2022-08

summer hours

MONDAY - FRIDAY: 12PM - 8PM SATURDAY & SUNDAY: 11AM - 9PM

On the Cover: Ribbon-Cutting at the Redstone General Store

The Redstone General Store was awarded a grant for the installation of an Electric Vehicle (EV) fastcharging station and held a ribbon-cutting event on Saturday, July 16th, organized by the Western EV Club.

This is the first fast-charging station between Carbondale and Paonia, and they also have a Tesla adapter available. However, the new technology is not without its kinks, “We haven’t had a successful charge, but we'll work through it,” said Redstone General Store co-owner, Rochelle Norwood.

The new charging station has been problematic for the small business; however, they’re committed to getting things up and running soon. If you have expertise in this field and are interested in helping iron out some kinks, please contact the Redstone General Store at (970) 963-3126.

T HE C RYSTAL VALLEY E CHO &

Marble Times

Mission Statement: To provide a voice for the residents of the Crystal River Valley; to bring attention to the individuals and local businesses that are the fabric of the Crystal Valley region; to contribute to the vitality of our small town life.

Editor • Gentrye Houghton gentryeh@hotmail.com • (806) 374-0055

CONTRIBUTORS

Amber McMahill • Alex Menard Melissa Sidelinger

ADVERTISING SALES

Heather Marine at Elephant Mountain Creative heather@elephantmountaincreative.com (970) 718-5848

DISTRIBUTION

The Crystal Valley Echo is published monthly, and is distributed throughout the Crystal Valley.

NEWSPAPER BOX LOCATIONS:

Carbondale (old) City Market • Village Smithy Carbondale Post Office • Redstone Inn

Propaganda Pie • The Marble Hub FOR

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Please send $50 for print or $35 for digital editions along with address information to: The Crystal Valley Echo

Letters to the Editor

Wild and Scenic deSignation

Dear Editor,

I recently attended the Colorado River District’s State of the Rivers event in Carbondale. The evening’s presentations reminded me of the major water challenges we face in the West and just how special it is to live near the Crystal River - one of the state’s last undammed, free-flowing rivers. Our rivers are indeed at a dire point as demand continues to increase while the water supply keeps dropping. As someone who lives along the Crystal River and has spent years advocating for its protection, I was happy to see the Colorado River District acknowledge the community’s desire for protection of the Crystal by including a presentation on Wild and Scenic eligibility at their event last month. As the pressure to develop every last drop of water keeps increasing, it’s even more important now that we set protections in place for something as rare as the free-flowing Crystal River. A Wild and Scenic designation for the Crystal is the only way to truly ensure that this remarkable river remains the way it is, and forever remove the threat of dams or out-of-basin diversions. We can do this at the same time we protect in-basin water rights and the augmentation needs of the valley.

Let’s come together and protect this treasured river in our backyard by advocating for a Wild and Scenic designation!

Chuck Ogilby, Avalanche Ranch 12853 Highway 133 Carbondale, CO 81623 (970) 963-3901

REDSTONE DESIGN GUIDELINES UPDATE

The Redstone Historic Preservation Commission (RHPC) has been working for some time on an update to the Village of Redstone Design Guidelines (Guidelines) adopted in 2004. The need for revisions came primarily from the desire to codify RHPC policies that had been developed since the 2004 Guidelines, clarify existing Guidelines, fill gaps in the Guidelines, and create a sign code that was tailored to businesses on the Boulevard.

For the full text of the Guidelines and Code Amendments, visit: pitkincounty.com/1364/Community-Development and follow the link under “announcements.”

These revisions to the Village of Redstone Design Guidelines will appear before the Pitkin County Board of County Commissioners on September 14th. Public comments will be taken during the meeting or by visiting:   pitkincounty.com/publiccomment.

archiving The CrysTal Valley eCho

Dear Crystal Valley Echo readers,

We are in the process of preserving decades-old issues of The Crystal Valley Echo & Marble Times. It has been my vision for years to have several hardcovered, bound volumes of the old papers created to help save them for generations to come. A group of us got together and went through boxes of old papers and found that we are missing several issues of the first 10 years of publication, and many, many issues of the following 8 years. If you have any of the following issues of The Crystal Valley Echo tucked away someplace and would like to donate them to this project, please let me know!

We would love to track down up to four copies of the following issues:

#9 • Mid-August/Mid-September 2003

#40 • May 2006

Volume 7, #4 • March 2010

#56 Mid-Dec, 07/Mid-Jan, 08

#12 • December 2012

From 2013 we are missing:

January

From 2014 we are missing

From 2015 we are missing

From 2016 - All issues are missing From 2017 - All issues are missing From 2018 - All issues are missing From 2019 - January through August are missing.

Thank you!

Alyssa Ohnmacht former publisher of The Crystal Valley Echo

alyssa@lightofthemooninc.com (970) 963-2373

goodbye redStone A Poem by Bill Jochems

Goodbye Redstone, I gotta go, Need lower elevation, need urbanization, I leave with a heavy heart, But still gotta go.

I love your valley and village and people. I've loved you for half a century. Whenever I traveled out, I was glad to return. There is no better place.

And there are no better people, Living through sadness and joy, And disagreements tooth and nail, But sticking together through thick and thin.

I'm leaving Redstone, but not going far, Only eighteen miles down the valley. Carbondale is a good place too, And I'll be seeing you, as you pass through.

26th Anniversary Redstone Art Show and Sale

From RAF Volunteer, Stephanie Deaton

The Redstone Art Foundation (RAF) hosts its 26th anniversary Labor Day Art Show and Sale, September 2nd — 5th. Thirty-five artists gather to exhibit and sell their work on the front and back lawns of the Redstone Inn. It is the Art Foundation’s largest Labor Day Art Show to date!

All are invited to this free event. Get to know local artists throughout the weekend and stay for a demonstration or a workshop. A People’s Choice Award is presented to the most popular 2D and 3D artists. Winners will be announced in October’s issue of The Crystal Valley Echo and on Facebook.

Join in the fun by participating in the Plein Air Event on Sunday, September 5th, beginning at 11:00 a.m. Registration is free. All artists must provide their supplies and submit a work of art that is ready to hang by 2:00 p.m. Capture the beauty of the Crystal River Valley or pick up one of these one-of-a-kind paintings at the Plein Air auction at 3:00 p.m. Accompanying the auction is a wine and spirits tasting.

