Monday, August 6, 2012

Public Info about the Tire Flood Incident

8/13/2012 -- UPDATED DOCUMENTS/MINUTES/ARTICLES ARE POSTED ON MY WEB SITE:  WWW.LYNNPADGETTFOROURAYCOUNTY.ORG/TIRES.HTML

 The Public Hearing Scheduled for tomorrow has been cancelled.  Here is the revised agenda for the tire matter:  1:30pm (4H Event Center) -- The Public Hearings that were scheduled have been cancelled as adjudicatory hearings, and the BOCC will consider a proposed settlement agreement to resolve the county’s claims under the Rubbish Ordinance and the Solid Wastes Disposal Sites and Facilities Act. Public comment may
be taken, but will be limited to discussion of the proposed settlement agreement. Action may be taken by the Board on this item.
Public Hearing – Notice and Order to Show Cause concerning Removal of Rubbish: (This hearing was continued from July 24, 2012 to August 14, 2012.) Cancelled
Public Hearing – Notice of Violation pursuant to C.R.S. § 30-20-100 et, seq., the Solid Wastes Disposal Sites and Facilities Act: Cancelled
Disclaimer -- I have tried to include everything I know of in the public record. However, due to numerous correspondence between different attorneys and the volume of information, it is possible something may have been inadvertently missed.

Web Sites:

Photos from August 5, 2011 Ouray County Plaindealer, used with permission.
Photo from September 22, 2011 Ouray County Plaindealer, used with permission. Original source: CDPHE.

Newspaper Articles:

2011
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  • Sep 22, 2011: State requests cleanup, by Jessi Marlatt(Ouray County Plaindealer) -- "Gunn and Maynes told authorities from the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment and the Ouray County Sheriff's Department during a site inspection on Aug. 12 that Maynes (owner of Maynes Tire in Montrose) has been supplying Gunn with tires for erosion mitigation at his property for roughly 15 year. They estimated roughly 4,000 tires remain on the property."
 
 
  • Oct 20, 2011: Army investigates Unc tires, by Jessi Marlatt(Ouray County Plaindealer) -- "According to the letter from the DA: 'Section 404 of the Clean Water Act requires a DA permit to be obtained prior to the discharge of dredged or fill material into waters of the United States, including wetlands. Since a DA permit has not been issued authorizing this discharge, the work appears to be in violation of the Clean Water Act."
 
 
 
 
 
2012
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



Ouray County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Meeting Minutes:

2011
2012

Reports & Correspondence:

July 26, 2011 -- TIRE INCIDENT HAPPENS -- 1,000 or more waste tires are washed down aver 14 miles of Burro Cr, Cow Cr, and Uncompahgre River waterways from source on an Ouray County private property.
2011
2012

Photos (click on any photo to see an enlargement):

July 26, 2011, Tires and debris photographed on the Uncompahgre River near Buckhorn Road (photos courtesy of RIGGS):

November 2011, UWP volunteers spend 50 hours on 2 days removing 48 tires from State land at Cow Creek (photos courtesy of UWP):

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Wednesday, August 1, 2012

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS & COUNTY FIRE RESTRICTIONS -- changes & updates effective 8/1/2012

Ouray County Fire Ban & Restrictions --

Due to additional significant recent rain and an increase in moisture within potential fuels, as well as Ouray County's desire to not burden residents and visitors with fire restrictions that are not absolutely necessary, all fire restrictions have been rescinded due to a decrease in fire hazard. This action was made at the recommendation of the Ouray County Sheriff and is in sync with the actions of federal land management agencies and other nearby counties. The Board of County Commissioners had a special session on August 1st and unanimously passed Resolution 2012-022: "Fire Restrictions Removal".

Certain NON-agricultural controlled burns are still regulated by Ordinance 2012-01: "Open Burning Notification For Slash". In 2012, a new Colorado state law and unfunded mandate required Ouray County to enact a slash burn notification system, but agricultural burns are specifically exempted.

