Dear Editor:
I received my ballot regarding the Douglas Creek Conservation District (DCCD) and read the letter to the editor in last week’s paper. I agree, these are some challenging and uncertain times but now is not the time to step back from the DCCD’s efforts to protect our property rights (including water) and the multiple uses on federal lands. Rio Blanco County is 75% public land so we and our economy rely on those lands. The earlier letter talked a lot about all the water issues and what the District is doing regarding water quality and quantity. This water planning process that lies ahead of us is critical. We must keep local control of that process and be sure the outcome is what our communities want and need. Hopefully we can afford the purposed increase to be sure that this is locally lead by an entity that will ensure all interests are at the table and the outcome will work for Rangely and Rio Blanco County.
In addition to the water issues the DCCD works on, they also focus a great deal of time and energy on rangeland health. At local input sessions, the District’s constituents told them over and over that one of the greatest range health issues was the overgrazing by the horses. The excessive numbers of “wild” horses are destroying our public lands. Therefore, the DCCD has been the leading voice in this issue for years. They have worked tirelessly to address the excess “wild” horse issues by meeting with and submitting letters to BLM at the local, State, and national levels. The work on this issue must continue.
The District is conducting rangeland monitoring in the Piceance East Douglas Herd Management Area to record what species are utilizing the grass at what times of the year. They are also working with BLM and various livestock grazing permittees to develop Coordinated Resource Management Plans in an effort to implement various resource improvements such as brush and tree management and water distribution.
The DCCD partners closely with the White River Conservation District (WRCD). Through this partnership, the WRCD carries 90% of the operating expenses for both Districts while DCCD only pays 10%. Sounds like a good deal for us until you consider that the WRCD may not be able to continue carrying that level of support and with tightening budgets, the County’s financial support could be in jeopardy as well. Therefore, it is time for the DCCD to begin carrying a greater portion of the partnership and expenses. If we don’t, we may not have a voice in these efforts in the future.
Please, look at your current tax bill and consider what you pay to the Douglas Creek Conservation District. While times are really hard right now, hopefully we can afford to pay the cost of the purposed increase each year to be sure we keep local control of water planning efforts on the White River and a large voice for multiple uses of our public lands that will help our economy recover in the future?
Wade Cox
Rangely
