Photo: TomSkyes

SJCA Kicks off Wildlife Program Wolves & Bighorns a priority

Plus: Defending the HD Mountains Four Corners Solar Projects

Fall/Winter 2020 DEAR SUPPORTERS, Many of us probably can’t wait to wave adios to 2020. We’ve experienced unprecedented turmoil from a virulent pandemic, economic upheaval, political wrangling, and a relentless assault on the bedrock American values of clean air, clean water and public lands. 2021 has a low bar to clear for vast improvements over this year!

The election results mean a reversal of course at the federal level on climate policies, federal land management, and a host of pollution and environmental regulations. Election results in New Mexico and maintained the status quo, and we anticipate continued progress towards renewable energy, greenhouse gas reductions, and wildlife habitat conservation.

We look forward to working with the incoming Biden Administration to get back on track addressing the root causes of climate change. In the absence of federal leadership the past four years, we’ve turned to state legislators, governors, and agencies in Colorado and New Mexico to undertake new rules to reduce methane pollution from oil and gas facilities, and to embark upon ambitious climate change goals.

Nowhere has seen more rapid change than New Mexico. In just the past year, Public Service Company of New Mexico gained approval to retire the 847-MW coal-fired San Juan Generating Station near Farmington and replace that power with almost 1,000-MW of new large-scale solar and battery storage, all located in northwest New Mexico. Our region could also soon assume the mantle of the Four Corners Solar Center. Most tellingly, the new solar plants will make good use of existing infrastructure and occupy previously disturbed lands, setting the example for transition from a coal energy economy to a solar energy economy.

As the year ends, we anxiously await progress on long-standing efforts to achieve permanent wilderness protection for 200,000 acres across Southwest Colorado. The Colorado Wilderness Act and the CORE Act are both pending action in Congress in last minute appropriation bills. If enacted, we’ll celebrate the first desert wilderness areas in the San Juan and Dolores basins in Colorado after 40 years of effort, as well as well-deserved expansions to high alpine ranges in the western . If the bills fall short of the finish line, we anticipate renewed momentum in 2021 towards swift passage.

With voter approval of Colorado’s wolf restoration ballot initiative, state wildlife managers are commencing planning for wolf reintroduction. This process will restore wolves to the last remaining gap continent-wide in the . We’ll be deeply engaged in public outreach as the San Juan Mountains are likely the focal point for forthcoming reintroduction.

We couldn’t do this work without supporters like you who are willing to take actions and make contributions. Let’s toast to the new year, and we hope to rub shoulders in person again sooner rather than later! QuickUpdates on a few of our Hits ongoing campaigns

Valle Seco Land Exchange Bighorn Sheep Allotment Navajo Nation Transition Buyout Funds SJCA submitted comments critical of SJCA is working with the National The majority owner of the Four the proposed Valle Seco land exchange Wildlife Federation (NWF) and other Corners Power Plant, Arizona Public in October. Our focus is the San Juan bighorn advocates to reduce the Service Company (APS), announced National Forest’s intention to trade danger to bighorn sheep from diseases $128 million in just transition funding away 175 acres of the South San Juan carried by domestic sheep by retiring to the Navajo Nation for economic Adjacent roadless area, a proposal public lands grazing allotments. impacts from forthcoming closure of clearly at odds with the plain language the coal-fired plant. of the Colorado Roadless Rule. Early this year, the Endlich Mesa allotment in the Weminuche APS will also buy power from We certainly support public Wilderness was voluntarily retired Navajo clean energy projects and acquisition of the 880-acre Valle through a one-time payment that NWF provide financial assistance for Seco big game winter range parcel, negotiated. Advocates hope to use this economic redevelopment, cost-free but crucial roadless lands should not technique more in the future, paving electrification for homes on the Navajo be sold as payment for that parcel. the way for the expansion of bighorn Nation that currently lack electricity, The land exchange’s proponent is populations throughout the West. and assistance in securing water rights Kelcy Warren, owner of the Bootjack tied to APS’s coal-fired power plants. Ranch and a Texas pipeline billionaire SJCA worked closely with our Navajo most famous for ramrodding the grassroots partners at Diné CARE and controversial Dakota Access Pipeline Tó Nizhóní Ání to support this historic in North Dakota. outcome.