Please also sign-up and check out:
Ouray County Target Notification Service (TNS) -- for all residents & property owners

Ouray County Wireless Emergency Notification Service (WENS) -- all residents & visitors

Ouray County web site

Log Hill Fire Department web site

Are you ready for an emergency?-- check out www.ready.gov
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Sunday, July 22, 2012

County Road 1 Escarpment Work Starts Monday 7/23


Work Starts on South County Road 1, Expect 30 Minute Delays Between 7:00 am and 6:00 pm -- revised construction schedule:

Just received this revised information about traffic control today, Thursday, August 9 --

The County Road 1 Escarpment Repair Project has been progressing ahead of schedule. Additionally, although traffic control delays can be up to 30 minutes, the contractor has had few delays of that extent with most being 10 minutes or less. The latest estimated schedule is as follows:

Friday August 10                          Expect 2 separate one-way traffic zones. Delays will be 10-30 minutes; During 30 minute delays, traffic will be allowed through on the half hour (8:00, 8:30, 9:00, etc.)

Mon. Aug. 13 - Tues. Aug. 14      Expect 2 separate one-way traffic zones. Delays will be 15-30 minutes; During 30 minute delays, traffic will be allowed through on the half hour (8:00, 8:30, 9:00, etc.)

Wed. Aug 15 – Friday Aug. 17    Expect short delays of 5-15 minutes. If longer delays are necessary due to unforeseen circumstances, traffic will be allowed through on the half hour (8:00, 8:30, 9:00, etc.)

Mon. August 20 – Thurs. Aug. 24 Delays will be 15-30 minutes; During 30 minute delays, traffic will be allowed through on the half hour (8:00, 8:30, 9:00, etc.)


Please be aware that the above estimated schedule may vary due to weather conditions, and other circumstances outside the contractor’s control.

Please drive carefully and obey all posted speed limits and cautionary signs. At times there may be severe bumps and asphalt drop-offs.

_________________________________________________________________________________
Schedule updated Monday, July 23 -- 
Mon 7/23-Tues 7/24:  Mobilize equipment, layout materials, saw asphalt
Wed 7/25 - Fri 8/17: Install culverts, repair drainages, replace asphalt on cuts
Wed 8/15-Fri 8/31: Patch and crack seal asphalt
Mon 9/3-Mon 9/10:  Chip seal
  


Diagram by Ouray County Commissioner Lynn Padgett showing the approximately 2.17-mile section of the County Road 1 to receive repairs.
 
The Ouray County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) placed repairs to culverts and slumping "soft spots" on the south side of County Road 1, known as the "Escarpment" section on our priority list.  In 2011 we worked on the dangerous and expensive potholes on the north side of CR1.  In 2012 we scoped work on the potholes and slumps of the escarpment area on the south side of CR1.  The issues on CR1 are due to substandard or failing base material that is exacerbated by moisture penetrating the road base and causing cave-ins and other issues.

County Road & Bridge Department worked with County Engineer Bill "Frowny" Frownfelter of Russell Engineering to develop a work plan that includes replacement of 6 culverts and 9 soft spots in early 2012.  The entire 2.17 miles will be chip sealed and crack sealed.  (Detailed drawings on aerial photos can be downloaded HERE.)

In order to get the original bid cost of traffic control down lowered by $44,000, the county took on the task of contracting for traffic control separately rather than to include traffic control costs in the road work bid award.  To keep these costs down as low as possible and to accomplish the work as quickly as possible, including giving the best odds of finishing as soon as possible, hopefully prior to the first day of school on August 27, the BOCC agreed to having both lanes of the road closed.  One lane will open for traffic at 30 minute intervals, anticipated to be at the top and bottom of each hour, throughout the 10 hour work day.  Two lanes will be open during non-work hours, from 5:30 pm to 7:30 am.  Emergency vehicles will be able to get through the work area at all times.  This arrangement will cut the need to 2 additional traffic controllers.

Mobile signs warning of work and traffic disruptions have been placed on the south and north ends of County Road 1 as well as near the project area.

Funds for this project would come from those already budgeted for the project from the Log Hill Bond and Interest Fund and from the Road and Bridge Paving Maintenance Reserve and Sales Tax funds. E.C.O.'s contract totals $362,332.12.  The contract for traffic control is for up to $24,335, from Sir StripeALot.  The actual cost for traffic control will be for time and materials.
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Thursday, July 5, 2012

27th SOW, Cannon Air Force Base terminates the low altitude training area environmental analysis (9/2011 EA)

On June 21 the U.S. Air Force issued this press release regarding the proposed Low Altitude Tactical Navigation (LATN) aka Low Altitude Training Area (LATA) for Colorado and New Mexico:

Press release: Air Force terminates low altitude training area environmental analysis
Published: Thursday, June 21st, 2012 
CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, N.M.  -- Air Force Special Operations Command leadership concluded that a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) could not be reached through the current Environmental Assessment (EA) of the 27th Special Operations Wing's Low Altitude Training Area proposal currently under review.

