2009 Public Testimony against closing the Douglas Creek Road

Thank you for allowing public input into this problem.

My name is Diane Petersen.  I have a long history of association with Douglas Creek.  I grew up on the farm at the end of road H and I made many trips to the creek as a child with my family.  My great-grandparents and my husband’s great-grandparents homesteaded at the top of Slack Canyon 120 years ago and I have a photo of my husband’s grandmother getting on the train along Douglas Creek.  Since 1992 I have worked with other Waterville teachers and we have taken 3-6^th grade students to study at the creek at least 3 times a year and sometimes 6 times.

          In science there is a concept called entropy.  One of the ideas involved in the concept of entropy is that nature tends to go from order to disorder in isolated systems.  I think it happens in all parts of life.  For example, if you just keep adding mail to the stack on your kitchen table, pretty soon you can’t see the table for the mail.  That’s entropy.  If you have a new concrete wall and one person writes graffiti on it, more is sure to follow unless you clean it up immediately.  If you have a wonderful, natural area such as Douglas Creek and you don’t fix the road and pick up the garbage, people will naturally assume you don’t care and they won’t care either.  Their behavior will show their attitude.

When Cathi Nelson and I first started the Douglas Creek watershed study with students 17 years ago, we wanted the kids to learn the environmental science.  We wanted them to learn about the area in which they live.  But, most importantly, because of their knowledge, we wanted them to develop an attitude of caring for the area.  At our 8 study sites that surround the eroding area of the road, we have studied birds, geology, water quality, animals and soil. Every year we see evidence that students are taking ownership in their site.  This attitude development doesn’t happen overnight and we really need an opportunity for these students to continue this work.

We brought up the question of fixing the Douglas Creek road to our 4^th graders, 5^th graders and seniors in high school.  There are 4 students here who will present their collective ideas.  I was so pleased to see several themes permeating their ideas.

ð       They want continued access to the creek for recreation and study.

ð       They see the benefits of all of us partnering with each other to keep the area wonderful

ð       They understand the areas of concern and know better than we do the misuse that is going on down there

ð       They believe in protecting our natural areas.

         

Before I turn the floor over to the students, I will close my remarks with a few personal observations.

If you choose to do nothing, I believe we are turning our back on a valuable natural resource.

If you choose to close the road, you will effectively eliminate access to this area by major groups of people including elderly, handicapped and the very young.

I ask you to consider this.  In all the years that the road was basic but maintained, the area was used in a rather non-destructive way.  Since it has been allowed to deteriorate, the quality of use has deteriorated as well.

We don’t need a fancy road.  We need a basic, cared for access road that allows our buses in, allows access to this area rich in science and history.

There is no other place quite like it.  I urge you to put aside thinking that limits possibilities.  None of us has money.  In fact, we have run most of our science program in Waterville on grants.  Please work together to seek out grants that would allow you to reclaim the road.  And let us know how we can help.

Four Waterville students and their teacher, Diane Petersen, testified at a public meeting sponsored by the BLM and Douglas County Commissioners.  The purpose of the meeting was to gather input regarding whether or not to close the Douglas Creek road.  There were about 150 people present.

Dillon reported on the issues noticed by 4^th graders at the creek.

“We have noticed several things going wrong at the creek.  Some of them are caused by nature.  For example, beaver dams are changing the path of the stream.

 Also, weeds are taking over the native plants and the road is terrible and bumpy.  At one spot it is eroding away.  The silt going into the water is ruining the fish habitat.  On the way to site 4 there’s a big crack across the road.

Then there are the manmade problems.  People have been riding 4 wheelers and motor bikes in the water which isn’t good for the animals living there and makes big ruts.  We also find lots of empty shells laying around from people target practicing and lots of dirty toilet paper by the campgrounds. 

These things make us sad because we like to study at Douglas Creek.”

         

Drew reported on some ideas the 4^th graders had for solving problems at the creek.

 “We tried to think of some solutions to the problems that we’ve seen.  We definitely want our buses to be able to get down there, because we like studying outside.  So, please find a way to fix the road.

