Who We Are

In 2003, the High Country Citizens’ Alliance (HCCA) initiated an investigation of water quality impairment in Coal Creek.  Once the extent of the impairment was understood, HCCA engaged community at large and found considerable interest in the issues in Coal Creek.  This public interest eventually led to the founding of the CCWC.  The CCWC has been operating in some form for nearly 3 years and since spearheading the remediation of Standard Mine has expanded its mission to “restore and preserve” the entire watershed.

Coal Creek Watershed Coalition (CCWC) is now an official 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and meets monthly to receive progress reports, present input, and discuss relevant issues and next steps. 

Public presentations related to the efforts of the CCWC can be scheduled by contacting us at coordinator@coalcreek.org.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Steve Glazer is the President for the Board of Directors for CCWC, and has been with the Coalition since its infancy when, as High Country Citizens’ Alliance Water Director, he collected a few water samples from Elk and Coal Creeks in 2004, which helped to kick-start the EPA Superfund – Standard Mine cleanup.  Steve has been a resident of Crested Butte for 38 years, and became involved with CCWC to identify and address the water quality concerns of Coal Creek and the land use issues affecting water quality protection.  As a member of the Gunnison County Environmental Health Board, he pays particular attention to oversight of Individual Septic Disposal Systems installation and performance in the basin.  His familiarity with the basin as well as involvement and understanding of the regulatory institutions and frameworks (he also sits on the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District board) is vital to the operation of the Coalition.  Steve understands the collection of water quality data is important for decision/policy-makers, and in cooperation of multiple stakeholders, hopes to see the Standard Mine cleanup completed, oversee the continuing requirements, operation and performance of the Industrial Discharge Permit for the acid mine drainage from the old Keystone Mine and prevent any new threats to our watershed from mining proposals.  Steve can be contacted at steve@hccaonline.org or 970-209-8512

Michael O’Loughlin is the Vice President of the Board of Directors for CCWC, and as a practicing attorney brings legal perspective and advice to the Board and the CCWC.  His involvement with the Coalition stems from concern about the environment and water quality in our County, and wishes to see as many people as possible aware of the quality, or lack thereof, of the environment that they are living in.  Mike grew up in Cleveland, Ohio and received his B.A. in Political Science from the University of Vermont, and his J.D. from the University of Denver, and moved to Gunnison two years ago.  He expects the Coalition to continue to do good work in future, and keep informing the community of what is going on in the watershed. Michael can be contacted at mike@cliggettlaw.com or 970-641-1154

Harvey Castro was elected to Treasurer of the Board of Directors, and has served as an informed Crested Butte citizen on the Coalition since the beginning of the organization.  Harvey has lived in Crested Butte for 15 years, and besides also drinking the water, he is concerned with maintaining a high quality water supply for the Town and maintaining a healthy ecosystem to support all plant and animal life in the watershed.  With an MBA in science and liberal arts, and experience in development and presentation of written and graphic materials, meeting dynamics and organizational skills, he brings a lot to the administration of the Coal Creek Watershed Coalition.  Expectations for 2008 and beyond include water (including storm-water runoff) sampling and strategies for remediation, and a better understanding of the impact of the iron fen on water quality.  Harvey can be contacted at hbcastro@rmi.net or 970-349-0122

John Hess is a member of the Board of Directors, and as Crested Butte’s Town Planner he not only drinks the water but also provides a Town perspective, grant writing and reporting, and land use planning.  John heralds from West Seneca, NY, holds a Master of Architecture and has been a resident of Crested Butte for 17 years and with the CCWC since its inception.  John is concerned about water quality and potential impacts to the Towns’ water source, and has a strong interest in understanding water quality and how the quality could be affected by development in the town’s watershed.  He hopes to see a well-established water quality database for future effective remediation, and see the implementation of best management practices in the watershed to restore its health.  John can be contacted at jhess@crestedbutte-co.gov or 970-349-5338

Robin Jones is a member of the Board of Directors representing the public's interest as well as a scientific/biological opinion valued in the organization.  Robin grew up in Freeport, Maine and received a Bachelor's degree in Biology with a focus in Environmental Biology and Ecology.  Robin is a strong advocate of environmental protection, and she is particularly passionate about rivers and streams. Being involved with the CCWC allows her to have a hand in ensuring the Coal Creek Watershed endures no further degradation.  Having lived in Gunnison County for ten years, she has been volunteering on and off with the Coalition for three years, and now belongs to the board.  Though she does not drink the water directly, she responds accurately "we all live downstream".   Robin would like to see the ecological integrity of the watershed maintained for all life within its boumdaries, and will help with the CCWC's efforts of restoration in the future. Robin Jcan be reached at water_girl_78@yahoo.com or (970) 901-1903 


ADVISORY COMMITTEE and Project Cooperators
These agencies have provided invaluable aid to our organization, both in funds and in-kind services.

