impacts, over the past few months?
In response, SLV representatives compiled critical research and presented significant facts and valuable findings that embody generations of historical water knowledge of the Rio Grande basin. Your reaction to this good faith effort has been complete dismissal, even disdain.
Editors’ Note:
Alamosa Citizen will publish statements from public officials about issues specific to the San Luis Valley.
It has also come to our attention that the Commission has instead been funding its own parallel RWR study, hiring your own expertise, to perhaps draw your own premeditated conclusions. We are dumbfounded by the lack of integrity and respect being shown towards this public “due diligence” process, which appears to be more of a charade. How can this possibly benefit your constituency?
It is also unfortunate that we didn’t get the opportunity to discuss with you the following issues that continue to be of importance to us and likely Douglas County as a whole:
- Who will be the end user of this water right? Why has that question not been answered every time Commissioner Lora Thomas, the only Commissioner with the willingness and courage to question the RWR proposal, when brought up during several work sessions? Why wouldn’t Douglas County citizens want to know “who the end user is” if you are practicing “due diligence”?
- Who are the private investors funding the RWR proposal? Wouldn’t Douglas County want to know and share with your constituency and the San Luis Valley community, who the County is investing/partnering $10 million of their taxpayer dollars with? Public/private partnerships need to be transparent. Where exactly is this private investment capital coming from? It would be prudent to understand the monetary influences involved.
- At 22,000 acre-ft/yr, the RWR diversion proposal would be the 7th-largest trans-basin diversion in Colorado, and the only groundwater diversion. The Groundwater Rules require that the “Confined Aquifer be regulated so as to maintain a Sustainable Water Supply in the Confined Aquifer with due regard for the daily, seasonal and long-term demand for underground water.” This requirement will have a direct impact on the future use of groundwater within the San Luis Creek Response Area, where the RWR proposal is located. How does Douglas County propose to circumnavigate this state regulation?
In conclusion, the RWR proposal is squandering precious time and resources which instead could be directed towards building infrastructure that facilitates long term conservation measures and reserves real water capacity for Douglas County residents.
Attentively submitted,
(List of Signers Current as of May 12, 2022)
– Christine Canaly (SLVEC Director) Crestone, CO
– Isabel Lisle (Communications Manager SLVEC) Alamosa, CO
– Nathan Rees (Fort Carson Surveyor) Colorado Springs, CO
– Wendy Chanden (Retired) Crestone, CO
– Dana Ming (Builder) Crestone, CO
– Paul Koppana (Builder) Crestone, CO
– Claire Barker (Dairy Goat Farmer) Mosca, CO
– Nekai Eversole (Biology) Crestone, CO
– Kim Moultney (Retired) Littleton, CO
– Barbara Tidd (Chaffee County Deputy Clerk) Salida, CO
– Jillian Ellzey (Retired) Crestone, CO
– Shelly Catterson (Writer / Bookseller) Pinecliffe, CO
– Richard Haswell (Retired) Del Norte, CO
– Sharon Corcoran (Editor) Crestone, CO
– Janet Woodman (Editor) Crestone, CO
– Jane Sellers (PA) Crestone, CO
– Joanna Davoudlarian (Business Owner) Alamosa, CO
– Catherina Alelyunas (Nurse, Licensed Acupuncturist) Crestone, CO
– PAMELA RAMADEI (EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP COACH) CRESTONE, CO
– Peggy Serry (Retired Teacher) Alamosa, CO