Leadership anticipated that the No Action Alternative presented in the LATA proposal would not meet the wing's training requirements. Subsequently, the current EA action will be terminated and the Air Force will conduct a deeper analysis on a broader scope of wing training requirements.

"After careful evaluation, it became clear that a Finding of No Significant Impact could not be reached for this EA and still accomplish all of the training critical for our special operations forces," said Brig. Gen. Michael Kingsley, AFSOC vice commander.

The decision to terminate the current EA was influenced by the limited scope of the proposal; the valuable comments received from the public, agencies and other interested parties; and the existing need to supplement portions of the Beddown Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) at Cannon AFB, said Kingsley.
The wing, however, continues to have a requirement to train aircrews in low altitude flying. Currently this is being accomplished through the use of established Military Training Routes, Special Use Airspace, Visual Flight Rules, and excess capacity from other bases. All of these methods adhere to FAA regulations and Air Force Instructions. However, they provide less than optimal training and will not be sufficient as Cannon continues to receive its full complement of aircraft, expected to be complete in 2017.

"We still need to conduct flying training missions." said Col. Buck Elton, 27 SOW commander. "The wing operates nine different types of aircraft, each with unique training requirements. We are now conducting a complete review of all of our training needs, including, but not limited to, low altitude flying."

The requirement to assess the impact of low-altitude training, which drove the LATA EA, now overlaps with the Air Force's responsibility to assess additional training needs that were not fully known or entirely addressed during the initial Cannon Beddown EIS and Record of Decision in 2007, including requirements learned from recent operations. Fiscal realities and Air Force guidance indicate a transition to a more comprehensive analysis of the alternatives available to meet Cannon's training requirements would be wise.
Currently, the 27th Special Operations Wing is refining its flying training requirements. When these requirements are fully defined, the Air Force will follow the implementing regulations prescribed by the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) to determine the appropriate action.

"The NEPA process helps us make well-informed environmental decisions. We intend to fully define our training requirements, and then take the most appropriate action to meet those requirements," said Elton.
These fully defined training requirements may require more detailed environmental impact analysis and may lead to preparation of an EIS. The Air Force expects to make this determination in early 2013.
"We will find the best way to achieve our critical training objectives while remaining good neighbors to the people of Colorado and New Mexico and good stewards of our environment," said Kingsley.
While this is good news for those who took the position that a serious and accurate analysis of potential impacts and appropriate mitigation measures was needed before the Air Force moved forward with the proposal, it is unfortunate this Press Release was not directly emailed to those who took the time to submit written and oral comments.  
On June 11th, 2012, (before the above press release was ever issued) I was made aware by reporter, about the Denver Post article that stated that the LATN proposal had been "postponed indefinitely".  After reading the June 5th Denver Post article (CLICK HERE), I went to the Cannon Air Force Base web site.  From the June 5th press release Cannon Air Force Base had posted on their web site,  there was nothing that said the Air Force was postponing indefinitely -- just that they were reevaluating their training needs and would make a decision on whether a more detailed study was needed in early 2013.   Here is what I wrote to that reporter on the night of June 11th, 2012: 
"From the 6/5/2012 Cannon Air Force Base announcement on its web site, the Air Force says that it is reevaluating training requirements from lessons learned in Afghanistan and from a 2007 report that appears to contribute to “emerging training requirements”  that will lead to “refining” special operations flying training requirements. 

The 6/5/2012 Cannon web site post goes on to say that the Air Force expects to finish the refinements to training requirements and then make a determination in “early 2013” about what an appropriate environmental analysis for the low-altitude training requirements might be. 

In 2010-2012, Ouray County and myself [see the LATN tab at the top of this blog] went on record asking for a detailed analysis to identify potential impacts that may exist for ranching, recreation, game and sensitive species, potential to trigger avalanche, medical and emergency response, and other community concerns.  There were shortcomings in the September 2011 Environmental Assessment document.  The 2011 EA fell short of the accuracy in baseline information about the communities and landscapes it was going to be flying over, and thus could not be trusted to identify proactive mitigation measures.