Steve Renner is a member of the Advisory Committee and an employee of the state of Colorado Division of Reclamation Mining and Safety (DRMS), Inactive Mines Reclamation Program.  Heralding from Mesa County originally, Steve has been working in the Crested Butte area on mine reclamation projects since 1999, and been a member of the Coalition since its inception.  Clean water is vital for all communities, and Steve and his agency can provide resources to help improve water quality where it is degraded as a result of abandoned mines.  Focused on the environmental and public safety hazards presented by abandoned mines, Steve has a B.S. in Geology and many years of experience in the evaluation and remediation of environmental problems related to past mining activities, including reclamation of the Peanut Mine just north of Crested Butte. DRMS will continue its mine safety closure program and environmental restoration projects in the Upper Gunnison, including the Coal Creek drainage, and continue its partnership with local groups and land management agencies.  DRMS provides one-half the stipend for the Americorps*VISTA member to work with the Coal Creek Watershed Coalition. Steve can be contacted at steven.renner@state.co.us or 970-241-0336

Wendy Brown works for Rock Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) and is sitting on the Advisory Committee for the Coalition.  Having been a resident of Crested Butte since 1985, she’s been involved with the Coalition since 2005.  Besides her scientific background and expertise, she received a B.S. in Forestry from University of Montana – when asked why she is involved with Coal Creek, “I drink the water” she says.  Most of her research at RMBL is focused on aquatic insects, though she has contributed to a variety of research projects.  Aquatic insects are an important biological indicator of health in streams, and Wendy helps the Coalition with this aspect of identification of problem areas and scientific data needed for remediation.  She hopes to see the CCWC continue water quality data collection and public outreach into the future, and monitor the cleanup progress at the Standard Mine Superfund Site, and keep tabs on the effect of the Lucky Jack Project.  Wendy can be contacted at wsbrown’at’frontier.net

Mike Pelletier is a member of the Advisory Committee and has been with CCWC for two-and-a-half years.  Mike is the Manager for the Gunnison County Mapping and Planning Service, and provides the Coalition with not only a Gunnison County perspective, but also GIS and mapping expertise where needed.  Mike has special skills in GIS, computer graphics and a planning background.  He supports all of the Coal Creek Watershed Coalition’s mission and goals, and hopes to see a continued focus on water quality monitoring and sampling, and providing scientifically sound data to the local community and the greater water network.  Mike can be reached at mpelletier@gunnisoncounty.org or 970-641-7645
 
· U.S. Forest Service- The U.S. Forest Service commissioned the first evaluation of the Standard Mine, owns most of the land in the watershed and is heavily involved in the cleanup at the Standard Mine.  They also assist in permitting within the watershed.

· State of Colorado’s Non-Point Source Program – This agency has provided the bulk of the funding for creating a Watershed Protection Plan and implementing the water monitoring program identified in the Plan.

· Environmental Protection Agency –Superfund Remedial Program - the EPA is currently remediating the Standard Mine Site and has analyzed water samples collected by the CCWC at no charge.

· The Colorado Department of Health and the Environment (CDPHE) has lent staff to assist in our water monitoring and has assisted us in other ways.

· Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District - The District provides applicable data from their sampling station at the mouth of Coal Creek.

Logan Reese is the first Americorps*VISTA (Volunteer In Service To America) for the Coal Creek Watershed Coalition. Her full-time, one year term as a VISTA for the Coalition began in November of 2007, and she has lived in Gunnison since May 2007. Logan also has technical expertise in the area of wildlife and biology, and hopes to help the organization builds its sustainability in all areas. She will work on water quality monitoring and other potential ecological impacts by non-point source pollution in the watershed, source and apply for alternative funding and water education resources, and help the Coordinator with staffing and administrative duties. Logan looks forward to the warm field season with more sampling and educational festivals to expand the publics' participation in protection of the watershed.  Contact Logan at logan1402@yahoo.com or (203) 856-6093.

Bring your opinion to the table and join us at our next meeting – see our Calendar of Events for meeting dates.