Thirty percent of all sales go toward the Redstone Art Foundation’s Scholarship Fund. Each year, it is awarded through RAF to a graduating Roaring Fork High School Senior pursuing a career in the arts. This year’s scholarship recipients are Taylor Joslin and Joy Bouchet. The RAF is also pleased to feature the works of student artists who have recently graduated from Glenwood Springs.

Schedule of eventS

Friday, September 2nd:

• 6-8 p.m. Opening Reception. Mingle with the artists while enjoying complimentary wine and appetizers.

Saturday, September 3rd:

• 10:00 a.m. — Tents open

• 11:00 a.m. — Painting Demonstration with Mark Mace

• 1:00 p.m. — Painting Demonstration with Connie Hendrix

• 2:15 p.m. — Rosemaling with Peg Piltingsrud

• 3:30 p.m. — Pottery with Rene Fischer

• 5:00 p.m. — Tents close for the day

CMYK: 0, 84, 100, 0

HEX: #F05123

RGB: 240, 81, 35

CMYK: 100, 33, 38, 0

HEX: #008498

RGB: 0, 132, 152

CMYK: 0, 0, 0, 100

HEX: #231F20

RGB: 35, 31, 32

Sunday, September 4th:

• 10:00 a.m. — Tents open

• 11:00 a.m. Plein Air registration at the art tent. Registration is free. Artists must supply their materials.

• 12:00 p.m. — Mosaic Art with Rebecca Swain

• 1:15 p.m. — Watercolor with Sandy Francis

• 2:00 p.m. — Plein Air paintings are turned in for display. All entries must be presented ready-to-hang

• 2:30 p.m. — Children’s workshop with Rene Fischer

• 3:00 p.m. — Plein Air Art Auction & Wine and Spirits Tasting.

• 5:00 p.m. — Tents close for the day

Monday, September 5th:

• 10:00 a.m. — Tents open

• 1:00 p.m. — Children’s workshop with Mark Mace

• 4:00 p.m. — Art Show closes

All workshops and demonstrations are free, open to the public, and last approximately one hour.

Interested in volunteering? The RAF is looking for art enthusiasts to help with two and a half hours shifts during the weekend. If interested Contact Cathy Montgomery at cathymontg@gmail.com or (970) 963-7212; for more information, visit www.redstoneartfoundation.org

See you in Redstone this Labor Day Weekend!

New Public Access, Stewardship Requested

Two very special natural areas in the Crystal Valley have recently opened for public access. Dorais Way, at the north end of Redstone, is open to pedestrian and bicycle access by an interim agreement. In Marble, the Watson family has graciously posted a sign allowing access to Lower Yule Falls. Whether right or privilege, people visiting these areas should express their gratitude by exercising special care.

By Alex Menard

According to a joint press release issued by the Pitkin County Board of County Commissioners and the Rock Creek Association (Dorais Way’s home owner’s association), the two parties are currently engaged in litigation in Pitkin County v. Rock Creek Association et al., regarding the public access to a portion of Dorais Way between Redstone and Filoha Meadows. This litigation has kept Dorais Way closed for several years, but the parties have now paused litigation to enter into good faith settlement discussions.

The road provides the only access to Filoha Meadows open space; both the road and meadow are

only open from July through September to protect wintering elk and bighorn sheep. Help keep access open by respecting private property and staying on the road, being quiet, leaving dogs at home, and policing the ground for any litter. Unless final settlement is achieved, nothing prevents Rock Creek Association from locking the gate and preventing public access after September 30, 2022.

The access to Lower Yule Falls is gained through the new Marble Wetlands parcel, which is not yet officially open. It is allowed for use by foot traffic only. Please respect private property by not going beyond the falls, stay off the slag pile from the historic Hofmann smelter, and please refrain from picking up or licking any rocks.

Let's exercise good behavior to keep these areas open and pristine.

Tour the Redstone Coke Ovens with Ron Sorter

This content is sponsored and provided by the Redstone Historical Society.

To help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Crystal Valley Environ mental Protection Association (CVEPA), Ron Sorter will conduct a tour and offer historical information about the Coke Ovens.

All are welcome for coffee and donuts along with the tour.

The Sorters, Ron and Michelle, represented the Redstone Historical Society and dedicated 15 years to securing resources to purchase, protect and restore the Coke Oven property. They also oversaw phase 1 of the restoration in 2011, and friends say that Ron knows more about the Coke Ovens than anyone else on Earth.

Michelle died in 2019, three years after they moved to Sequim, Washington.

The tour will take place on Highway 133 outside Redstone on Sunday, August 21st, at 11:00 a.m.

Vintage Valley: CVEPA Celebrates Their First 50 Years

From Suzy Meredith-Orr

The Crystal Valley Environmental Protection Association (CVEPA) is celebrating its 50th year of protecting one of the most beautiful places in Colorado. To say thanks to everyone for their support, CVEPA will host a party on Sunday, August 21st, at the recently conserved Sunfire Ranch, and everyone who loves the Crystal Valley is invited.

I was seven the year of CVEPA’s founding, and to me, things seemed pretty quiet around the Crystal Valley in 1972. During our annual summertime visits to Redstone, my brother and I could play in the street without fear of interfering with traffic. We saw a couple of cars a day, a few pedestrians, and the occasional horseback rider, but most of the time we felt like the only people in town.

To our young minds, Redstone wasn’t really a town, it was a toy, a giant and unique playground. Redstone was a river. Redstone was a riverbank covered with rounded stones. Redstone was mountains and towering trees that were unlike what we saw in our hometown in Kansas. It even had a special smell, probably a mixture of pine needles, soil, and river water.

Back then, I wasn’t aware of the plan to develop Marble into a major ski resort. Or the push to dam the Crystal River and send its waters out of the valley. I didn’t realize the environmental devastation Mid-Continent Resources had wreaked on Coal Basin and the resulting pollution that flowed into Coal

All content sponsored and provided by the Redstone Historical Society and the CVEPA Board of Directors.

Creek and the Crystal.

The coal trucks that sped down Highway 133 were merely a loud distraction and a topic of complaint by some of the grown-ups. The black water that flowed out of the faucets after a storm was fascinating, an anomaly that confirmed our belief that Redstone was a place unlike any other.

Since those days, my older, hopefully, wiser view of the world has only confirmed that uniqueness, as well as my good fortune in having experienced Redstone’s quiet 1970s self.

