Collaboration continues to improve effects of abandoned mines: Watershed groups and government agencies look to future
By Loretta Pineda, program supervisor for inactive mines, Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety
The Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining and Safety (CDRMS) hosted a “Joining Forces and Partnering for Success Workshop” in late October. Even though the weather was frightful, over 50 people attended. It gave watershed groups an opportunity to share success stories, and discuss funding opportunities and project challenges with federal and state partnering agencies.
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| Photo: Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining, and Safety |
The workshop also included a review of mining nonpoint source proposals and a meeting of the Nonpoint Source Mining Committee. The workshop goals were twofold: to develop options for expanding the committee and to strengthen relationships among Colorado watershed leaders working on mining issues.
There was great enthusiasm and support for moving ahead to pursue both goals. The CDRMS has agreed to take the lead in developing a white paper. The white paper could outline options of broad topics for the committee (current grant reviews, criteria, technical aspects and funding); where we are now and a vision for where we could go; who should be represented (watershed groups and agencies); a charter; roles and structure; and the development of a communication structure. It was agreed that relationships could be maintained and strengthened through regular and consistent communication.
Breakout groups were formed and focused on 1) expanded possibilities for the Nonpoint Source Mining Committee, 2) communication strategies among mining/water quality stakeholders 3) prioritizing watersheds and 4) measuring results and success.
During the workshop, brief presentations on financing, opportunities and issues were given by Dick Parachini, outreach/assistance unit manager for the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment; Marcella Hutchinson, the U.S. EPA Region 8 watershed coordinator and nonpoint source project officer for Colorado; Bob Steckley, environmental engineer with the U. S. Forest Service; Rob Robinson, environmental engineer with the Bureau of Land Management; Jeff Crane, executive director of the Colorado Watershed Assembly; Ron Cattany, CDRMS director, and myself.
We have had great accomplishments and successes over the past 25 years in working cooperatively with landowners, federal land management agencies and local watershed groups. This workshop is just a first step in building our capacity to meet the future needs of our program in its mission to reclaim, remediate and safeguard abandoned mine areas and also meet the needs of our watershed partners.
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