Based on the information released by the Air Force this week [June 5th], it seems that a 6-month or so step back will be helpful for them to focus on what is best for training our military.  Personally, I believe that our military should be the best trained military in the world.  I also believe that training needs to be conducted to ensure the safety of not only those in flight, but also those on the ground.  It also needs to be respectful of people’s livelihoods and the character of the landscape.  Hopefully, this action by the Air Force leads a level of analysis of future low-altitude activities equivalent to an Environmental Impact Statement.  The best odds of having potential impacts appropriately mitigated exist if the affected communities and landscapes are correctly identified and a thorough analysis based on accurate data is conducted. 
  
However, now from finding the June 21 Cannon Air Force Base press release, it does seem very clear that the Air Force took the substantial public comments into consideration and recognizes the deficiencies in the 2011 Environmental Assessment.  I really appreciate the straightforwardness of this latest press release and the Air Force's commitment to balancing training needs, environmental health, and the health, safety, and welfare of the people living under a proposed LATA.  Our democracy could not exist without those dedicated to protecting and serving the American people.
Cannon Air Force Base appears to have taken down most of the LATN/LATA materials from their web site, but the Sept. 2011 EA is still available along with the June 21st press release.   To keep up with this topic, you and I will need to keep visiting http://www.cannon.af.mil/library/environment.asp for the most up-to-date information.

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Friday, March 9, 2012

CONGRATS TO OUR BOTTOM UP ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT "G3" COMMITTEE

KUDOS & THANKS TO CHAIR MICHAEL McCULLOUGH, AND THE "G3" COMMITTEE:  Lucy Boody, John Clark, Dee Williams, Susie Odahl, Beecher Threat, Caroline Lescroart, Joyce Linn, and Lynn Padgett

GOV. HICKENLOOPER ANNOUNCES COLORADO’S FIRST FORMALLY-DESIGNATED CREATIVE DISTRICTS

DENVER ­— Friday, March 9, 2012 — Gov. John Hickenlooper today announced the formal certification of two new Colorado Creative Districts: Downtown Salida and Denver’s Art District on Santa Fe. The districts will each receive a $15,000 grant and assistance to attract artists, creative entrepreneurs and visitors as a strategy to infuse new energy and innovation and enhance the economic and civic capital of the community. The program is administered by the Office of Economic Development and International Trade through the Colorado Creative Industries division.

“Colorado is filled with vibrant centers of commerce, culture and creativity, and is a magnet for creative workers,” Hickenlooper said. “The formation of Creative Districts provides visitors and residents with an opportunity to participate and invest in the arts, while contributing to the economic vitality of the region and attracting creative entrepreneurs and artists.”

Forty-four different districts from 25 counties applied for the designation. In addition to the two Certified Creative Districts, five applicants were designated as Prospective Creative Districts and will each receive $8,000 and a customized package of technical assistance to enhance the likelihood that they will be certified in the future. Eight were designated as Emerging Creative Districts and will each receive $2,000 and technical assistance to further their district planning.

Prospective Creative Districts:

  • Longmont Arts & Entertainment District
  • Town of Ridgway
  • Downtown Pueblo
  • Town of Telluride
  • Denver’s River North Art District


Emerging Creative Districts:

  • Downtown Parker
  • City of Trinidad
  • Downtown Greeley and the University District
  • Downtown Colorado Springs
  • 40 West Arts District in Lakewood
  • Aurora Arts District
  • Durango Business Improvement District
  • North Fork Valley in Delta County



The remaining applicants not selected will be eligible for assistance through the “Colorado Creates” grant program, which supports arts activities in communities. They can also receive assistance through the inaugural Creative Industries Summit and Colorado Creative Industry’s website.

“The Art District on Santa Fe is thrilled to be an inaugural designee”, said Jack Pappalardo, board president. “The receipt of this recognition validates our accomplishments to date and illustrates what a cooperative effort of creative individuals can produce. We now look forward to collaborating with CCI to facilitate sustainability, attract new creative entrepreneurs, and achieve the next level of economic and cultural vibrancy in our creative community. An enhanced Art District on Santa Fe will be a benefit not only to our creative district but also to all of metro Denver and the state of Colorado.