MEET JIMBO! Lands and Forest Protection Manager Jimbo Buickerood joined SJCA in 2007 with extensive experience managing experiential education programs throughout the West, including 20 years with Colorado Outward Bound as an Instructor, Course Director and Program Director. Jimbo brings vast first-hand knowledge of the landscapes of southwest Colorado as well as a diversity of involvement with regional communities. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Outdoor Education and a Master’s Degree in Education, both from Prescott College, and has traveled extensively throughout the planet. 2 Four Corners Solar Projects Move Forward SJCA has long advocated for a just and Generating Station on the west. project proposals for the northwestern equitable transition from reliance on New Mexico region are at least 1,788 coal-fired power plants to renewable • Four Corners project on MW, far exceeding the 847 MW that resources in the Four Corners Region. approximately 3,500 acres of will be lost when San Juan Generating Many of the coal complexes in the Four previously disturbed Navajo Coal Station closes in 2022. Corners region are closed or closing, Mine land adjacent to the Four due primarily to economic factors; Corners Power Plant. These projects ensure that coal-derived electricity costs are now northwestern New Mexico will help far more expensive than those of meet the state’s goal for utilities to renewables. produce energy from 100% carbon- free sources by 2045. In addition Among these closures were the Navajo to these new energy projects, the Generating Station and Kayenta Mine recently passed Energy Transition Act (2019), and Escalante Generating assists impacted communities with Station (2020). We are also preparing $20 million for sustainable economic for the pending closure of the San projects like tourism, health care, Juan Generating Station in 2022 and education, agriculture, and renewable Four Corners Power Plant before energy innovation. 2031. We have long advocated for replacement of these coal plants with We’ll be working for final approval 100% renewable resources and are now of solar projects in the Four Corners seeing those efforts come to fruition. region over the coming year. The focus on renewable solar energy and Now, the Four Corners region is seeing battery storage as replacement for the possibility of a remarkable shift to the region represents the potential for investment in renewable energy. One the Four Corners region to become major investment,, the Four Corners a preeminent battery storage hub. Solar Center, comprises several projects Additionally, the investment in amounting to approximately 1,400 renewable energy associated with the MW of solar photovoltaic and battery San Juan Generating Station, and the site of abandonment of San Juan Generating storage facility proposed by Photosol. the planned Shiprock Solar Project. Station and early retirement scenarios for Four Corners Power Plant make There are three distinct projects that One key aspect of these projects is Enchant’s speculative carbon capture are part of the Four Corners Solar their replacement of lost property and carbon sequestration project even Center, each hundreds of megawatts taxes from closure of the coal plant. more dubious and doubtful. in size: The solar projects total about a $600 million investment in the Central This is a transformative time for our • Three projects called San Juan Consolidated School District and will region, representing a monumental Solar located adjacent to San Juan replace San Juan County property benefit for impacted communities Generating Station to the east. taxes of $3.5 million paid by San Juan with a path to economic diversification Generating Station. The projects also and renewable energy investment. • Shiprock Solar, located will utilize existing transmission lines contiguous with San Juan and substations. Total current solar By Mike Eisenfeld