– Eli Dokson (District Superintendent) Crestone, CO
– Shoshannah Smith (Self Employed Business Owner) Crestone, CO
– James Henwood (Food Service) Crestone, CO
– Yada Bean (Contractor) Crestone, CO
– Cindy Reinhardt (Retired) Crestone, CO
– Lisa Rosen (Retired Veteran) Moffat, CO
– Alex Congdon (Mechanical Engineer) Crestone, CO
– Nancy Neal (Retired) Del Norte, CO
– Peter Taylor (Retired) Crestone, CO
– Nancy Wilkie (Physical Therapist) Alamosa, CO
– Amulya Beechwood (Office Manager) Crestone, CO
– Anne Kelly (Business Owner) Crestone, CO
– Charles Tidd (Chair, Saguache County Democrats) Moffat, CO
– Stephen Hume (Filmmaker) Crestone, CO
– Elizabeth Kinney (Retired Physician) Alamosa, CO
– Rhonda Schoenecker (Professor) Alamosa, CO
– Norah Tunney Goodnight (Retired) Crestone, CO
– Mark Seaton (Retired) Mosca, CO
– Lisa Haskins (Photographer) Crestone, CO
– Arielle Blackwell (Entrepreneur) Crestone, CO
– E DESMARAIS (Volunteer) Crestone, CO
– Rose Burek (Artist) Crestone, CO
– Josefina Gordh (Artist / Designer) Crestone, CO
– Rachel Kellum (Teacher at Moffat School, San Luis Valley) Crestone, CO
– Karen Hendersn (Farmer in the San Luis Valley) La Jara, CO
– Merry Colony (Retired) Crestone, CO
– Alison Ramadei (Mother) Crestone, CO
– Julia Voss (Retired) Crestone, CO
– Katherine McElroy (Retired) Crestone, CO
– Holly Thompson (Program Coordinator) Alamosa, CO
– Heather Quick (Teacher) Saguache, CO
– Kenneth Price (Retired) Fort Garland, CO
– Dr. Monica Falk (Community College Instructor) Del Norte, CO
– John Koshak (Retired) Penrose, CO
– Jennifer Jenkins (Software support Tech) Crestone, CO
– John Plenge (Education) Crestone, CO
– Susan Nicaise (Retired) Crestone/ Baca Grande, CO
– Lori Booth (Retired) Crestone, CO
– Michael Booth (Retired) Crestone, CO
– Christina Serna (Food Service Director) Saguache, CO
– Joanna Dokson (RN, EMS administration) Crestone, CO
– Teanna Grote (Rancher/Farmer) Moffat, CO
– PJ Bergin (Visual artist, baker and social activist) Salida, CO
– Gladys Richardson (Retired Psychiatrist) ALAMOSA, CO
– Mark Jacobi (Facilities Manager) Crestone, CO
– Kathleen Willow (Artisan, Herbalist) Crestone, CO
– Lisa Abeyta (Science Teacher) Antonito, CO
– Ándrea Trujillo Guajardo (Project Officer) Lakewood, CO
– Pamela McBride (Retired) Crestone, CO
– Colin Henderson (MD Emergency Physician) La Jara, CO
– Sarah Owens (Educator) Alamosa, CO
– Cory Renay Friendshuh (Mental health counselor) La Jara, CO
– Anna Greenberg (Conservation Professional) Alamosa, CO
– Jodi Tucker (Artist) Crestone, CO
– Beata Ramza (Public Service) Alamosa, CO
– Chelsilyn Schalamon (Backyard2Backcountry Program Coordinator, Alpine Achievers Initiative )Villa Grove, CO
– Ally Jean Arnold (Local Food Advocate) Alamosa, CO
– Star Char Lema (Blue Star Agriculture) Crestone, CO
– Simon Essig Aberg (Teacher) Alamosa, CO
– Connor Born (River restoration) Alamosa, CO
– Laura Miles (Real Estate Broker) Crestone, CO
– Christine Weeber (Editor) Black Hawk
– Valentina Valdez (Program Director) La Jara, CO
– Kathy Daley (Retired) Monte Vista, CO
– Rick Hart (Real Estate Broker) Crestone, CO
– Lynette Grant (Nurse) Alamosa, CO
– Sasha Petrovick (Counselor) Moffat, CO
– Peter Sawtell (Retired Clergy) Denver, CO
– Rev. Allyson Sawtell (Retired clergy) Denver, CO
– Barbara Ayres (Retired teacher) Estes Park, CO
– Holly Ray (Self employed) Crestone, CO
– Nicole Cyr (Biologist) Driggs, Idaho
– Mary Alice Trujillo (Retired teacher) Antonito, CO
– Connor Kelly (Academic Coach) Alamosa, CO
– Jill Lindsay Johnson (Concerned Citizen) Pueblo, CO
– Teresa Grimsley (Retired pharmacist) Alamosa, CO
– Harold Grimsley (Retired, state of AR) Alamosa, CO
– Christi Sardakowski (Remodeling Contractor) Arvada, CO