Luckily, others also consider this their favorite place in the world, and by 1972 had committed themselves to the stewardship of the river and mountains and trees and the quality of life the Crystal Valley uniquely provides us.

Those folks became the Crystal Valley Environmental Protection Association, a vibrant group of environmental advocates who were, and still are, committed to fighting ongoing threats that appear in the Crystal Valley. The beginnings were as grassroots as could be.

CVEPA lore describes the kitchen table meetings of Esther Fogle Neal, Lloyd Blue, and J.E. DeVilbiss who gathered to strategize opposition to a threat of a major development in the upper Crystal Valley. Estimates vary, but many believe the Marble Ski Area would have resulted in a town close in size to Grand Junction. Certainly, residential lots would have stretched from the Darien ranch on the west to Beaver Lake on the east, and plans were in place to build hundreds of condos and hotels as well as an enormous amount of retail and office space.

The original three soon found support from Leo Pascal, Bill Jochems, Paula Mechau, Karin Lindquist, and others who cared about the impacts such an inappropriate development would bring, and CVEPA was born. The founding task of the gutsy group was to battle developers, a largely quiescent Forest Service, and involved energetic advocacy with a tough outer shell as others mocked their work. However, their efforts paid off in 1973, when a combination of concerns about geologic instability, water and air quality, wildlife habitat, and title problems in lot

Tour Redstone’s Historic Coke Ovens

In honor of the Crystal Valley Enviornmental Protection Association’s 50th anniversary, the Redstone Historical Society is sponsoring a tour of the iconic coke ovens led by Ron Sorter. Coffee and donuts will be served. Join us on Sunday, August 21st at 11 a.m.

sales resulted in bankruptcy for the developers and the end of the plan.

As the only environmental watchdog group in the Valley, the need for CVEPA’s continued existence soon became clear. A plan to provide water for the oil shale industry in Garfield County, known as the West Divide Project, would have placed dams on the Crystal and diverted its water out of the valley. The 310-foot-tall Placita dam would have flooded Redstone and much of the area beyond. CVEPA successfully fought this congressional action while also fighting for minimum stream flows.

The black water after rain that so fascinated me as a kid came compliments of Mid-Continent Resources’ mining activities up in Coal Basin. CVEPA worked to bring attention to the pollution that impacted both Coal Creek and the Crystal for years. After the mines were shut down in 1991, CVEPA’s persistence, with the help of Steve Renner of the Colorado Division of Reclamation, Mining, and Safety, meant the subsequent reclamation of the area took place in a meaningful way after the original bond proved inadequate.

CVEPA was also behind the original effort to obtain Wild & Scenic status for the Crystal which is one of the last free-flowing rivers in Colorado. CVEPA participates in the revived community-based effort underway now, that seeks to protect 39 miles of the river from dams and diversion of water out of the Crystal River drainage.

In recent years, board members discovered and reported the rerouting of Yule Creek at Colorado Stone Quarries. They have provided the environmental perspective to the Lead King Loop working group since its inception. They have engaged in a spirited debate about the Crystal Valley bike trail, watchdogged CDOT’s dumping of debris, stood up for public access to Filoha Meadows, helped to preserve a wetlands area bordering Marble, and are involved in the effort to ascertain the volume of methane emissions in Coal Basin.

One wonders if those three people drinking coffee at a kitchen table in Marble 50 years ago envisioned the future impact the nascent group would have on their beloved valley. Did they know that the environmental threats wouldn’t stop? That the use of the area by visitors would increase dramatically? Could they have envisioned social media and its impact on an ever-widening love of the outdoors? Did they foresee climate change and how it has made resources more scarce, wildfires more frequent, and wildlife habitats more rare?

While they may not have predicted each of those things specifically, I believe they knew CVEPA would have plenty to keep it busy far into the future. So watch out, opponents of the environment, because CVEPA’s still around, and it’s time to celebrate!

The fun begins at 4 p.m. at Sunfire Ranch, five miles south of Carbon-

dale on Highway 133. The ranch has been in the Sewell family for six generations and was recently conserved by Pitkin County Open Space. Come for the food; the fun; for live music from Natalie Speers, Jackson Emmer, and Ken Gentry; and for an inspiring speaker, all along the banks of Thompson Creek.

The keynote speaker, Maggie Fox, is an environmental activist and former president of the Climate Reality Project. She currently serves on the boards of the Green Fund, the Energy Future Coalition, and the Colorado State Universi-

ty School of Global Environmental Sustainability.

Fox began her career as a classroom teacher and community organizer in the Navajo and Hopi Reservations of Arizona and New Mexico. An avid outdoorswoman, Fox worked with the Colorado Outward Bound School and participated in numerous mountaineering and other outdoor expeditions around the world. She and her husband, Mark Udall, have two children.

Just before the party at 3 p.m., Seed Peace will offer a tour of its operations on the ranch. Seed Peace grew out of Wild Mountain Seeds and is dedicated to accelerating the transition to regenerative farming and supporting smallscale sustainable agriculture. Spaces are limited, so reserve your spot by emailing cvepa@outlook.com

We look forward to celebrating the Crystal Valley with you!

Learn more about CVEPA at cvepa.org

The details of the many fascinating stories of CVEPA’s history can be found in Darrell Munsell’s book Protecting a Valley and Saving a River: The Crystal Valley Environmental Protection Association Mr. Munsell will sign copies of his book during the event.

Children’s Fire Safety Event in Redstone

Saturday, August 13th 10:30 - 11:30 a.m. at the Redstone Fire Station located at1085 Redstone Blvd.

We will be sharing lots of safety tips geared towards kids.

Come meet your local Firefighter and learn about  basic fire safety and summer fire safety tips!

Find out more at https://pitkincounty com/726/RedstoneHistoric-Preservation-Commissio or Call 970-920-5210 for

Come together at the Community Picnic and RCA Elections

Become an RCA Board Member

Would you like to be a board member of the Redstone Community Association? Board Members should be residents of Redstone, available to attend RCA meetings, and have a desire to help our community.

Self Nominations can be completed using the online form that can be found on our website. Nominations are due by August 5th. https://www.redstonecolorado.com/events/redstone-community-picnic

Fourth of July Fly Over

The Colorado Air National Guard flyover on July 4th was incredible! Redstone is very fortunate to be one of the communities in the flyover. The RCA, visitors, and community members are grateful to the pilots from the Buckley Space Force Base.