3 Reducing Our Reliance On Coal-Fired Power Attaining utility-scale renewable power for Colorado’s emissions reductions goals. For a communities in the Four Corners region has company that has long resisted the transition been one of SJCA’s goals for years. Renewable to renewable energy, this announcement was energy is better for both our environment and huge news. our wallets; over the past few years the cost of renewables has plummeted while the cost But even though Tri-State’s new commitments of coal continues to skyrocket. In Colorado, are a step in the right direction, they still have we’ve been engaging with our local electric a long way to go. For one thing, Tri-State has cooperative, La Plata Electric Association not put forward a plan that details how they (LPEA), as they navigate their power supply will reduce their reliance on fossil fuels, and options. Unfortunately, LPEA is stuck in a coal- they even have plans for a large expansion intensive, long-term energy contract with into natural gas. Tri-State is committed to coal 55% their power provider, Tri-State, that limits local through 2030, and they plan on still using Amount Tri-State’s generation and forces us to pay high rates for coal for generation until 2050. Tri-State’s rate rates are forecasted dirty, expensive coal-fired power. forecast also shows a 55% increase by 2050, to increase by 2050 even though most utilities show flat or even Luckily, there are a few avenues to hold Tri- decreasing rates in the years ahead. State accountable and pursue cheaper, cleaner power. One such option is the state of Colorado’s As this process unfolds, SJCA will continue roadmap for emissions reduction, which they to advocate for cleaner, cheaper power by will be discussing this winter. In 2019, the state engaging both with our local cooperatives here legislature passed bold new greenhouse gas in Southwest Colorado and in larger statewide reduction goals of 26% from 2005 levels in 2025; processes. We will continue to inform and 50% by 2030; and 90% by 2050. And the best recruit member-owners to attend and advocate and fastest way for Colorado to slash emissions for cleaner, cheaper power at monthly Board is to accelerate the shift away from coal-fired meetings. We’ll also keep supporting forward- electricity. The electric sector will need an 80% thinking candidates for our cooperative reduction in emissions for Colorado to reach its Boards, mobilizing public comments on clean goals, which means that Tri-State will need to energy rulemaking processes, and informing drastically lower their dependence on coal. the public on what’s going on at their local electric co-op. There’s a long road ahead, but Indeed, Tri-State is finally beginning their we have an opportunity to secure a brighter, belated transition towards renewable energy, cleaner energy future right here in Southwest and recently announced that they plan to cut Colorado. emissions from Colorado electricity sales 80% by 2030, a goal that puts them on track with By Katie Pellicore 4 SJCA Kicks Off Wildlife Program

Welcome, Gary!

Gary Skiba is the new Wildlife Program Manager for San Juan Citizens Alliance! Here, he reflects on his background & what he’ll focus on in his role at SJCA.

