Group organizes to protect Dolores River

Group organizes to protect Dolores River

Jan. 4, 2001

By Jim Mimiaga
Journal Staff Writer

THE SCENIC DOLORES River is edged with snow on Tuesday. A grassroots group has formed to protect the river valley.

A grassroots organization dedicated to protecting the natural values of the Dolores River Valley has been formed and is looking for recruits.

Citizens for Accountability and Responsibility in the Dolores River Valley emerged in response to a plethora of gravel-mine operations that are, or will be, operating in the area.

The group intends to advocate environmental preservation over high-impact development along the river corridor in order to sustain the natural beauty that led to the designation of adjacent Highway 145 as a National Scenic Byway.

"We think that supporting tourism is a more gentle economic base for this valley that’s more appropriate than mining gravel, which is what we’re seeing a lot of now," said Pat Kantor, CFAR Chair.

The scattered residents of the valley began meeting this fall to discuss the increased noise, traffic and dust associated with the growing number of gravel mines clustered between the town of Dolores and the small community of Stoner.

"Right now, the group is a lot of neighbors whose lives and properties are being disrupted by this type of development, and we believe resident concerns should have more of an impact on decisions made for this area," Kantor said.

Water and air quality, impacts of development on wildlife, abandoned-mine runoff near Rico, and highway safety are other issues the group is concerned about. Several investigative committees have already been established, Kantor said.

A research committee was formed to study impacts gravel mines have on the surrounding environment in cooperation with the Western Colorado Congress, a land-conservation coalition.

"We’re looking into the effectiveness of (performance) bonds taken out for gravel-mine reclamation, and the biological ramifications gravel pits have on fish, wildlife, flood control, that sort of thing," said Scott Clow, a water-quality engineer heading up the research committee for CFAR.

Kantor said that the group plans to work cooperatively with local planning commissions, Dolores and Montezuma County governments, state and national representatives, and local or statewide groups with similar interests.

"We feel that residents have to be stewards of the area they live in because we are all only here for a certain amount of time before the next generation comes along to enjoy it," Kantor said. "Preserving for the future is our responsibility."

For more information on CFAR, call Kantor, 882-2642, or Cheri Robinson, 882-4399.