Also, thank you to all the volunteers and bakers of pies and baked goods that made the 4th of July a success!

Photo courtesy of Josh Wamboldt

Support the Historic Community of

Redstone, Colorado, is an unincorporated village that relies completely on donations and volunteerism spearheaded by the Redstone Community Association (RCA). Your membership dues and donations directly fund RCA projects and events.

Become a Member of the RCA

Scan the QR code to be taken directly to a payment screen for easy Membership Sign up or renewal.

You may also write a check and drop it off at the Redstone Inn or mail it to 303 Redstone Blvd. Redstone, CO 81623.

Thank you for your support! REDSTONE

Steve Pavlin - President

Nate Helfenbein - Vice President

Katie Lowery - Treasurer

Sara Lewis - Secretary

David (DJ) Johnson,

Heather Marine, Josh Wamboldt, Ron Phaneuf - Board Members

Cathy Montgomery - Alternate

CSU Team Surveys Coal Basin Methane Emissions

By Gentrye Houghton

The Catena Foundation and Crystal Basin Holdings, the LLC that owns Coal Basin Ranch, have partnered with the Environmental Defense Fund and Colorado State University (CSU) to survey the abandoned coal mine methane emissions in Coal Basin. Joe von Fischer, a professor in the Department of Biology, is leading the study.

According to his CSU profile, Prof. von Fischer “studies how the function of ecosystems is structured by the interactions among humans, plants, the soil and soil microbes, with particular focus on how these factors influence the emissions of greenhouse gases like methane.” On Tuesday, July 19th, the research group invited this reporter to join them.

Currently, the amount of methane available for capture or destruction is unknown, as is whether it may be captured cost-effectively and efficiently. “Colorado State University’s research aims to accurately measure the coal mine methane emissions as they are naturally occurring in Coal Basin,” said Trina Ortega, Coal Basin and Trails Senior Ranch Manager, “by using a variety of measuring techniques to determine the amount of methane leaking, as well as making projections about the quality of the methane.”

While the flow testing phase for a project proposed by Chris Caskey with the Delta Brick & Climate Company and Mona Newton, who consulting on the project and former Executive Director of the Community Office for Resource Efficiency (CORE) seems to be in gridlock with obtaining permits from the

US Forest Service, the CSU research will continue through the summer. The team uses low-impact methods of measurement in delicate, non-motorized areas of the Basin, and has visited the area twice, once in May and again in July, with plans to return once again before CSU students return to the classroom.

Results will be made available to the Coal Basin Methane Advisory Group (CRMWG), other stakeholders, related industries, government agencies, and the public at large. The CRMWG is working on a public outreach session this fall and is looking to schedule a meeting in Redstone for either September or October.

Follow The Crystal Valley Echo on Facebook for the latest developments.

Oxeye Daisies: Beautiful Threats

Friends of Oxeye daisies (Leucanthemum vulgare), which include seed catalog companies, tout the plant as a beautiful carpet of white flowers with yellow centers, easy and vigorous growers, tolerant of drought, and adaptable to many growing conditions.

Foes of this flower cite the same properties as the reason they are a threat to ecosystems. More than 20 states ban the sale or importation of this plant, including all the western states. Opponents consider Oxeyes as aggressive invaders which displace native ecosystems, especially our native wildflowers

basic principles of design. For example, to be interesting a subject must have a balance of unity and variety. Walking through a cornfield or golf course does not compare with a walk in the woods.

By Alex Menard

In Marble, Oxeyes are just one of a dozen noxious weeds listed for required removal by the State and Gunnison County. All 12 noxious weeds are present in significant amounts.

By contrast, the only weed in Redstone and surrounding forest areas in easily noticeable quantity is the Oxeye. A sharp eye will pick out a few other weeds here and there. Monitoring of ground disturbance and more weed control efforts account for this difference. While Marble's weed problem is formidable, there is a clear path to a weed-free future for Redstone with appropriate action on a very modest scale. But why does this matter?

It's about value. For the earliest valley inhabitants, the Utes, and earlier ancestors, game animals, and useful plants were what was valued. Mountain men, the first whites, valued beaver pelts. Miners sought and are still seeking minerals, coal, oil, natural gas, and even marble; but today, the main natural resource in this valley is the natural landscape.

This is what brings both residents and visitors from near and far. Lots of nearby residents from the largely urbanized Roaring Fork Valley consider the Crystal Valley a natural getaway.

I spoke with a visitor from Wisconsin this summer, who was amazed that small towns like Redstone and Marble are thriving while small towns throughout the Midwest are dying. "The difference is the natural landscape,” she said," because there is very little industry here".

Our interest in the natural landscape, which contains both plants and animals, can be explained by

A beautiful natural landscape, like that experienced on a walk along the Redstone Village Trail, contains unity and variety in balance because it is the result of a natural ecosystem. A procession of different flowers greets the visitor from early spring to fall, always providing new combinations of colors and textures.

The following is simply a listing of some of the more impressive flowers in the order of seasonal appearance along the Redstone Village Trail: Pasque flower, Larkspur, Lupine, Pentstemon, and Wild Rose. Aspen Daisy, Yarrow, Gilia, Paintbrush, Fireweed, Blanket flower, and Giant Gentian.

Do you want to replace all this variety with a monoculture of the same daisies everywhere you look? The entrance of Oxeyes into the scene upsets the natural ecosystem balance and the artistic balance as well.

If you think this is a farfetched threat, consider the Marble Wetlands area in which a road was widened four years ago. Before the widening, there were no oxeyes. First, they spread along the side of the road, and now they are advancing into the meadows, wetland, and forest, choking out everything else.

If the artistic argument is not enough, let's try the scientific approach. When you see that large white field of Oxeyes, you are looking at a dead zone. Those flowers are not consumed by any animals as they are toxic. The space overtaken by Oxeyes is forage removed from use by any indigenous fauna.

Jim Lewis, former Land Manager for Pitkin County and owner of EcoRight Solutions, says "Deer will not feed on Oxeye Daisies unless nothing else is around. If they do eat them, a deer can develop blisters inside his mouth which prevent them from eating and can cause starvation."

Local rancher Bill Fales says that cows tolerate Oxeyes, which is good because the hay he produces necessarily contains large quantities of Oxeyes. Fales describes the Crystal River and associated irrigation ditches as the delivery system for Oxeye seed to his pastures.

