Projects

Lake Fork Valley Conservancy

Contact Information:
OSM/VISTA: Katie Testa
Supervisor: Lyn Lampert
Address: PO Box 123, Lake City, CO 81235
Phone: 970.944.2344
Email: lfws AT lfws DOT org
Website: www.lfws.org
U.S. Congressional District: 58
County: Hinsdale

Description of organization and mission:

A diverse group of citizens along with resource managers from county, state and federal agencies came together in January of 2002 to better understand the resources and impacts within the watershed and to initiate a collaborative, community effort to deal proactively with these issues. The group recognized that historic impacts in the watershed along with the expected future demands from increased growth and recreational use required forward thinking through a watershed approach to ensure good stewardship. It is our vision that the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River drainage be a healthy watershed that is defined by a balance of resource conservation, economic opportunity, recreational activities and community values. The health of the watershed will be sustained, protected and improved by a broad-based partnership of an educated citizenry, nonprofit groups and governmental entities.

American Basin, Lake Fork of the Gunnison. Photo © Barbara Hite.

Our Mission: We are a stakeholder-based partnership providing for stewardship of our natural, cultural, recreational, community and economic resources through research, education and outreach, and land restoration and conservation, to ensure the health and maintain the character of the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River watershed.

The LFWS has been concentrating its efforts in watershed education, assessment, restoration, and strategic watershed planning. Since 2003, three grants totaling nearly $200,000 and over 3000 hours of volunteer time have been received toward these ends.

We have conducted numerous public information and planning meetings, with such topics as water quality, mine permitting, cadmium impacts on ptarmigan, river restoration and trout habitat. Over 200 citizens have benefited from these educational and informational programs. In addition, our outreach efforts through the local paper have reached an audience of over 1500. Major synoptic sampling efforts were conducted in 2005 and 2006 to assess water quality in the upper reaches of the watershed that are most impacted from historic mining. Henson Creek water quality data and mine waste data from selected mine sites was used to write the Reclamation Feasibility Report, Henson Creek Watershed. This report outlines and ranks the most important mine sites for reclamation and recommends Best Management Practices. To date, three sites have been identified for restoration with construction activities started in 2007. The LFWS has also worked to develop Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) for Palmetto Gulch, a tributary to Henson Creek, which is listed as water quality impaired on Colorado's 303(d) List due to high levels of zinc and cadmium. The Federal Clean Water Act requires the adoption of Total Maximum Daily Loads for water bodies that do not meet adopted water quality standards. The purpose of the TMDL Assessment is to identify reductions in cadmium and zinc concentrations from mining sources that will enable the segment to support aquatic life and to meet the adopted water quality standards. Attainment of the adopted water quality standards for cadmium and zinc will require reductions in both mining and natural sources of these metals.

Water quality sampling in Palmetto Gulch, an area listed as impaired due to mining.

We recently were awarded the EPA's Environmental Achievement Award, which will be presented to us in Gunnison during the River Awareness Week events in August.

Goal of OSM/VISTA in the Lake Fork Valley Conservancy:

The OSM/VISTA will serve as Watershed Development Coordinator and will assist the LFWS in building the capacity of the organization to become self-sustaining after three years. Specific activities will be done that fulfill the core goals of the WHWT.

The OSM/VISTA member will organize community water quality monitoring teams, conduct community outreach programs (especially in the public school), write grants, establish partnerships for community development, and oversee the implementation of the LFWS Watershed Stewardship Plan. As an involved, active member of the community, the OSM/VISTA member will raise the profile of the LFWS and will gain an insider's view of community development issues.

The Lake Fork Valley Conservancy has functioned with a small core of highly committed individuals for five years. Participation by local citizens is less than desired. A major goal of this OSM/VISTA project is to increase citizen participation in the LFWS, and thus increase the capacity to meet watershed needs in the future. The anticipated outcome of the three-year project will be greater citizen commitment to the stewardship of the watershed through continued involvement in the LFWS. We also desire to see the economic foundations of the community strengthened through watershed improvement projects that create more attractive areas for recreation and features that highlight the area's history and natural history. The increased involvement of those affected by poverty in LFWS projects will enhance a sense of ongoing stewardship for both the environmental and economic health of the watershed.