• Official merger documents filed with the Secretary of State. 
• Changing EVERYTHING to NFRIA-WSERC Conservation Center
• Merging Members of both organization
• Changing website 
• NO GAS Committee meeting in August
• Board Meeting, Wednesday August 11, 204 Poplar,Paonia
• WCC-WSERC Public Lands Committee Meeting, August 18, 6:00 PM, Delta
• August 12-BLM Gas Lease Sale in Denver

Lend your support to sustaining a strong and respected voice for the environment in Delta County "and the" Western Slope by joining WSERC.

Print out and fill in the membership form and send it in with your dues today. Click "Continue Story" for more reasons to join!

The meeting for WSERC members to approve the merger with NFRIA will be at Memorial Hall, Hotchkiss at 7 PM on June 29. If you'd like to read an MS Word document instead of the PDF, please click the Continue Story button below to access the Word version.

Click Here for WSERC's current Gas Committee work plan.

· Protecting wildlife and agricultural lands. WSERC and Mountain Coal Company’s Conservation Assistance Program helped North Fork farmers and ranchers place another 1,000 acres in conservation easements, a total of 5,000 acres since 2005.  

  · Combating global warming. WSERC and Mountain Coal Company convinced the Bureau of Land Management to give the coal company ownership of the millions of cubic feet of methane gas released each day during mining. Ownership gives the mine the right to capture the gas, which would reduce its contribution to global warming. WSERC gave presentations on methane capture technology to the Governor’s Energy Office, U.S. Forest Service, and Gunnison County Commissioners.  

 · Ensuring responsible gas development.  WSERC researched possible harmful effects of a proposed project that would build ponds in Delta County to evaporate contaminated water from gas wells in Garfield County. WSERC co-organized a public meeting in Delta, and we sent action alerts, passed out fliers, and spoke on KVNF radio.

In 2008 WSERC sent 70 members to hearings before the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) in Grand Junction to advocate for stronger gas development regulations. When the next round of COGCC rule making starts in 2010, WSERC will organize more citizen input.

WSERC researched and informed members about Gunnison Energy Corporation’s request for unitization on Oak Mesa.

 · Ecological Research. WSERC members helped U.S. Forest Service scientists collect data on Sudden Aspen Decline near Terror Creek and Leroux Creek. We also helped the Forest Service monitor rare fen vegetation on Grand Mesa.

 · Advocating for wilderness.  In 2008, WSERC gained support for federal legislation that in 2009 created the Dominguez Canyon Wilderness and the Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area.

 · Black Canyon National Park. On December 31, 2008 a legal win by WSERC and four other groups resulted in permanent protection of water rights for the Gunnison River flowing through the national park.

 · Advocating for roadless areas.   In 2009, WSERC joined other groups in submitting formal comments arguing that the proposed Colorado Roadless Rule must be strengthened. We  are now pushing to prohibit coal mining in the North Fork’s Currant Creek roadless area. In November, 2008 WSERC sent two members to Washington, DC where they addressed the Roadless Area Conservation National Advisory Committee on behalf of WSERC and 21 other environmental groups.

 · Travel management. WSERC submitted formal comments on the Gunnison National Forest’s Travel Management Plan. Our members’ on-the-ground knowledge has been key in advising the Forest Service on which roads and trails should be closed to protect wildlife and the back-country experience.

 · Promoting sustainability.  In October, 2009 WSERC organized its second Alternative Energy Expo in Delta that drew 500 people over two days to hear speakers on solar heating, wind power, micro-hydro and other alternative technologies. For the first time we included an Exploratorium where 160 middle school students experienced hands-on learning. WSERC updated and distributed the Delta County Recycling Guide, and made 9 presentations on how to recycle in the North Fork Valley.

 · Providing environmental education. WSERC organized educational events throughout the year including nature hikes and lectures (see column to right).

2009 Events:

·  2nd Alternative Energy Expo and Energy Exploratorium   

· Energy Forum

· Public Lands Forum

· Hikes to Dominguez Canyon, Crag Crest, Beckwith, Camelback, and Crystal Reservoir

· Patagonia Wild & Scenic Film Festival

· Silent auction at Cherry Days

· Global Warming and Wildlife presentation.

Other Outreach Activities:

· Updated Delta County Recycle Guide

· Newsletters

· Merchant-Herald  column “Uncommon Ground”

· Action alerts

· News stories

· Letters to the editor

· Delta County Recycling message phone: 399-2940

· Delta County recycling website: www.DeltaCountyRecycling.org.

Thanks to a generous grant from Patagonia, we will be holding the Patagonia Wild and Scenic Film Festival on Saturday evening, December 4th, 2010 at the Paradise Theatre in downtown Paonia.   Last year we showed 9 films, had great giveaways, and good times. Ticket prices will be lower this year with specials offered for people becoming members that evening. More details coming soon. 

National sponsors are: Patagonia, Osprey Packs, Tom's of Maine, Sierra Nevada Brewing and Clif Bar.  

Interested in being a local sponsor?  Contact us at 527-5307 or email barbara@wserc.org">barbara@wserc.org.   

In order to prevent future wildfires near residences, the BLM is proposing a fuel treatment project that would thin Junipers and then treat with the herbicide Plateau to control cheatgrass. The Draft Environmental Impact Statement and associated documents can be found at http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/BLM_Information/nepa/ufo.html

The Uncompahgre Field Office of the Bureau of Land Management is preparing its Resource Management Plan for our area. This plan will determine all aspects of land management for approximately the next 20 years. The first stage of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) planning process has occurred, in which interested parties submitted scoping comments. WSERC took the lead on joint comments with Western Colorado Congress submitted March 29, 2010.

Click the link to download a Power Point slideshow with 100 photos of WSERC members in action. It's a large file, 100 MB, so it will take a while to download.

I know from the emails about Oak Mesa whizzing about the community that many of you are concerned about the possibility of large-scale gas development there. Luckily, the emails are based on incorrect information, and things aren’t nearly so dire.

WSERC got involved in the Oak Mesa issue in January this year, and we’ve got good information about what’s really happening.