[Awclist] Colorado river conservation letter to the Editor

[Steve Harris]

CLIFF:  I have long felt that boaters and other outdoor enthusiasts  
have a duty to advocate for the conservation of rivers and wildlands.   
Sometimes this message gets muted in commercial vs. private wrangling- 
[ to the detriment of the strongest possible conservation platform  
from our decision-makers.

The Kleinschnitz editorial is the result of an effort by a Colorado- 
based group, Protect the Flows, to deliver a message that "living  
rivers have great economic importance" to communities like Flagstaff,  
Moab, Taos.  The data cited by PTF is authentic.  We (Rio Grande  
Restoration is a cooperator) have placed op-eds in the Journal and New  
Mexican, which use this valuable river economy approach.

Steve Harris
Rio Grande Restoration
HCR 69 Box 3-C
Embudo, NM 87531

home/office: 575-751-1269
fax: same
Mobile: 575-770-2502

steve.harris39 at gmail.com



On Aug 7, 2012, at 7:34 PM, Cliff Loucks wrote:

> This, at least to me, seems a good way to get a politicians  
> attention; in this case it's in advance of President Obama's visit  
> to Grand Juncion CO tomorrow.  I can't vouch for the $$ numbers  
> here, but they are interesting.
>
> --Cliff
>
>
> Begin forwarded message:
>
> From: Herm Hoops
> Subject: Letter - re: Colorado River
> Date: August 7, 2012 10:44:26 AM MDT
> To: <undisclosed recipients>
>
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> I want to share an excellent letter from Adventure Bound’s Tom  
> Kleinschnitz to the Grand junction Sentinel.  Note the reference to  
> the fortune 500 companies.  Too often private boaters especially do  
> not become proactive in protecting and preserving rivers.  I hope  
> that others may use this template to take up the cause, like so many  
> of us have done, and help protect OUR river resources.
>
>
>
> Herm
>
>
>
> ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>
>
> Email letters, August 6, 2012
>
> By Staff
>
> Monday, August 6, 2012
>
>
>
> President asked to remember importance of Colorado River
>
>
>
> My job depends on the Colorado River, so when President Obama  
> arrives in Grand Junction this week, I’ll be listening closely to  
> see what the president’s plans are to protect this economic lifeline  
> for the Grand Valley, our state and the entire Southwest.
>
>
>
> Every year a population 2.2 times greater than the entire Denver  
> metropolitan area descends upon the river and its tributaries in  
> Colorado to recreate, leaving a trail of $6.4 billion behind in  
> exchange for hotel stays, meals, souvenirs, rafting trips and  
> countless other products and services.
>
>
>
> In fact, if the Colorado River were a company, it would be the 19th  
> largest employer on the Fortune 500 and rank ahead of companies such  
> as General Mills, US Airways and Progressive Insurance.
>
>
>
> But without the leadership of President Obama and the adoption of  
> conservation measures, we won’t always be able to rely on the river  
> to create jobs and support our tax base. Years of drought paired  
> with large population increases across the West have taken a severe  
> toll on the river, and now more water leaves the Colorado River than  
> enters it each year.
>
>
>
> If we stay on our current course, the Colorado River will slow to a  
> trickle. And so, too, will the tourism dollars flowing into our  
> state, the profitability of our outdoor recreation economy, our jobs  
> and our current way of life.
>
>
>
> Mr. President, if you remember one thing from your visit it should  
> be: The Colorado River is good business for Colorado.
>
>
>
> TOM KLEINSCHNITZ
>
> President/Owner
>
> Adventure Bound River Expeditions
>
> Grand Junction
>
>
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