From south to north in Redstone, there are four other parallel corridors for weed seed dispersal. These are Highway 133, Redstone Boulevard, the Village Trail, and the road to the East Creek Trailhead. Each of these routes has disturbed areas where Oxeyes are establishing.

Along the highway, there are few Oxeyes, as the right of way is treated by spraying under contract from Pitkin County. Large land management organizations equate treatment with spraying. Because of the large scale of operations, spraying could be considered the only feasible treatment.

Along Redstone Boulevard, Oxeyes are concentrated at the south end, mostly in private gardens, businesses, and service facilities. They are migrating north toward more open forest and east onto the Village Trail.

• 12:45 p.m. – Program August 9: History’s Mysteries With Christi Couch

August 23: Open Space & Trails With Piktin County’s Paul Holsinger.

The Village Trail is within earshot of the Boulevard and within weed shot too. Oxeyes are replacing the great flower show described above and are just starting to spread into the forest. Hand picking at this time would be a very effective method of control if a few more hikers besides your author were picking.

East Creek Road contains another noxious weed, Chamomile (Anthemis cotula), which lines the sides of the road. The flower is a smaller version of the Oxeye, another white daisy with a yellow center. The leaves are finely dissected and fernlike. They have not spread into the forest yet. These also pull easily and are controllable at this stage of establishment.

Romany Iacono, director of Pitkin County Land Management Weed Program, has sent a letter to Redstone Boulevard residents asking them to remove Oxeye Daisies from their properties. She said, "It is not just good stewardship, it's the law."

Samantha Dinar heads the Range Management and Noxious Weed Program for White River National Forest, managing alone over 750,000 acres of national forest. She questions the value of volunteer efforts to control weeds and said, "Weed management requires knowledge about the life, history, and best control techniques for each weed. Novices may not even identify weeds accurately."

Dinar also acknowledges that she can't get around to treating weeds everywhere.

However, Oxeye Daisies are easy to identify, and pulling out the roots is effective management. The forest service relies on volunteers to keep up trail maintenance, so why not educate volunteers to assist in weed control?

Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers (RFOV) assisted in weed control at Beaver Lake and the Mill Site Park in Marble last season and is scheduled to return for another work weekend August 20 - 21. Here is an opportunity to learn about weeds and help remove them. The event is called the Marble Extravaganza, more information and registration can be found at www.rfov.org. Volunteers enjoy Slow Groovin BBQ on Saturday evening.

Oxeye daisy identification is easy and unforgettable. The flowers are solitary at the top of the stems, with white ray flowers surrounding yellow disc flowers. It is the classic composite flower construction common to all members of the Sunflower family. The flowers are about two inches in diameter but can be larger, and the petals are slightly notched at the tips.

The leaves progressively reduce in size going up the stem, being rounded with lobed margins at the base and changing to more linear with lobes going up the stem. All parts of the plant have an unpleasant smell.

One complication to identification exists and has an interesting story. The famous, mostly self-taught horticulturalist Luther Burbank developed the Shasta Daisy, a hybrid variety that resembles the Oxeye superficially. In his career, Burbank created over 800 varieties of flowers, fruit, vegetables, and other plants.

He created the Shasta Daisy by crossing the Oxeye with three other daisy species originating from around the world. His goal was a taller plant with bigger, whiter, longer-lasting flowers. He was proud of his result and named it after the beautiful Mt. Shasta in northern California. One side effect of the hybridization is a changed root system to one without spreading rhizomes, which eliminates the invasiveness of the Oxeye.

Shasta Daisy flowers are larger, with larger, more regu-

larly shaped, deeper green ovate leaves and have toothed margins. Some gardens on the Boulevard have Shastas, some have Oxeyes, and some have both. Shastas are not on the weed list, while Oxeyes are.

The pulling technique for Oxeyes is simple and effective. Timing is key. After a rainfall or irrigation in a garden, reach down, bending your knees, for the white flowers, and continue down to grasp the group of stems at the ground. Rise, by straightening your legs, and easily pull the roots out of the moist ground. Bag your plants in plastic to prevent the pulled flowers from spreading seeds.

The simple acts of learning a little about our flowers and developing a habit of pulling this alien plant when out walking can benefit the beauty and health of our natural environment. Free weed books are available to pick up at the Marble Museum.

events in redstone/marble; ad for june, july, aug other ways to get involved in trails, restoration, fire mitigation youth education thanks to partners

OUR SHARED

INTO

July 16 & 17

GROUND Help care for the places we care about!

Generations of middle schoolers have camped at the Marble Basecamp, near the North Lost Trail above Marble. We’ll learn and practice conservation and outdoor education skills to get this conserved property ready for the upcoming school year. Join us! July 24

Recreation is growing near and above Coal Creek, and we want to ensure that trails, plants, and streams get along! You can participate in landscape restoration that will enhance the publicly accessible Coal Basin Ranch property above Redstone. Join us!

20 & 21

Come for the scenery, stay for the barbecue! Enjoy a weekend campout in Marble full of stewardship projects, learning opportunities, and plenty of time to just hangout. Overnight camping provided. Project sites include: Beaver Lake, the Historic Mill, and Raspberry Creek. Join us!

MarbleFest Returns

Marble's local flavored music festival is back again this year, wrapping up the summer season with great food, art, and music and taking place on August 6th and 7th. The festival committee consists of Brent Compton, Lise Hornbach, Chrissy Siemon, and Alie Wettstein who have all been hard at work bringing in more local vendors, a new food village, and 100% Colorado bands.

neW vendorS, entertainment, and more

MarbleFest will once again take place at the Mill Site Park, and this year, the area behind the stage that is surrounded by remnants of the historic Marble Finishing Mill will be transformed into a food village for hungry festival goers and residents ready to feast. Marble's renowned BBQ from Slow Groovin will be joined by Mama Perogies, Ganjin Ramen, Dustino's Pizza, and Rolling Fork. Redstone Ice Cream and Aspen Mini Donuts will be there to keep the sweet tooths happy.

as other valley artists bringing their wares.

By Amber McMahill

Under the shade of the pines that soar around the stage and picnic areas, local vendors will set up offering everything from fresh fruits and vegetables, to massages, art, and collectibles. Reading with Moxie is back again with handcrafted journals and whimsical creations. Lost in Space brings in rare finds from around the world and a buffet of gems and fossils.