Salida Mayor Don Stephens said “Salida is a creative, vibrant community and we are honored by the recognition we are receiving from CCI. We understand Salida was awarded this grant in a very competitive grant process. The assistance that will be provided as part of the Creative District program will have a significant impact in our planning and marketing efforts as we further develop our creative industries. We anticipate this will allow Salida to leverage its creative resources for a stronger economic future.”
In 2011, Gov. Hickenlooper signed legislation that encourages the formation of Creative Districts in communities for the purposes of attracting creative entrepreneurs and artists to a community, infusing new energy and innovation which in turn will enhance the economic and civic capital of the community; creating hubs of economic activity, thereby enhancing the area as an appealing place to live, visit and conduct business, as well as create new economic activity; attracting visitors; revitalizing and beautifying communities; providing a focal point for celebrating and strengthening a community’s unique identity; and showcasing cultural and artistic organizations, events, and amenities.

Nine other states have recently developed this economic development strategy of developing programs to certify such districts (Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Mexico, Rhode Island and Texas).

Applications were reviewed by a panel of professionals with experience in arts and creative industries, city planning, economic development, and business development. Panelists assessed applications based primarily on district characteristics, management and planning, and community support.

For more information, visit www.coloradocreativeindustries.org.
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Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Official White House Press Release from March 2, 2012 Conference on Conservation and the Economy

White House Conference Sets Stage for New Era of Conservation
Community-driven conservation and outdoor recreation initiatives powering economy, protecting healthy lands, water and wildlife

