Chairmans Report Zeke reminds everyone to fill out their time sheets for in kind
match and also spoke of the visit by Barry Levene, Dale Vodehnal, and Sonya Pennock from
the Superfund program of the EPA. They had never been to Creede and decided to see the
area as part of their trip to Summiteville. Zeke, Sandra, and Chuck gave them a tour of
East and West Willow and showed them such community projects as the underground Fire
House, Community Hall, etc. They communicated the need and uses for which the town of
Creede has for the land that Hecla seeks to donate. Before leaving, Barry assured Zeke
that Creede in not presently on any list of any kind for any superfund activity other than
the pre-purchase agreement with Hecla and that he doesn't anticipate any superfund
activities taking place in the near future in this area.
Chuck Barnes pointed out that they were very impressed with the fact that this
community is capable of accomplishing big tasks such as the Underground Museum, Firehouse,
and Community Center.
Zeke spoke about the meeting with the CDPHE sec. 319 funding board that he and Glen
attended. Kathleen Reilly said that things went well and prospects for getting our year
2000 money look good. Our proposal will now be sent to the State Water Quality Board and
then on to the EPA for final approval. Zeke thanks Kathleen for all her efforts on our
behalf.
Report from Steve Russell
The NRCS has a program to encourage volunteers to work with the environment and do
conservation work and it is called the Earth Team. This program periodically awards groups
or individuals for conservation efforts.
Steve announced that we won at the State level and presented a framed certificate to
the committee which honors The Willow Creek Reclamation Committee as the Colorado Earth
Team group of the year.
The Colorado Natural Resources Conservation Service would like to recognize the Willow
Creek Reclamation Committee for its outstanding efforts to conserve natural resources and
its contributions to the Earth Team in 1999.
There is a general applause in approval of this award.
Zeke asks Glen to go to Colorado Springs on November 15th to the awards
ceremony and accept this on behalf of the committee.
Zeke thanks the NRCS for all that they have done to help this committee achieve its
goals.
TAC committee Report by John Howard
John pointed out that the Creede Historical Society is prepared to evaluate the
contracted historical characterization work performed by the WCRC.
The TAC committee is waiting for data from our recent low flow sampling event in order
to make recommendations for future action. There is a TAC committee meeting scheduled for
December 1st (in the evening, after the regular WCRC meeting in the afternoon)
We will spend some time this winter reviewing what to do with the Solomon wetlands come
Spring time.
Frank Sanders spoke of a meeting he has arranged with Dr. Novotney at his office on
November 2nd at 2:30 PM at Adams State College (room 303 science building -
across the street from the Texaco station) about the Solomon Wetland system. It is hoped
that John Howard and members of the TAC can attend, especially Bob Kirkham, Jim Lewis, and
others.
The Forest Service may be interested since part of this system is on Forest Land.
Coordinators Report
Glen Acknowledges the outstanding efforts by the Volunteers, in particular JB Alexander
for organizing the event, Frank Basset, Eric Sandvick, Perry Alspaugh, Cody Adelman, Seth
Miller, Joe Fox, and James Larimore. Glen bragged on the demeanor of Sean Covington and
Pam Anderson of MFG for combining quality and professionalism along with fun for the
successful completion of this sampling event. Frank Sanders spoke of the outstanding
efforts of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in helping with this activity. JB pointed
out that Laura, Andrew, and Clay came to do biological sampling but also worked for days
with chemical analysis sampling. This above and beyond any call of duty is much
appreciated by the committee.
There is a general round of applause for all the volunteers and it is agreed that they
need to be officially thanked by a letter from the committee.
Glen thanked Jim Mietz for making sure that the WCRC was involved with philanthropy
days. Glen attended one day and Susan Baxter attended the next day on behalf of the
committee.
This was a great opportunity to meet with people from foundations and funding agencies.
Rio Bravo event is scheduled for Sunday the 17th. Frank offered to send a
map for our table display.
Glen made a motion that we hold our pot-luck dinner on Saturday Nov. 6th at
6:00 PM. (The other possibility was Oct. 23rd). The vote was for Nov. 6th
even though hunting season will cause a conflict with some people.
Zeke asks all the different stakeholders to provide a table that explains their agencies
activities.
Kathleen advised that we videotape the event. Glen agreed to have a camera there.
Zeke called for a discussion about housing our lab equipment. Sandra said we could
house our lab equipment in the fish hatchery building as long as we understood that we may
have to leave at any time should they decide to do renovating in the building.
We should at least be able to use it for the winter. JB has received in donation to the
committee a counter and sink. We might use the homestake building but the road is not
always plowed in the Winter.
Army Corp Report
David Gregory stated that legislation (Abandoned mine restoration Act of 1999 or
Water Resources Development Act section 560 the amendment is HR2753) has been passed in
the last 45 days that gives the Corp a tool to work with abandoned mine sites. There is 45
million dollars appropriated for this and the scope goes beyond investigations to
engineering and remediation of toxic waste.
With political help, the Creede area could get earmarked for funding from this source
since this funding is appropriated on a project specific basis.
Les Dobson voiced concerns as to how the Forest Service would deal with changes brought
about by Army Corp involvement. David stated that he can’t imagine that the purpose
of this legislation is to pay bills and exonerate responsible parties, but to enhance
communities in dealing with mine waste problems. All such funding would require a 35%
non-federal match; in kind is acceptable. No match is required for work on federal
land.
Glen & JB concluded that any possible money from this probably wouldn’t be
available until 2001. Zeke voiced that if we can become an official project for this
funding, then the money may become available right when we have most or all of the
characterization done and are ready to move forward with reclamation projects in a major
way.
Gary Rutherford spoke of section 205 flood control funding. A feasibility study
of problems with the flume would involve nothing up to the first $100,000 and then would
require a 50% match (in kind) after that. He said that a study of the Creede flume would
probably go over $100,000.
They would first need to determine if there is going to be a federal interest. They
would need to know the flood potential on a 10 year event or possibly a 100 year event.
This number needs to exceed 800 CFS. It was pointed out that Les Dobson and Hugh Kendrick
computed the flood potential of 10 year events on West Willow. It is thought 800 CFS is
out of reach for a 10 year event but we don’t know about a 100 year one. Perry said
that we have flow data from 1951 to 1982 but since then there has been no data collected
at the gauging station until we started it up again a few months back.
According to old data it could cost about 2.4 million dollars to redo the flume through
town. The cities share of this would probably be in the neighborhood of $800,000 which is
owed at the time of construction.
Sandra asked about possible FEMA money. Glen stated that potential money from
FEMA’s preventative flood program should become more clear after they have a series
of October meetings.
Dr. Moorey put on a slide show about revegetation of toxic waste piles with a
minimal of expense by way of planting naturally and artificially selected sub-species.
A tour is planned with Dr. Moorey tomorrow to evaluate the sites. Marvin Reynolds,
Steve Russell, Tim Ouellette, Steven Wardell, JB Alexander, and Glen Miller plan to
attend.
Meeting adjourned shortly after 4:00 PM
Minutes submitted by: Approved and accepted:
_________________________
__________________________
Glen Miller
Zeke Ward
Project Watershed Coordinator
Chairman
Next meeting is scheduled for November 3rd at 1:00 PM at the Creede Town
Hall.
Willow Creek Reclamation Committee Pot-Luck dinner is scheduled for Saturday Nov. 6th
at 6:00 PM. Plan to attend.
Thank You.
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