– Leslie Chouinard (Fashion designer) Moffat, CO
– Stephen Scott (Retired) Broomfield, CO
– Melanie Gudgel (Retired teacher) Loveland, CO
– Meryl Ennis (Retired) Crestone, CO
– Marcy Peterson (Retail store owner) Cedaredge , Colorado
– Emily Felix (Administrator) Aurora, CO
– Johnny Hollywood (Retired Educator) Crestone, CO
– Clan Donald@Silverbrook (Retired Postal) Crestone, CO
– Anna Osterhout (Farmer) Hooper, CO
– Anja Whitaker (Clerk) Fountain, CO
– Kayli Gurlue (Student age 10) Guadelupe, CO
– Emily Daisy Valdez (Unemployed) La Jara, CO
– Tiffany Sherman (Educator) Manassa, CO
– Ana Atencio (Retired) Colorado Springs, CO
– Jake Kunugi (Engineer) Blanca, CO
– Doug Bishop (Executive Director, Orient Land Trust) Moffat, CO
– Melissa Schneider (Management) Alamosa, CO
– Austin Sisson (Software Developer) Alamosa, CO
– Jeana James (Self employed) Crestone, CO
– Randi Young (Retired) South Fork, CO
– Terry Young (Retired) South Fork, CO
– Lori Hathaway (Business Administrator & Farming) Monte Vista, CO
– Whitney Johnson (Nonprofit) Denver, CO
– William Hauser (Furniture Maker/Photographer) Monte Vista, CO
– Scott Kunugi (Retired Police Officer) Brighton, CO
– Antonio Rivera (Artist) Alamosa, CO
– Tai Koester (Community Organizer) Boulder, CO
– Diana Miller-ter Kuile (Agronomist) La Jara, CO
– Julie Messick (Retired) Monte Vista, CO
– Ken Stamps (Retired) Forest Grove, Oregon
– Kathy Christensen (Emt Intermediate) Blanca, CO
– Miguel Gaspar (Artist) Denver, CO
– Kevin Milder (Data Analyst) Alamosa, CO
– Mark Simmons (Executive Director) Alamosa, CO
– Carlin Martinez (Billing Coordinator Red Willows SLV Transportation) Manassa, CO
– Iris Devlin (Inventory Analyst) South Fork, CO
– Daniel Hatton (Service Manager) Monte Vista, CO
– Blake Willis (Student) Alamosa, CO
– Kyle Masterson (Mountain Master Off-Road Tours) Alamosa, CO
– Kory Mosher (Retired Military) Crestone, CO
– Linette Nye Schmidt (Business Owner) South Fork, CO
– Leo Kazeck (Agriculture) Del Norte, CO
– Shannon Hamilton (Physical Therapist) Sanford, CO
– Clay Hamilton (Machinist) Sanford, CO
– Nicholena Cornum (Caregiver) Alamosa, CO
– Peggy Petry (Retired) South Fork, CO
– Margaret Chavez (Dentist) Alamosa, CO
– Martha Kennedy (Retired University Professor) Monte Vista, CO
– Orlando DuPont (Massage Therapist) Del Norte, CO
– Melanie Dickey (Ranch Manager) South Fork, CO
– Andy Dickey (Ranch Manager) South Fork, CO
– Tiffinie Hettinger (Content Manager) Crestone, CO
– Jared Hettinger (EMT) Crestone, CO
– Antoinette DuPont (Stay at home mom) Monte Vista, CO
– James Ryan (Cosmetologist) Del Norte, CO
– Tony Brown (Builder) Crested Butte, CO
– Brenda Chavez (Retired) Alamosa, CO
– Bradley Heredia (Heavy equipment operator) Alamosa, CO
– Antonette Trujillo (Garden Educator -CCW) Antonito, CO
– Bonnie Prado (Self employed) Littleton, CO
– Matthew Iklé (Math/computer science/AI researcher) Alamosa, CO
– Brittany Baize (Non-Profit Human Services) Villa Grove, CO
– Pauline Davis (Agriculture) La Jara, CO
– Georgian Douglas (Marketing) Saguache, CO
– Victor Rivera (Builder) Saguache, CO
– Susan Pierce (Educator and Scientist) Del Norte, CO
– Amanda Phillips (Retreat Host) Austin, TX
– Kyla Ostler (Concerned Citizen) Ft Collins, CO
– Elsa Pageler (Video production) Del Norte, CO
– Jolecia Mccaskill (Student age 10) Antonito, CO
– Breanna Ortiz (Business owner) La jara, CO
– Tyler Griffith (Facility Manager) Costilla County, CO
– Demi Rivera (Cosmetology) Parker, CO
– Leah Thomas (Realtor) Farmington, CO
– Solange Zanetti (teacher) Aurora, CO
– Suzannah Marlow (Wildlife Biologist) Del Norte, CO
– Jon Morgan (State Trooper) Sanford, CO
– Ryan Watters (Hydrology Technician – BLM) Alamosa, CO
