Dear Don, Frank, Dennis, and Tim,
We were in attendance at the BV Commissioner’s meeting last week and had signed up to speak. Since time didn’t allow for us to share our comments, I have a few lingering thoughts I’d like to share with each of you.
I appreciate the time and commitment you are putting into this critical decision for our county.
I am requesting that you vote no on Nestlé’s application. Water is the essence of life and at the heart of life for each of us in this spectacular valley. I imagine each of you can think back to when Chaffee County first captured your heart and the tugs you still feel to this lovely valley.
Having been a Sierra Club member since the 70’s, I’ve had the opportunity to witness how they have successfully guided the citizens of Colorado in similar past issues related to the protection of our environment. Since I value their opinion, I asked them for their assessment of the Nestle application, consultant’s reports, and available data. Many of the significant points made by Don Reimer in his thorough April 16th analysis and by Gene Rush at the April 21st hearing, were also independently pointed out in the response I received from Steve Glazer, the Coordinator of the Colorado Rocky Mountain Chapter of Sierra Club’s Water and Aquatic Resources.
Suggestions from Steve Glazer and the Sierra Club:
- postpone any decision until a new hydrology study has been completed; that report should contain an inventory of all wetlands that could be impacted by the pumping or pipeline construction, a monitoring plan to reveal any changes impacting the wetlands, and most importantly–a mitigation plan to remediate identified impacts;
- set up a strategy to deal with potential injury to any other water users (that would be better than having to go to water court to address that potential injury);
- and require financial surety to pay for any impacts from the development and operation of the project.
As an educator for 39 years, I have modeled with all of my students how we each can make a difference in our world. At the 39th celebration of Earth Day this past week, this T-shirt caption captured my attention: “Our Earth—what we all have in common!” Each of you, as our elected officials, can make a positive difference in the life of present and future Chaffee County residents by voting NO on the Nestle application. Please give to the Earth and our Chaffee County residents by keeping your campaign promises: making the protection of water your #1 priority.
Thank you,
Linda Erickson
6005 Archery Circle
Salida, CO 81201
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