I’m really excited about my role as the Wildlife Program All that hard work paid off, as 114 passed in November and Manager. I started on April 1st (no fooling) and have been the wolves will be coming home! involved in a lot of interesting work since then. Though it had a very narrow margin, Proposition 114 did The Wildlife Program was created this spring after years indeed pass, and now our state wildlife agency, Colorado of recognition by the staff and board that the Alliance Parks and Wildlife (CPW), has committed to developing a needed to focus more on wildlife issues. Jimbo, SJCA’s comprehensive plan with public input, as required by the Lands & Forest Protection Program Manager, was doing proposition. CPW must release wolves and have paws on all he could to keep up with public lands management the ground by the end of 2023. issues, which often have lots of associated wildlife issues, but we needed extra staff capacity to work on wildlife as its I will help represent SJCA and Southwestern Colorado in own campaign. that planning process. CPW has a difficult task ahead in figuring out just how to manage the planning, including One main area that I’ve focused on is the ballot initiative, how they will gather public input, if they will have a core Proposition 114, to restore wolves to Colorado. I led one of the advisory group of stakeholders, how many public meetings 12 working groups (Opposition Research) under the Rocky to have, and so on. Then, they will have to make decisions Mountain Wolf Project that were working for passage of 114, about the actual restoration effort, such as where they made presentations promoting wolf restoration to a dozen will obtain the wolves for reintroduction, where to release groups, wrote op-eds and letters to the editor, and put them in Colorado, and how many to release. together the blog series on the SJCA webpage on wolves. 5 CPW will also need to develop And, the best way to do that a compensation program for is to remove domestic sheep livestock lost to wolf predation. grazing from public lands While there’s a lot of precedent that are near bighorn herds. with compensation programs That happened early this year, in other states that CPW can when local sheep rancher J. draw on, those programs are Paul Brown agreed to take a rarely considered adequate payment from the National by ranchers. This will likely be Wildlife Federation and one of the most difficult parts surrendered his rights to the of the planning process. Endlich Mesa allotment in the Weminuche wilderness. I’m also involved with several bighorn sheep management This is an expensive option issues. Bighorns were possibly that has been effective in our most common ungulate other areas in the West, and (hooved animal) before the there are more opportunities arrival of Europeans and their in the Weminuche and other livestock. When you look important public lands in around Southwest Colorado, Southwest Colorado. A group you can see vast areas of of Colorado bighorn advocates suitable bighorn habitat, from will continue to help move high elevation zones like the this process along, and we , to lower hope to see the eventual elevation canyons like the increase of bighorn herds and lower Animas. Unfortunately, an increase of bighorn use in these areas are no longer habitat that they’re currently occupied by bighorns due not using. to overhunting and diseases transmitted from domestic I’m also working on trying livestock. to get CPW to address their management of the Coller 6,900 Disease, specifically theState Wildlife Area near South Bighorn population in Colorado, a number which transmission of disease from Fork. They currently allow researchers estimate is 5% of domestic sheep and goats domestic sheep grazing on their original population. to bighorns, is currently the the area for a short period, but most important problem there’s no formal agreement for bighorn sheep. The main with the sheep producer. In concern is the bacterium cases like this, there is potential Mycoplasma ovipneumoniae, for disease transmission to shortened to M. ovi. It can bighorns nearby. cause respiratory disease in domestic animals and can My other work includes lead to death in bighorns. In helping Jimbo out on oil and addition, bighorn herds that gas development issues in have been infected with M. the HD Mountains east of ovi typically have low lamb Bayfield. We have a great survival, meaning the herd volunteer from Pagosa can’t grow and expand its Springs, Beverly Compton, range. who is helping us plan for a “BioBlitz”, an intensive wildlife Because bighorns will and plant inventory which we occasionally go on “forays”, hope to get done next spring long distance movements and summer so there’s better from their core home ranges, information on the possible they can come in contact with impacts of well pads and domestic sheep or goats, get pipelines in the area. infected, and return to their home herd. The results can be If any members would like to devastating for the bighorns. talk to me about wildlife issues, The only way we know of to please feel free to call or email prevent M. ovi infections in me (gary@sanjuancitizens. bighorns is to keep them org)! separated from domestic sheep. By Gary Skiba 6 Wildlands Protection Takes Shape Over 20 years ago, SJCA The desert canyons and members and staff crafted mesas of the Colorado a long-range vision for Plateau west of the San Juan SJCA’s 1999 vision for wildlands protection for the San Juan protecting the wildlands of Mountains were similarly Mountains and Dolores River Watershed. the San Juan Mountains and a focus of conservation the Dolores River watershed. advocacy. Back in 1980, the Our Citizens Plan for the Bureau of Land Management Wild San Juans highlighted first identified areas like Cross key unprotected roadless Canyon (now in Canyons areas and prioritized the of the Ancients National biggest gaps within our Monument), McKenna Peak region’s network of existing in the Disappointment Valley, wilderness areas. and the Dolores River Canyon as outstanding wilderness Out of that vision grew the candidates. Later, in 1994, campaign to protect the conservation groups put Hermosa Creek watershed, forth a larger vision for desert at the time the largest wildlands, and that gained unprotected roadless area traction as the Colorado in Colorado. Hermosa Creek Wilderness Act introduced McKenna Peak, in the Disappointment Valley, would earn gained legislative designation in 1999. For 20 years, desert wilderness protection under the Colorado Wilderness Act. in 2014, several years after wilderness supporters have the San Juan National Forest worked with Rep. Diana formally recommended its DeGette to gain traction protection and after a lengthy for this bill, which now community stakeholder incorporates 36 areas across process. 660,000 acres that span the state of Colorado. About the same time, the San Juan Mountains Wilderness The past year saw tremendous Act took form, which legislative progress, with proposed making Ice Lake both the CORE Act and Basin and the headwaters of the Colorado Wilderness Mineral Creek’s South Fork off- Act passing the House of limits to future development, Representatives. As of this mining, and roads. The basin writing, both wilderness bills and surrounding peaks is could gain final passage The San Juan Mountains Wilderness Act eventually a missing link between the through Congress via an became a central feature of the CORE Act. Weminuche Wilderness and appropriations bill for the the Wilderness. defense department. In any Our citizens vision aimed case, conservation advocates to secure permanence for anticipate momentum the wild character of this carrying over into 2021 with larger landscape, and we either prompt action on hoped that would enhance these remaining legislative the survival of species like priorities, or the opportunity lynx that range across large to pursue new prospects. distances. Ice Lake Basin and the Sheep Mountain See www. Special Management Area coloradowildernessact.org became centerpieces of the and www.sanjuanwilderness. Colorado Outdoor Recreation org for more details about and Economy (CORE) Act, the areas within the two the focus of a concerted wilderness bills. The CORE Act would make Sheep Mountain and San grassroots campaign over the Miguel Peak, near Telluride, a Special Management Area. past decade. By Mark Pearson 7 The Outstanding Animas

