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Show 1445 N. 10 St. Manitowoc, Wis. 54220 Feb. 5, 1980 Brent - Pat Parenteau: We have never formally got a Colorado River Basin Coalition off the ground. I believe our thinking at the Dam Conference never really got beyond the stage of focusing our concerns/efforts under a title. But I think we ought to consider formally organizing a real Coalition for purposes of publicizing this River Basin resources and for developing support {or protecting them. I've been mulling the idea around for awhile - not knowing what is desireable. I sent a copy of my White River Dam document to the American Wilderness Alliance President, Sally Ranney. Sally formed this organization from staff members of the Denver based office of the Wilderness Society. When the Society began its process of change, and eliminating its western field representatives, Sally began in 1978 to replace the gap being left by the Society in western wilderness and wild and scenic river work. She sent me brochures and is doing a superb job. However, I have noticed frbm this material - - no wild and scenic river designation has taken place in Colorado or Utah - Colorado has proposals but'Utah has only those on the Green and I don't know their official status - the AWA approach Is similar to Wilderness Society, Sierra Club, of emphasizing (a) scenic values of rivers, (b) game fish values so there is no place to emphasize or even recognize specific resources associated with warm water rivers I have drawn up an inquiry to send to any groups interested in wild rivers, scenic rivers, free flowing rivers, and wildlife associated with these, to feel out interest in supporting a Colorado River Basin Coalition. (t^JU^U, ' MJ yuf^ >#<> <u~Jb) However, I have drawn it up in the framework of an independent organization working in close affiliation with supporting groups but having its own purposes of publicizing THIS Colorado River and its tributary streams. This may not be what we had in mind in forming a Coalition group at the Dam Conference. Is this a feasible proposal as I have set it out? to*~ * I can see an immense "vacuum" of information being filled by such an organization. All the work and purposes of you people in Washington, those on CRCUP, those on CAP, and whoever is working in California and Colorado and, even Wyoming. If I could get an organization going with sufficient membership to fund such activities, I can also envision some real great work done on this whole river |
