Summit County Citizens Voice

Our Future Summit June workshops focus on water.

Expert panels to discuss watershed protection and restoration

By Summit Voice

SUMMIT COUNTY — With roaring high country streams and waterfalls as a backdrop, Our Future Summit this month will focus on a series of panels covering watershed protection and stream restoration.

The first session is set for June 9 (7 p.m. to 9 p.m.) at the Summit County Community & Senior Center, County Commons in Frisco. One of the big questions os whether our communities can afford to focus on watershed and community protection at the same time.

The panelists include: Chuck Rhoades, a research scientist with the US Forest Service; Don Kennedy, with Denver Water; Eric Howell,with Colorado Springs Utilities; and Jeff Lukas, with the Western Water Assessment. John Stednick, a Colorado State University professor and water expert has also been invited.

A week later (June 16, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.), local experts will discuss stream restoration. Brian Lorch will highlight some local success storied, including a project in the Upper Blue near Four Mile Bridge that has helped boost trout populations. Lane Wyatt will give an update on the Snake River Basin, where heavy metals taint the water from Upper Peru Creek all the way to Keystone, and Forest Service hydrologist Cory Lewellen will describe some potential projects on National Forest lands. Clima Mine restoration will also be on the agenda.

The series wraps up with a luncht-time panel on June 23 at CMC in Breckenridge with input from author and water investor Steve Maxwell (The Future of Water) followed by Eric Kuhn, director of the Colorado River Water Conservation District on the looming problems with the Colorado River. Closing with water attorney Barney White on the tools available to solve the problems and are they adequate for the task. Please RSVP to Future1946@yahoo.com.

Filed under: Colorado, Environment, Summit County Colorado, Summit County news, water Tagged: | stream restoration, Summit County Colorado, Summit County News, water, watershed protection