– Cath Morin (Retired, small producer) Alamosa, CO
– Suzanne Gosar (Retired Farmer and Rancher) Del Norte, CO
– Lois Maxwell (Retired Public School Teacher) Colorado Springs, CO
– Phillip Ehrlich (Rancher on Costilla Ditch ShareHolder) Alamosa, CO
– Melissa Madril (HairDresser) Antonito, CO
– Adriana Galue (Business Owner) Saguache, CO
– Sara Gilbert (Business Owner) Monte Vista, CO
– Lindsey Paulson (Physician) Wray, CO
– Mark Evans (Retired) Crestone, CO
– Eli Jost (AmeriCorps Member) Cañon City, CO
– Ashlyn Stewart (Educator) Salida, CO
– Joseph Gallegos (Business owner) La Jara, CO
– Stephanie Gallegos (Artist/Business Owner) La Jara, CO
– Danielle Wobith (Herbalist) ALAMOSA, CO
– Kathylee Duran (Actor) Monte Vista, CO
– Randolph Duran (Retired) Monte vista, CO
– Lisa Bodey (Nonprofit Director) Crestone, CO
– Merry Colony (Retired) Crestone, CO
– Izzy ter Kuile (Horticulture Technician) La Jara, CO
– Deborah Burns (Retired) Crestone, CO
– Tiffany Quintana Manassa, CO
– Audrey Oliver (Public Service, Law Student) Denver, CO
– Alfirio Martinez (Self Employed) Denver, CO
– Ruth Arnold (Retired) Crestone, CO
– Candace Weiss (Teacher) Denver, CO
– Karen Mohr (Property Manager) Denver, CO
– Susan Andrews (Retired) Colorado Springs CO
– Julie Flynn (Teacher) Denver, CO
– Gregory Griffin (Independent Consultant) Crestone, CO
– Nekai Eversole (Environmental Education) Crestone, CO
– Lisa Chumley (Artist) Littleton, CO
– Katie Goodleaf (Volunteer Coordinator) Monte Vista, CO
– Victoria Gray (Mother/homemaker) Crestone, CO
– Marisa Beatey (Hospitality) Florence, CO
– Shane Andis (Innkeeper) Crestone, CO
– Alanna platt (Self employed) Crestone, CO
– Reanna Pourier (Plant tech.) Moffat, CO
– Cathal O’Malley (Self employed) Crestone, CO
– Kelly Jo Lampi (Caregiver) Crestone, CO
– Dome Moon (Artist) Crestone, CO
– Matt Langer (Software engineer) Creede, CO
– Cassady Ebey (Mother) Crestone, CO
– Cassie Morningstar (Self Employed – Business Owner) Crestone, CO
– Phylesha Mirelez (Cosmetologist) Crestone, CO
– Angie Welsh (Entrepreneur – outdoor industry) Twin Lakes, CO
– Rita Schneider (Self employed) Alamosa, CO
– Sharon Shortridge (Retired farmer, teacher) Centennial, CO
– Hayden Poe (Student) Antonito, CO
– Celina (Educator) Antonito, CO
– Rut (Dancer) Antonito, CO
– Rudolfo (Student) Capulín, CO
– Rachael Large (Student) Antonito, CO
– Karen Ruthberg (Retired) Lakewood, CO
– Cindy Grainget (Worker) Englewood, CO
– Douglas Beechwood (Filmmaker, Property Owner, Public Servant) Crestone, CO
– Grant Martin (AmeriCorps Member) Cañon City, CO
– Leslie Lomas (retired) Boulder, CO
– Zaylah Pearson-Good (Communications/Mother) Crestone, CO
– Julia Voss (retired) Crestone, CO
– Jessica Forman (Writer) Crestone, CO
– Eileen Bresnahan (Retired) Colorado Springs, CO
– William Miller (Retired) Crestone, CO
– Jimbo Buickerood (President, Hermosa Company Ditch) Hermosa, CO
– Amy Johnston (Server) Fort Collins, CO
– Alan Apt (Writer) Nederland, CO
– Laurence (Environmental author, technical writer) Nederland, Colorado
– Tom Sobal (Quiet Use Coalition Director) Salida, CO
– David Hallock (Conservation Planner) Eldora, CO
– Robyn Cascade (Volunteer Leader, Great Old Broads for Wilderness, Northern San Juan Chapter) Ridgway, CO
– Larry Caswell (Retired) Red Feather Lakes, CO
– Alison Gallensky (Conservation Geographer) Westminster, CO
– Ben Katz (Environmental Advocate) Paonia, CO
– Krystal (Mother/Homemaker/Ex-Business Owner) Blanca, CO
– Shane (Agricultural Development/Farmer) Blanca, CO
– Barbara Vasquez (Environmental Representative, North Platte Basin Roundtable) Cowdrey, CO
– Jane (Non-Profit Conservation management) Aspen, CO
