San Juan County, Colorado March 15th, 2006 Volume 1, Issue 1 Project Schedule March 15th PHASE I Community Meeting & Project Introduction April/May Animas River Walk April Collections of Mountains, Water & Memories—Animas River Scrapbook May Humanities + Arts + Sciences Workshop June Animas River Celebration & River Clean Up June C©mmunity Meeting & Presentation PHASE II Draft Restoration and Re- development Assessment Tune-Tulv PHASE III Draft Funding Plan July Draft Revitalization Plan Released for Public Comment August Final Plan Meeting & Celebration Animas River Corridor devitalization Plan The project will develop a Revitalization Plan for an approximate 2 mile segment of the Animas River that passes through the town of Silverton, Colorado. San Juan County, Alpine Environmental Services, Animas River Stakeholders Group, and Mountain Studies Institute will partner to provide the county support in the planning process. The Animas River Corridor Plan process will include a series of public meet- ings to involve community members and Obtain feedback on revitalization and rec- reational uses, incorporate technical infor- mation on riparian ecology and hydrology, and produce an Animas River Restoration and Recreation Reuse Plan for guiding de- velopment of die river corridor. The goals of die plan are for county residents to de- velop a vision for die corridor that incorporates eco- nomic renewal and the development of recreational ameni- ties diat could in- clude new trails, fish habitat im- provements, a water park, and odier economic opportunities based upon ecologically sound restoration activities. The process will build upon existing planning docu- ments such as die 1998 San Juan County & Town of Silverton Master Plan and the 2004 Silverton Area Trails Plan. rkfiimas Palley, tire. 1890's SOURCE: Project Goals & Objectives The purpose of this project is to create a com- munity vision to guide clean up, revitalization and reuse of a two-mile section of die Animas River Corridor that incorporates Silverton's mining history, recognizes our mountain com- munity spirit, and respects the natural beauty of die Animas River. The project has three phases; (I) create a community vision for a Revitalization Plan, (II) conduct a Remediation and Restoration Activity Assessment, and (III) research Funding Opportunities to support die Revitalization Plan. Specifically, the project objectives are: • Create a master plan for revitaliza- tion, recreation and restoration of die corridor, • Develop trails and other amenities for recreation in die area for bodi visitors and residents, • Restore wedands and riparian habitat along die corridor, and • Clean up die old Town Dump Site. ------- Page 2 Volume 1, Issue 1 Ways To Contribute to the A.nimas Corridor devitalization Plan Do you have ideas? Would you like to help with an event? Please let us know. Animas River Walk: Join us for a walking tour of die Animas River Corridor to visit die Revitalization Plan focus areas. Walking die river banks and project area will enable us to take a closer look at die river as it is now, tell stories of die river as we remember it, and examine die different historic, ecological and social connections along die way. Mini-presentations will highlight die many assets, opportunities and challenges diat wind diough our project site. Refreshments will be provided. Date TBD. Collections of Mountains, Water and Memories— Animas River Scrapbook: Do you have a favorite memory, picture or memento diat reminds you of die Animas River? Would you like to contribute a poem, map, drawing or essay of what die Animas River- corridor means to you? We are hoping to create a collection of community memories and creative expressions diat will root die Revitalization Plan in community values for die Animas riverscape. Humanities + Arts + Sciences Workshop— Bringing together the pieces: To syndiesize die many different alternatives for die project, you are invited to a design workshop to brainstorm potential ways to combine art, science and die humanities into new recreational and economic assets for San Juan County. Date TBD. Animas River Celebration & Clean Up—June: Roll up your sleeves and dive in to die Animas River- Celebration and Clean Up. The weekend will begin widi an opening and reception for die Animas River Scrapbook, artist contributions, historic exhibits and project work to date. Then Saturday morning, help to clean up debris from die river banks and die Old Town Dump Site. Free raft trips will be provided for volunteers, along widi a raffle of prizes for all who contribute. Sponsored by the Animas River- Stakeholders Group. Tentative date: Saturday, June 17th. "to enable a community to "take back the land"and make it not only useful and productive, but something to call their own— a space or structure that is unique to their community..." www.epa.gov/ brownfields/ RIM brownfields Mine-scarred Lands Initiative The Mine Scarred Lands Initiative is an extension of the Brownfields Federal Partnership chaired by the Environ- mental Protection Agency (EPA). The mission of the group is to foster the clean up and sustainable revitalization of mine-scarred lands and affected communities. The EPA defines mine- scarred lands (MSL) as lands, associated waters, and surrounding watersheds where extraction, beneficiation or processing of ores and minerals (including coal) has oc- curred. Many MSL lands affect both privately- and publicly-owned lands and involve a complex of economic, social and environmental issues. A.nimas Corridor devitalization Project Team For suggestions, comments or more information, please contact one of our project team: Willy Tookey San Juan County Administer s an j uancounty@ frontie r.ne t 970-387-5766 Bill Simon Alpine Environmental Services Animas River Stakeholders Group wsimon@frontier.net 970-385-4138 Beverly Kaiser Silverton/San Juan County Planner bksilverton@frontier.net 970-387-5522 Marcie Demmy Bidwell & Ellen Stein Mountain Studies Institute/DHM Design marcie@mountainstudies.org; 970-426-8863/970-259-1478 e s tein@mountains tudie s. org 970-247-7044 ------- |