Marble valley based Fox Forest Clay is new this year with handcrafted ceramics and hand dyed apparel. SUP Marble will be on hand to sell swag and rent boards to those seeking a quick trip to the lake. The Hub will be back showcasing local artists and hosting their annual kid's carnival as well as selling hot dogs, snacks, and drinks, as well

Also new this year is a dunk tank. This dream of many MarbleFest Committee members over the years is finally becoming reality. For the price of a park donation, festival goers will get a chance to dunk some of the community's most prominent members in a vat of cold water.

Next to the stage, you can get a Marblefest T-shirt or tank top with a design by Marble legend, Tracey Harris. The tent will also offer band merch and free Sati Sodas while supplies last.

the muSic

Kicking off the show on Saturday, August 6th, is Western Colorado-based group Whiskey Stomp bringing music that crosses genres with a mix of covers and originals.

MarbleFest alumni Andy Manz and the Hop Pickers take the stage next with their distinct style of electric jam-grass. Manz and his family are fulltime residents of Marble, helping bring local talent to the MarbleFest stage.

"There is something wonderful in being able to load

up my guitar and equipment on our ATV and driving it down to the park to play," said Manz.

Another local band and crowd favorite Wooden Rock takes the stage next. Consisting of all Marble residents, Wooden Rock brings a range of sounds from original ballads to rocking covers. Wooden Rock is no stranger to MarbleFest. Lead singer Mario Villalobos even built the MarbleFest stage they will be playing on. Along with Villalobos, the band consists of Tom Bjoraker on the keyboard, Ray Boyd on drums, and Dan Smith on bass. Larry Good will be joining them on lead guitar this year to add his unique talent to the mix.

Shady Oaks, is an indie rock band from Denver that blends styles of alternative, blues, and garage rock. The five-piece band brings listeners original music that is both dreamy and psychedelic, yet equally rugged.

Kicking off the evening entertainment on Saturday is Rootbeer Richie & The Reveille, a committee favorite; they bring a unique sound coined as "swamp pop" to the diverse array of Marblefest music. Their original tunes bring energy and fun to the stage and dance floor.

Saturday Night will be capped off with Dragondeer, back by popular demand. This Denver band conjures the rhythm spirits to concoct a blend of

views. The property offers an additional building site for a home or guest house. There is also a shop complete with pellet stove to continue your handiwork throughout the winter months. With so much potential, don’t miss the opportunity to make it yours.

psychedelic blues, retro funk, soul, and rock-n-roll into a genre blur whose aim is to speak to souls and keep the body moving.

Sunday morning, August 7th, starts off with two of Marblefest's youngest performers, Penelope and Amelia, whose parents are playing the day before with the Hop Pickers. Their talent amazed the crowds last year and this year is sure to delight as well.

The David Walker Good Band is one of the festival's most anticipated performances. Singer/songwriter David Good is about as local as you can get, born and raised in Marble. He was a toddler when his father, Larry, lent his skills and equipment to pull off the first MarbleFest.

Although he has played several local venues, this will be his first festival. "Songwriters nights and restaurant gigs just aren't the same as playing at an actual music festival," said Good. "Plus, the freedom a stage like this one gives you to really perform and be an entertainer rather than just a singer is an amazing experience."

Cuttin' Grass from Boulder brings bluegrass to Sunday afternoon. They imbue their love of music and the mountains with both traditional and original tunes.

Storm Pass, a five-piece band out of Gunnison and Carbondale, adds to the bluegrass easy feel of Sunday bringing their dobro, fiddles, and mandolins to get people up and dancing.

Capping off the festival this year is one of Denver's hottest and rawest rock bands, The Velveteers. It is a primal new rock and as lead singer Demi Demitro puts it on their web-

site, “We don’t want to sound like a band from a different time. We want to sound like a band that’s right here, right now — in this very moment.”

good thingS to KnoW

If you are venturing to the festival, keep in mind that you are heading to a place with limited amenities. There will be water stations spread throughout the Mill Site Park, but please bring your own containers to fill.

If you do get into trouble or injured, the Marble Volunteer Fire Department always run the first aid station to the left of the stage.

There is trash and recycling, but when possible, please pack out your trash and save volunteers' backs.

Well-behaved dogs are welcome, but please keep them leashed and pick up after them.

Keep glass out of the park as Marble children are notorious for running around barefoot!

Volunteers are always in short supply. Head to the merch tent to sign up for a shift and help make MarbleFest possible. A four-hour shift gets you a free shirt.

Other Fest gear includes something to sit on, sunscreen, something for shade, and a headlamp if you plan on finding your car in the dark.

As always marketing for the festival is minimal, and mainly relies on word of mouth to keep MarbleFest a laid-back, small festival that highlights local talent. This is a great chance for the community to come and let loose together after the summer's craziness.

Will We Ever Find Common Ground: Wild & Scenic Designation

An Editorial from Gentrye Houghton

A group of advocates has revived the 2016 effort for a wild and scenic designation to preserve flows on 39 miles of the Crystal River. The proposal for the river includes all three types of designation: wild, scenic, and recreational; each designation has unique legislation written that is customized to address local stockholders’ values.

The Pitkin County Healthy Rivers board granted $35,000 in 2021 to Wilderness Workshop to start up a public outreach and education campaign. In November, they offered your editor an opportunity to participate in one of these educational events with a seat in an EcoFlight tour of the Crystal River Valley. Since then, I’ve spent many hours visiting with various environmental groups and individuals attempting to understand the support and opposition for this federal designation.

barked on an augmentation study spearheaded by the Colorado River Water Conservation District (CRWCD). In a recent email, Ryan explained, “Now that we have quantified the augmentation demands throughout the basin (approximately 100-acre feet), we are seeking opportunities to develop supplies and looking at a variety of scenarios to develop an augmentation strategy to meet the demands with different options throughout the basin.”

She continued, “It’s a pretty slow process, but we just keep trying to move forward to identify viable solutions. Because of the instream flow water rights, we have to ensure that we can provide replacement supplies to specific locations throughout the year, depending on where the senior water right call might be.”

Back in 2020, Zane Kessler, Director of Government Relations for CRWCD, told me, “We don’t believe that any solution to a problem should not impact the future potential for a wild and scenic designation.”

