Projects

Willow Creek Reclamation Committee

Contact Information:
OMS/VISTA: Kathleen Murphy
Supervisor: Zeke Ward
Address: PO Box 518
Creede, CO 81130
Phone: 719.658.0178
Email: willowcreekrc@my.amigo.net
Website: www.willowcreede.org
US Congressional District: 3
County: Mineral County

Description of organization and mission:

The Willow Creek Reclamation Committee was formed in 1999 by a group of concerned citizens in response to the placement of the Willow Creek, a Rio Grande headwater tributary, on the national priority list. Mining activities from 1890 to 1985 left the water quality of the Willow Creek, and its tributaries, in poor quality. The goals of the Willow Creek Reclamation Committee are:

• Protect the Rio Grande from future fish kills associated with non-point source releases during unusual hydrologic events.
• Improve the visual and aesthetic aspects of the Willow Creek watershed and its historical mining district.
• Implement appropriate and cost-effective flood control and stabilization measures for non-point sources.
• Protect and preserve historic structures.
• Reclaim the Willow Creek floodplain below Creede to improve the physical, chemical, biological, and aesthetic qualities of the creek as an integral part of the local community.
• Continue to improve water quality and physical habitat quality in the Willow Creek watershed as part of a long-term watershed management program.

The Willow Creek Reclamation Committee is an ad-hoc stakeholder group comprised of local citizens and various agency representatives such as the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, US Environmental Protection Agency, US Fish and Wildlife, Natural Resource Conservation Services, US Forest Service, Colorado Geological Society, Division of Reclamation and Mining Safety, and local government. All meetings are open to the public, and everyone has a voice and a vote.

Goals of OSM/VISTA Project

The OSM/VISTA will work to build the capacity of the Willow Creek Reclamation Committee by assisting in the preparation and submittal of grant proposals to secure future funding, assist in and/or coordinate fundraising activities, help create press releases, newsletters, brochures, and fact sheets, attend and help facilitate relevant watershed and community meetings, assist in establishing and enhancing local and regional partnerships, help to maintain the website, and work with Willow Creek Reclamation Committee to create opportunities for community volunteers to serve and participate in activities. Supporting watershed research and water-quality monitoring is critical to future funding, project development and implementation, and community support. The OSM/VISTA will accomplish this by conducting stream monitoring, water-quality monitoring, and recording water quality data. The OSM/VISTA will also work with community volunteers to research, inventory, and monitor AMD and AML features, assist in developing and maintaining AMD treatment systems, assist with current stream restoration and stabilization projects, form monitoring teams that will monitor the local watershed, and coordinate watershed awareness efforts.

Enhancing community awareness and involvement of the Willow Creek Reclamation Committee through education and outreach will be accomplished by the OSM/VISTA by creating and distributing relevant press releases to publicize organizational activities in local and regional newspapers, researching and/or developing educational materials and programs relevant to the Willow Creek watershed, assisting the Willow Creek Reclamation Committee in distributing and/or implementing developed curricula and materials, creating presentations regarding the Willow Creek Reclamation Committee to local civic groups and schools, assisting other area community organizations with their events, and assisting in developing and facilitating outreach activities such as site tours, nature camps, and fundraising and informative events. Community revitalization through economic redevelopment projects that increase awareness, understanding and access to local history, culture, and the continuing relationship between the Willow Creek and the Creede community will be accomplished by the OSM/VISTA helping to coordinate between watershed organizations and other local redevelopment interests. The OSM/VISTA will also assist in the development of watershed-based interpretive trails, support and develop historic mining related history, and support and develop economic development, tourism, and/or other related community projects.