CRYSTAL RIVER VALLEY, CO – Earlier today, the Town of Marble, Gunnison County, Pitkin County, the Colorado River District, and American Whitewater, also known as the Wild and Scenic Feasibility Collaborative, announced the selection of Wellstone Collaborative Strategies and P2 Solutions to facilitate and lead a community engagement and stakeholder process that will consider the feasibility of a federal Wild and Scenic River designation for the Crystal River in Gunnison and Pitkin Counties.
Wilderness Workshop is a member of the Crystal River Wild & Scenic Coalition, a group of “neighbors, stewards, and enthusiasts of the Crystal River who seek Wild and Scenic status for the Crystal River.” The convening of the stakeholder process by the Collaborative is an important step to identify shared community vision and goals for the Crystal River and its corridor. We look forward to a process that is transparent, welcoming, and educational for all participants. Below are statements from Wilderness Workshop and other coalition members on the selection of a facilitator to lead a community engagement and stakeholder process.
“Community support for protecting the Crystal River is at an all-time high. I’m thrilled to see local municipalities and diverse organizations seizing this opportunity, working collaboratively and finding ways to keep the Crystal as it is: free-flowing and free of dams. The process provides an important opportunity for our community to jointly learn about ways to protect a treasured part of our Valley’s ecosystem, the Crystal River.” – Will Roush, Wilderness Workshop Executive Director
“The health of the Crystal River has been at the heart of all the Crystal Valley Environmental Protection Association (CVEPA) does. We absolutely support protection of the river and are excited to see the forward progress of the stakeholder process. CVEPA encourages our members and supporters to participate in, engage, and learn more about how they can help this important effort to protect the Crystal.” – Suzy Meredith-Orr, CVEPA Board Vice-President & Crystal Valley Resident
As described in the press release, “The initial phase of the stakeholder process will bring together a robust and representative cross-section of interested individuals to provide informed input; examine, explore, and investigate river protection; access and rely on experts in river and riparian health; engage experts to provide factual information relevant to protective designations; agree upon rules of engagement; be a process grounded in the highest integrity and inclusiveness; and result in identification of shared principles for protection of the Crystal River. The stakeholder process will kick off in the first quarter of 2023.“
“Flyfishing the Crystal River in its natural state drives my commitment to keep it wild. Under persistent pressure from drought impacts due to undeniable climate change, demand for the Crystal’s dwindling water supply will likely increase making it more important to protect the survival of this vital stream. I’m pleased to learn about steps being taken to safeguard this breathtaking resource we’re blessed to have running through our backyards.” Lani Kitching – Owner, Proudline Guided Flyfishing
“It’s great to see community members up and down the valley coming together for a common cause. Protecting the Crystal River from dams and out-of-valley water diversions is not only important for our generation, but for generations decades into the future, where the demands for water will intensify dramatically.” – Chuck Downey, Redstone Resident and long-time Wild & Scenic Supporter.
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Wilderness Workshop is a nonprofit organization that protects the wilderness, water, and wildlife of Western Colorado’s public lands. Learn more at WildernessWorkshop.org
Page Header Image: Crystal River in the Fall. Photo courtesy Sam Sheppard.
