Projects

East Fork of the Dolores River Revitalization Project

Contact Information:
OSM/VISTA: Deanna Drew
Supervisor: Mike England, Town Manager, Town of Rico
Address: Town of Rico, PO Box 9, Rico, Colorado 81332
Phone: (970) 967-2864
Email: ddrew@ricocolorado.org
Website: www.ricocolorado.org
US Congressional District: 58
County: Dolores

Description of organization and mission:

Rico is a historic mining community in southwestern Colorado that is situated along the banks of the east fork of the Upper Dolores River and surrounded by the beautiful San Juan National Forest. Town seeks to preserve our beautiful alpine environment and unique mountain town character while our population grows and the community builds a new post-mining economy. Enhancement of the natural environment and clean-up of post-mining impacts is planned to ensure the health and safety of the present population and future generations.

Goals of the OSM/VISTA in the Upper Dolores Watershed:

Deanna will work closely with the Rico Alpine Society, a local non-profit outdoor group whose mission is to protect and preserve the high alpine environment around Rico. The OSM/VISTA plans to include the non-profit and its members in local watershed efforts, and work to establish the protection of water resources as one of the group's main focus areas.

The Rico OSM/VISTA will facilitate citizen involvement with regional watershed issues and initiatives, to establish a membership of concerned citizens and stakeholders who are able to volunteer their time and talents toward the preservation of our watershed. This non-profit group and the town will pursue grant funding for water projects and restoration activities, education and outreach as well as recreational and economic projects for the town.

Rico's OSM/VISTA will be available to assist the town with the development of a new water supply at the Dolores River, and with maintaining the current water supply at Silver Creek. She can also assist the town in pursuing funding for a central wastewater treatment facility where none currently exists. These two very important projects are shovel-ready and currently seeking funding, and are considered the highest priority and absolutely vital to future development and economic revitalization of the town.

Rico's OSM/VISTA will investigate the implementation of Town's Upper Dolores Watershed Plan, which was completed in 2006 and identifies several steps to restore river health through town. She will also help town staff to administer the Wetlands Protection Plan, using the wetlands inventory that town completed in 2004, to assist land owners and land managers with the identification of wetlands and riparian areas and the avoidance of impacts to those natural resources during development activities.

The OSM/VISTA is qualified and able to perform any necessary water quality monitoring or wetland delineations, to collect data for grant applications or ongoing watershed research projects.

Deanna will develop a Source Water Protection Plan for the town and represent Rico at the regional SWPP planning meetings.

The OSM/VISTA will have dedicated office hours at Town Hall to enable citizens with questions to get the answers they need about Town policies and procedures, and status of current projects. She will also coordinate community events, such as an annual river clean-up and hazardous waste disposal day, for the town.

The Rico OSM/VISTA can create fact sheets regarding proposed mining activities in the region and other watershed-related events, and create a partnership with the Rico Elementary School which could include presentations, and leading educational and interpretive field trips for its students.

The OSM/VISTA will maintain her position as the chairwoman of the Rico Planning Commission which gives her a valuable opportunity to plan and initiate projects consistent with the vision of the community. Regular project updates will be provided to the Rico Board of Trustees.

Rico's OSM/VISTA will pursue projects to improve the economic health of our community, which could include the development of recreational and tourism amenities such as a river trail with formal and permanent river access and Nordic skiing and snowshoe trails.

The Rico OSM/VISTA will stay abreast of any proposed development plans including real estate, geothermal and mining. She will distribute information of potential development interests to the community members, so that they are able to create an opinion of proposed development activities.

It is hoped that this OSM/VISTA's work will generate funding for projects that could bring more local jobs to Rico's citizens. Contact with state and federal entities will broaden the scope of the OSM/VISTA's network and she will help make Rico's citizens aware of regional state and federal jobs when they become available.