According to the US Forest Service, the designation “is our nation’s strongest form of protection for free-flowing rivers and streams.” Supporters of the designation want to protect the Crystal River from dams, but many oppose it because they consider the act to be a land grab, or rather a water rights grab, by the government.

website states that the “plan seeks to protect recreational fishing and boating related values along the Upper Colorado River from Gore Canyon to lower Glenwood Canyon.”

However, Lisa Tasker, a biologist sitting on the Pitkin County Healthy Rivers board, said, “The problem with the management plan is that it only offers protection to those who have signed on to it, and there are no Crystal River stakeholders who have signed on.”

Will Wild & Scenic ever find common ground?

Retired attorney, Bill Jochems wrote the piece of legislation that was campaigned in 2016, but Michael Gorman, Campaign Manager for Wilderness Workshop, told me in an email that he is unaware of any legislative language being discussed at the time.

The common ground I’ve heard pertains to the wishes to protect the Crystal River and its tributaries (and the tributary’s tributaries) as well as the human dependence upon the water source. According to Wendy Ryan, Senior Project Manager for Colorado River Engineering, “The Drought of 2018 caused many users within the Crystal River Valley to receive notices from the State Water Engineer stating that they could no longer use their water supply.”

Instead of cutting off supply, affected users em-

Larry Darian, who owns a ranch on the outskirts of Marble along CR 3, told Aspen Journalism, “I’m not in favor of a dam on the Crystal River and I’m not in favor of water being taken out and sent someplace else and I’m not in favor of Wild & Scenic designation.

He went on to say that there are alternative means of management aside from the federal designation. He’s referring to the Upper Colorado River Wild and Scenic Alternative Management Plan, whose

Last month, Jochems said, “Something that would be likely is special care for Marble so their residents' needs can be met, but it’s up to Marble to voice their needs.”

When asked what's the urgency for the campaign now when it seems like there is no clear and present danger, like the Placita dam proposal, to the Crystal, Tasker replied, “Everyone wants to see an explicit, well-defined boogie man, and we don’t have that. However, climate change is just as threatening and just as important.”

Kessler echoed Tasker's concern for climate change during a 2020 interview about the augmentation feasibility study. Kessler said, “Sadly, I do think we are going to continue to see more and more calls on the Crystal River.”

Taskers also said, “Do you like the way things are now? Do you like your drinking water, and your wells the way they are now? A wild and scenic designation is the best tool and mechanism to keep flows, wells, and growth the way things are now.”

Advocates for the designation have been in contact with representatives from Senators John Hickenlooper and Micael Bennet’s offices as the designation must be approved by Congress. However, Wilderness Workshop is in no rush to push the effort through so that a proposal can be developed that congressional representatives can get behind.

The next step in the process facilitating a formal stakeholder process, which will be slow, and no engagement opportunities have been scheduled at the time of this writing. Follow The Crystal Valley Echo on Facebook for the latest developments on this effort.

Marble Art Guild Features Wynter Fisher

By Melissa Sidelinger

Outside Abstract Marble, on your way into town, you'll encounter a bear’s paw painted in the colors and patterns of an American flag on a standing stone of marble. Step inside the gallery, and you'll discover paintings on pieces of marble scattered throughout the building with designs ranging from roses and butterflies to a forest lake at sunset, from a full moon rising behind bare tree branches to

a black raven edged in gold with real feathers incorporated beneath the paint. These and numerous other colorful works of art are the creative ventures of Wynter Fisher, a talented young artist from Grand Junction, Colorado.

Fisher was born and raised in Grand Junction and has been visiting Marble with her family since she was 14. The first time she visited was back in 2018, and she stepped into Abstract Marble and met the gallery’s owner, Gary Bascom. When Bascom learned that Fisher was an artist and asked her to paint on several pieces of marble he'd given her.

That was the beginning of her taking paintbrushes to stone and transforming them into the detailed designs that are available today at Abstract Marble, Grand Junction's farmers’ markets, and the Paonia Flower Shop just over the hill.

Fisher, now 17, travels up to Marble every couple of weeks for live painting demonstrations in front of the gallery, as well as restocking her inventory at the gallery, where Bascom often sells a piece a day during the summer season. During her live demonstration of the bear claw, she caught the eyes of several tourists traveling through town and ended up recreating and selling three recreations on the spot. When asked about her process, Fisher smiled and said, “I do it, and it works out.”

Fisher began her path creating pencil and pen illustrations before branching out into working with acrylic paints, watercolors, and spray paints. “My bedroom is pretty much

my art studio,” she said with a grin. “If I took out all of the art supplies, only my bed would be left.”

Self-taught, Fisher doesn’t plan to attend art school but instead plans to continue painting while pursuing flight school; she's considering a possible career with search and rescue out of Grand Junction. Fisher's been flying since the age of 15 and hopes to combine her two passions in the years to come. As she so eloquently put it, “If I could fly, I could paint so many beautiful sunsets.”

Part of Fisher's process includes taking photographs of whatever catches her eye and, as she put it, “Mashing everything up in my mind into something else,” which she then paints onto marble or canvases which are available on her family’s website www.etsy.com/shop/HiddenCabinTreasures

Not all of her canvases make it online, though. She admits that out of every three canvases she paints, she ends up keeping one. “I have art all over my room,” she confesses. “I tried to put art on the ceiling, but it fell down.”

Fisher’s particularly drawn to the moon, and will often travel around the outskirts of Grand Junction to watch and photograph it so she can then paint it.

When asked if she will always pursue her art, Fisher said that for her, painting is something she will always need to do. “If I didn’t like it, it wouldn’t be something I do for myself.”

THE MARBLE TIMES

A LOOK AT LIFE AT THE MARBLE CHARTER SCHOOL

Is Australia's Great Barrier Reef Endangered?

Middle Schoolers studied the Great Barrier Reef to determine if people are doing enough to protect it and if not, what more we could be doing. Students return to Marble Charter School this month, check out The Crystal Valley Echo's September edition for more student submissions.

the great barrier reef

By Soren Mile while in the 7th grade

The Great Barrier Reef is a coral reef in Australia, the most extensive coral reef globally. It provides money for people and protection for thousands of marine species. The Great Barrier Reef supports around 350 types of stony coral and 1,500 types of fish. The Great Barrier Reef is a significant tourist attraction that makes lots of money for the local people.