A river is the sum of its many parts. habitat or recreational use), and • Exceptional recreational The health and quality of a river’s community support for enhanced value including existing tributaries determines the overall protection. uses for fishing, 107,000 health and resilience of the river swimming, and paddling. itself. The WQCC ultimately makes their decision during a rulemaking Looking ahead The Animas River is no exception. hearing that culminates in Water that flows in the Animas a triennial review of water As we move into a future of climate first begins in the tributaries, classifications and standards for uncertainty, and as streams with wetlands, and washes of the San each basin in the State of Colorado. exceptional water quality become Juan Mountains, the surrounding For our San Juan Basin, which increasingly rare, it will become forests, and the lower shrublands contains the Animas, this hearing ever more important that we that make up the Animas is scheduled for the summer of protect the high-quality water Watershed. The high-quality water 2022. that still exists in our mountains contained in these tributaries and forests. By engaging with contributes to the overall health Earlier in 2020, we began the the Outstanding Waters process, of the Animas and, by extension, important work with our partners we plan to continue investigating the health of our communities, to identify Outstanding Water high-quality streams over the ecosystems, and economies. candidate streams, collect critical next few years with the goal Miles of rivers headwaters in the state of Colorado water quality data, document of proposing our strongest We’re working alongside our natural resource values, and candidates for protection in 2022. conservation partners in the gather community support for State of Colorado seeking new protecting high-quality water. We’ve embarked on this multi- protections for some of the year effort alongside our friends highest quality tributaries to the Our initial list of potential and partners at American Animas. candidate streams includes Rivers, American Whitewater, Animas River tributaries like Colorado Trout Unlimited, Outstanding Waters Boulder Creek, Bear Creek, Conservation Colorado, Mountain Cascade Creek, Lime Creek, and Studies Institute, High Country Through a process known as Grasshopper Creek. Conservation Advocates, The Pew Outstanding Waters designation, Charitable Trusts, and Western the Clean Water Act gives All of these waterways are Resource Advocates. Beyond individual states the authority valuable to our river communities, Animas streams, our group is to designate special protections providing essentials like: also exploring protections on on pristine waterways to ensure tributaries to the Dolores, San water quality is not degraded. • Critical aquatic habitat Juan, San Miguel, and Gunnison In Colorado, the decision to for native trout species, rivers. designate “Outstanding Waters” macroinvertebrates (bugs), is made by the Colorado Water birds, and other wildlife. For more information, or if you’d Quality Control Commission • Significant contributions to like to get involved, feel free to (WQCC) and depends on downstream resilience of contact your Animas Riverkeeper: specific criteria like water quality the Animas and ecosystem [email protected]. standards, outstanding natural services like higher quality resource values (like aquatic drinking and irrigation water. By Marcel Gaztambide 8 Defending the HD Mountains