We think porta-potties might help with the human waste problem.  Also, the students would volunteer to help clean up the area, but we think there should be regular public cleanups too. 

We also thought we could help plant native plants to help control the weeds.  A senior could also work on this problem for their senior project.

Our other idea was to fix the road, then put in a gate so that people would have to get a key to use the area.  That would prevent some of the motorbiking through the water and help with the erosion.  People who use the area correctly should be able to have access.  So, please fix the road!”

Harley spoke third.

“The Waterville High School seniors and the 5^th graders discussed the Douglas Creek issue.  I will tell you some of their ideas.

Students from Waterville School use the creek for motor biking, fishing, swimming, horseback riding, sightseeing, and exploring.  The seniors also are helpers in the elementary science program.  18 out of the 25 5^th graders use the creek for recreation.

Ideas for Protecting and preserving the area:

ð       Charge a fee for parking at the creek and  use that money for maintanence.

ð       Install garbage cans for cleanup

ð       Have authorities make regular checkups on the use

ð       Improve the camping sites and charge for overnight campers.  The sites should be leveled, fire pits added, picnic tables built, tent sites added, and there should be access to water for drinking.

ð       Begin a cleanup day for Douglas Creek.  You could  partner with local schools as a part of Earth Day

ð       Hold events that draw people to the site positively for good reasons either social or educational

ð       When the classes go down to study, they could stay longer and do a clean up.”

Finally, Katja explained the seniors  and 5^th graders ideas about what to do with the road.

ð       “Close the road to vehicles to eliminate parties.  This would make it more accessible for hiking, biking and outdoor recreation

ð       Make a parking lot and let people walk in

ð       Apply for grants to fix the road;  if no money is available then just use the road as a hiking trail.

ð       How will the cattlemen take care of their livestock if you close the road?

ð       If you close the road, we won’t be able to enjoy the creek

ð       How will we get the bus in there if the road is closed?  We won’t get the learning done that happens now.

ð       If you maintain the road,  the users of the area might respect the site more

ð       Just fix the worst part of the road

ð       Fix the road back to the way it was 10 years ago. 

What’s the best idea?

We all agree that we don’t need a superhighway down there, we just need a passable road so we can continue our work.”

Hi, I’m Harley.  I’m in the 4^th grade.

The Waterville High School seniors and the 5^th graders discussed the Douglas Creek issue.  I will tell you some of their ideas.

Students at Waterville school use the creek for motorbiking, fishing, swimming, horseback riding, sightseeing, and exploring.  The seniors also are helpers in the elementary science program.  18 out of the 25 5^th graders use the creek for recreation.

Ideas for Protecting and preserving the area:

ð       Charge a fee for parking at the creek and  use that money for maintanence.

ð       Install garbage cans for cleanup

ð       Have authorities make regular checkups on the use

ð       Improve the camping sites and charge for overnight campers.  The sites should be leveled, fire pits added, picnic tables built, tent sites added, and there should be access to water for drinking.

ð       Begin a cleanup day for Douglas Creek.  You could  partner with local schools as a part of Earth Day

ð       Hold events that draw people to the site positively for good reasons either social or educational

ð       When the classes go down to study, they could stay longer and do a clean up.

  

Hi, I’m Katja, a 4^th grader.

The seniors  and 5^th graders discussed the Question of  what to do about the Road and here are their ideas:

ð       Close the road to vehicles to eliminate parties.  This would make it more accessible for hiking, biking and outdoor recreation

ð       Make a parking lot and let people walk in

ð       Apply for grants to fix the road;  if no money is available then just use the road as a hiking trail.

ð       How will the cattlemen take care of their livestock if you close the road?

ð       If you close the road, we won’t be able to enjoy the creek

ð       How will we get the bus in there if the road is closed?  We won’t get the learning done that happens now.

ð       If you maintain the road,  the users of the area might respect the site more

ð       Just fix the worst part of the road

ð       Fix the road back to the way it was 10 years ago. 

What’s the best idea?

We all agree that we don’t need a superhighway down there, we just need a passable road so we can continue our work.