The Great Barrier Reef is in need of help as it is suffering greatly from human impact. The problem is that the water gets polluted with dirt particles which cloud the water resulting in less sunlight; this is harmful to the coral. This happens when we move dirt, causing erosion in rivers, and it is swept to the ocean and over the Great Barrier Reef. Another problem is coral bleaching, when the algae covering the coral die, leaving only the white limestone. This happens when the coral gets stressed, and the water gets too warm.

To help the great barrier reef we need to cut down carbon emissions by driving electric cars, eating less red meat, driving less, and using more gas efficient cars etc. We can stop polluting rivers with trash and dirt. Another thing that harms coral is poison fishing; this is the primary way to catch fish for aquariums. We need to try to stop all these things if we want to save the Great Barrier Reef.

The fact that the Great Barrier Reef is unhealthy is a warning that we have a big problem on our hands. The Great Barrier Reef has been thriving for millions of years. This is an indicator that we need to reduce carbon emissions and stop polluting our waters. The Great Barrier Reef is essential for humans and wildlife alike.

Magical Moments

Summer Concert Series, 2022

Sat. June 25 • 6-8pm

MY BLUE SKY, Allman Brothers Family of Bands Honoring the music of the Allman Brothers considered the founders of Southern Rock

Sat. July 2 • 6-8pm MOORS & MCCUMBER

Celtic Bluegrass, Blues, True Americana, singer-songwriters, the next Simon & Garfunkel

Located: Avalanche Outfitters (Behind the coke ovens) 17843 Highway 133, Redstsone

Sat. July 9 • 6-8pm BIRDS OF PLAY

A Telluride-Based Americana, Bluegrass & Folk roots quartet, singer songwriters weave together a unique tapestry of genres.

Sat. July 16 • 6-8pm

THE DELTA SONICS

Chicago Blues base music with a season of Swing, Delta, N’awlins, R&B and Rock & Roll

Sat. July 23 • 6-8pm THE QUEEN BEES

Female fueled music for the heart and soul; weaving Americana, Country, Folk and Bluegrass

SPONSORED BY:

Sat. Aug. 20 • 6-8pm

A BAND CALLED ALEXIS Western Colorado’s Rockin’ Country Band, they will get your boots dancing

Sat. Aug. 27 • 6-8pm

RUPERT WATES

Singer-songwriter, a gifted Folk musician who has released 10 solo albums and received accolades, tours in US, Canada and Europe

Sat. Sept. 3 • 5:30-7:30pm WOODEN ROCK

A Marble based band, a local’s favorite of Americana, Rock, and down-home fun music FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT

LISA WAGNER 970-963-8240 redstonecolorado.com

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BigHorn Toyota, Inc • Redstone Community Association • KDNK Alpine Bank • Glenwood Springs Ford • Redstone Cliffs Lodge • Avalanche Outfitters Avalanche Ranch Cabins & Hot Springs • Light of the Moon, Inc. • Red Hill Animal Health Center Crystal Dreams B&B • Redstone Art Foundation • Warren Turner Appraisals Friends of Magical Moments

Marble Museum Happenings

Several years ago, Kate Manning showed up at the museum with an old, rolled-up photo. The photo was narrow but rolled out to nearly three feet long, depicting a group of nearly 100. The people were standing on a flatbed railroad car and were all wearing the same funny pointed hats. The legend below stated: Marble Monument Dealers Association. Manning knew that her great grandfather was in the photo.

finished the novel, Gilded Mountain, which is scheduled for release in November by Simon and Schuster. There is already an advanced publicity program in place, and the museum has received a prepublication copy. In a letter to the museum, Manning restated an idea, "The historian will tell you what happened. The novelist will tell you how it felt."

By Alex Menard

The rest of the story is that her great grandfather, Colonel J.F. Manning was the president of the Marble Company who secured the contract to build the Lincoln Memorial. Col. Manning also steered the company through the two-year construction project.

Col. Meek is much better known as the company president who obtained the funding to start the quarry and mill operation. Col. Meek died in an electric tram accident, leaving Col. Manning to take over the operation and complete the most famous project.

Kate Manning returned several times over the next few years to research for a historical novel about the mythical towns of Moonstone, Colorado, a marble mining town and nearby Ruby. Sound familiar?

Already a successful author and journalist, Manning

The Third Annual Living History Day event will be held in Marble on Saturday, September 10th from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. followed by a BBQ. The event features recreations of historical characters acting out scenes in actual locations all around town. The cast of characters includes an industrialist ' Robber Baron,' miners, bootleggers, a hermit school teacher, a world-famous ceramicist, stone masons, the quarry master, the minister, a socialist journalist who is run out of town on the rail, fur trappers, Native Americans, and other townspeople.

The Cast of Characters is available on The Marble Hub's Facebook page. You are invited to take on a character, write your own drama, make a costume and perform on September 10th

You may be as professional or casual in your portrayal as you wish. If you have another character in mind to depict that is ok too. The museum is available daily to help you research your character.

MARBLE MANNERS

Noise: Quiet please after 10PM. A little sound goes a long way here.

Wildlife Awareness: Do not feed, chase or touch the wildlife. That goes for your pets too.

Fire Safety: When visiting Marble please know our current fire regulations posted on the firehouse chalkboard.

Back-Country Driving Etiquette: When you meet a vehicle face-to-face, the uphill vehicle reverses uphill to a safe, wide area for passage.

ATV Etiquette: ATVs must be driven by licensed drivers. In-town speed limit is 15MPH.

Bathroom Etiquette: Bathrooms (Millsite Park, the Hub) and porta-potties are available at public venues around town.

For information about events, lodging and local businesses visit:

Wilderness Etiquette: The wilderness rule is "Leave no trace." Bury waste or pack it out. Stick to trails and roads, don't take anything but photos.

Equestrian Etiquette: When you meet horses on the road or trail, slow wa-ay down and anticipate sudden movements. Saying "hello" puts both horses & people at ease.

Beaver Lake: Boats cannot be left overnight. Motorized watercraft are prohibited. Take all trash with you. A valid hunting or fishing license will be required for everyone 18 or older attempting to access any State Wildlife Area or State Trust Land leased by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. This includes Beaver Lake.

Cellphones and Safety: Marble is a cell-free zone. There is a 911-only phone at the fire station.

High Altitude Planning: Carry water and hydrate excessively. Emergency services are an hour away by car.