It’s really no surprise that Colorado’s sometimes electrical power lines, too. public lands intact. But nonetheless, highest peaks attract the greatest Of course, there’s multi-thousand the Bureau of Land Management attention from human visitors, horsepower compressors, water (BLM) that “manages” natural gas smart phone cameras, Wilderness extractors, pump stations and on and leasing continues to greenlight more designations, and more – they are awe- on. Don’t let anyone tell you that this is and more leasing and development on inspiring and photogenic. However, anything other than industrialization. our public lands. Certainly, legislative most of us have come to know that and administrative actions are sorely the “lower and slower” landscapes But in addition to the natural gas sites needed at the federal level to alter the have much to offer both their endemic that are already established, right now BLM’s misguided trajectory. species and human visitors, sometimes there are gas extraction schemes both even more so than our peaks on high. envisioned and already in the planning Some of you are surely thinking that phase that not only surround the HDs strong protections are guaranteed And so it is with the HD Mountains, but also plunge straight into their in the HDs because half the range is just east of Bayfield and south of heart. Some of you must be wondering, designated as a Colorado Roadless Highway 160, with their rolling ridges “Is someone really wanting to invest in Area. Unfortunately, while there of old-growth Ponderosa rising up natural gas extraction when we have a are stipulations attached to the between cottonwood-lined streams glut of it?” development of natural gas leases and grassy meadows ringed with on the San Juan National Forest, they tree-sized Gambel oaks. Abundant are not ironclad; many of them can bear populations forage and frolic in be “excepted, modified or waived.” the summer, and during the winter Therefore, what we would hope to be months the large herd of mule deer strong protections for the forty square browses on the shrubs and forbs after miles of HD Roadless Area are not a summer season high in the San Juan necessarily stringent or reliable. Mountains. So, what lies ahead of us? With about Ardent followers of the Alliance will 25 miles of dual pipelines, a dozen remember that protecting and wellheads, and additional well access defending the HD Mountains has been roads either recently approved or in a primary interest of ours for decades. the planning pipeline, we will need You know how it goes: the less-flashy to muster our efforts, resources and and lesser-known gems of nature capacity to hold back the push for often need extra doses of energy to unnecessary natural gas development keep them protected and whole. This as much as possible. is especially true when fluid fossil fuels lie below the forest floor as they do in Your SJCA membership, your the HDs. Natural gas development in the HD mountains. monetary donations, your comment writing, and your overall awareness The HDs are already studded with a few With the nation figuratively swimming and support of the need to maintain dozen natural gas wellsites. The visual in natural gas with its low price, huge the HD Mountains as a quiet, wildlife- impact, acreage directly impacted, and “stockpile” and projected low prices rich and road-free landscape are the the “52/24/7” noise generated from the for years ahead, one would think that bulwark we must maintain against the wellsites are not the only impacts to the investing in commodities in high incessant industrial onslaught of our HDs. Remember, each wellsite requires demand (solar panels and toilet paper?) public lands. a road (wide and straight enough for might be a smarter investment that a drill rig), a corridor for pipelines, and would also, of course, leave more of our By Jimbo Buickerood 9 You Power Our Work!

Support SJCA in a way that works for you. Your Ways to contribution will help fight dirty energy projects, protect wild places, and preserve access to clean water here Give in Southwest Colorado and Northwest New Mexico.

Include SJCA in your Become a Monthly Giving 1 Member 2 3 Estate Plans As a regional member-based Spread out your contributions in You can provide an ongoing legacy organization, we rely on individuals monthly payments. It’s easier for of support through the creation of a like you to support our work. Join or you and evens out SJCA’s income bequest in your will. Contact us for renew with a financial donation. across the year. assistance.

Qualified Charitable CARES Act 4 Distribution 5 Contributions The Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Account holders who are 72 or older Economic Security (CARES) Act allows can donate to a qualified charity directly from a traditional IRA, for up to $300 per taxpayer in an above- effectively lowering your adjusted the-line deduction for charitable gifts gross income and avoiding paying made in 2020 and claimed on taxes taxes. Contact your accountant for in 2021. You can lower your income details. tax bill by giving to SJCA today, even if you take the standard deduction on your taxes. Contact your accountant to learn more.

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San Juan Citizens Alliance advocates for clean air, pure water, and healthy lands – the foundations of resilient communities, ecosystems and economies in the San Juan Basin.

BOARD STAFF San Juan Citizens San Juan Citizens Alliance Buz Bricca, Vice President Jimbo Buickerood, Lands & Forest Protection Alliance is a member- 1309 East Third Ave, Suite 5 Steve Ellison, Treasurer Program Manager based organization, PO Box 2461 Maya Kane Mike Eisenfeld, Energy & Climate Program supported by Durango, CO 81302 Steve Monroe Manager donations from over 970.259.3583 Anna Peterson Susan Etter, Finance & Administration Manager a thousand of your Marcel Gaztambide, Animas Riverkeeper [email protected] Robin Richard, Secretary friends and neighbors. Diana Vernazza Mark Pearson, Executive Director sanjuancitizens.org Katie Pellicore, Communications Manager & Please consider joining Barb West, President Colorado Energy Organizer them by supporting our Gary Skiba, Wildlife Program Manager efforts!

10 San Juan Citizens Alliance 1309 East Third Avenue PO Box 2461 Durango, CO 81302

Last Look Photo: John Fielder Photo:

Remnants of a mining site at the headwaters of the Animas River, a designated Superfund Site The Little Bookcliffs, an area that would be protected as wilderness under the Colorado Wilderness Act.