(Lynn's Note:  I attended this conference and will write more about it soon.  Meanwhile, the video and transcript of President Obama's speech can be found here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/photos-and-video/video/2012/03/02/president-obama-speaks-conference-conservation)
WASHINGTON, March 2, 2012 – Today, President Obama and members of his Cabinet convened the White House Conference on Conservation to engage directly with conservation leaders from all 50 states to strengthen partnerships and identify next steps in advancing community-driven conservation and outdoor recreation initiatives that are building strong local economies and healthy lands, waters and wildlife across America.
Today's conference – titled Growing America's Outdoor Heritage and Economy – is part of the President's America's Great Outdoors initiative to establish a community-based, 21st century agenda for conservation, recreation, and reconnecting Americans to the outdoors. The event brought together hundreds of boaters, hunters, anglers, farmers, ranchers, land conservationists, historic preservationists, outdoor recreationists, small business owners, local governments, tribal leaders and other key stakeholders from around the nation to meet with Obama administration officials to discuss issues surrounding conservation in urban cities and rural communities.
The conference capped a week of conservation announcements, including:
Outdoor Education: On Monday, Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced a new agreement to build programs that use national parks, national wildlife refuges and other public lands as 21st century classrooms – designed to benefit teachers, students and parents in rural America and urban classrooms alike. These programs will connect young Americans to the outdoors, improve environmental literacy, support experiential learning outside the classroom, and encourage conservation partnerships at the local level.
Driving Tourism & Recreation: On Tuesday, Secretary Salazar and National Park Service Director Jon Jarvis released the 2010 Economic Benefits to Local Communities from National Park Visitation and Payroll Report. According to the report, visitors to the National Park System contributed more than $31 billion to local economies and supported 258,000 jobs in 2010, an increase of $689 million and 11,500 jobs over 2009.
Creating a New Water Trail System: On Wednesday, Secretary Salazar and Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works Jo-Ellen Darcy announced the creation of a new National Water Trails System, a network that will increase access to water-based outdoor recreation, encourage community stewardship of local waterways, and promote tourism that fuels local economies across America. The Chattahoochee River Water Trail in Georgia was selected as the first to join the new system.
Conserving 1 Million Acres of Grasslands and Wetlands: Today, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced additional opportunities for producers to enroll land in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP), including a total of 1 million acres in CRP initiatives to preserve grasslands and wetlands. USDA's CRP has a 25-year legacy of successfully protecting the nation's natural resources through voluntary participation, while providing significant economic and environmental benefits to rural communities across the United States. Under the Obama Administration, USDA has enrolled more than 8 million acres in CRP. The goal of the new CRP grasslands and wetlands initiative is to increase enrollment of environmentally sensitive land through targeted signups.
Additionally, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service today announced that they are recommending a conservation investment of approximately $30 million, or seventy percent of the Migratory Bird Conservation Fund, in the nation's prairie pothole region. Long recognized as America's "duck factory," the significant investment will help protect habitat for the waterfowl and grassland species of the prairies.
Community Engagement: Today, EPA Administrator Jackson joined with federal and community partners to announce the first Urban Waters Ambassador of the Urban Waters Federal Partnership. The Partnership, an innovative federal union comprised of 11 agencies is an effort to help cities, particularly those that are underserved or economically distressed, connect with their waterways and work to improve them. The ambassador, serving the Los Angeles River location of the Urban Waters Federal Partnership, is the first of seven to be sponsored by EPA, USDA and DOI for each of the Urban Waters locations across the country. Urban Waters Ambassadors will accelerate and coordinate on-the-ground projects that are critical to improving water quality and public health, and fostering community stewardship in urban watersheds.
Protecting and Restoring our Waterways and Fisheries: Through the National Fish Habitat Partnership, Federal agencies are helping state and local governments, landowners, and community groups to protect and restore our waterways and fisheries. This national effort has spawned regional and local partnerships. Today the Secretaries of Interior, Agriculture and Commerce committed to signing an agreement to promote collaborative, science-based conservation of our waterways and fisheries. The agreement ensures that Federal resources are effectively focused on locally supported conservation strategies developed by fish habitat partnerships.
"President Obama launched the America's Great Outdoors Initiative to create a 21st century conservation agenda with American people," said Nancy Sutley, Chair of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. From investing billions of dollars to restoring places like the Everglades and the Great Lakes, to partnering with private landowners to conserve tens of millions of acres across the country, the Administration is making it a priority to protect and restore the places communities depend on."
"People across the country are coming together to protect and preserve the places that nurture our souls, provide opportunities for recreation, and power our economies," said Secretary of the Interior Ken Salazar, who hosted the conference at the Interior Department. "We know that an investment in conservation now is a direct investment into our nation's economy – and one that will benefit generations to come. Today we heard from the people who are making a real difference in their communities and discussed how we can be better partners in fulfilling a shared vision for conservation in the 21st century."
"President Obama launched the America's Great Outdoors Initiative to foster a 21st century approach to conservation that is designed by and accomplished in partnership with the American people," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack. "Protecting our natural resources creates jobs in rural communities, preserves habitat for fish and wildlife, and ensures that our nation's outdoor heritage will continue to be enjoyed by future generations."
"Expanding access to outdoor recreation and green spaces can benefit the health and economies of people and communities across the nation. That's especially true in our nation's cities where parks and waterfront areas can inject new life into urban communities," said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson. "We're glad that agencies throughout the administration are bringing their expertise to this important initiative, and we're excited that the 21st century conservation strategy we're building continues to be shaped by meeting people where they live, and finding out how we serve their needs."
"The Corps of Engineers is proud to have been a part of this important White House conference on conservation,"said Jo-Ellen Darcy, Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works. "We look forward to continuing restoration efforts throughout the country. Our role in restoration and expanding opportunities for communities to participate in it is why we are here today. We look forward to strengthening our local partnerships and advancing job and volunteer opportunities related to conservation and outdoor recreation."
The conference featured panels and breakout sessions panels led by conservation leaders such as Kirk Bauer from Maryland, a disabled Vietnam Veteran who has been serving as Executive Director of Disabled Sports USA for more than thirty years, and Dave Koehler from California, who oversees conservation land transactions, river restoration, and environmental education as the Executive Director of the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust.
A full conference agenda is available here.
Locally-led conservation, preservation and outdoor recreation initiatives have been an important part of the Obama administration's work. Through President Obama's America's Great Outdoors Initiative (AGO), the administration is opening up access to millions of acres for recreation, designating thousands of miles of new land and water trails, increasing youth employment in conservation jobs, helping parks and green space become more accessible and clean in urban areas, and making historic investments in large landscapes such as the Everglades.
The initiative is empowering locally-led conservation and outdoor recreation efforts, from supporting the working landscapes of the Dakota Grasslands and the Flint Hills in Kansas, to designating the Fort Monroe National Monument in Virginia, to countless other success stories across the country.
Click here to read a fact sheet on the Obama administration's conservation record.
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