PUMA Newsletter September 1997

PUMA Evolves A lot has happened since PUMA's conception in 1993. We have grown from a handful of concerned residents--who called themselves "Preserve Unique Magnolia"-- to an association of over 350 members and contributors (PUMA!)

Like any growing organization, we have experienced many changes. This summer, PUMA became a bit more official: we now have an official Board of Directors. We even had elections.

Not to worry though, we are still the same basic group of neighbors who care about this special community and who act as stewards for preserving and maintaining the integrity of the Magnolia area. Despite our aversion to lofty titles, we thought you'd like to know what we look like in 1997.

*BOARD OF DIRECTORS*	*WORKING GROUPS*
	Fire Mitigation: Ray Weigel
President: Bay Roberts	Newsletter: Susie Gallaudet
Vice President: Mary Scheller	Wildlife: Cherie Long
Corresponding Secretary: Sal Mazzone	Land Use: Scott Reuman
Treasurer: Brian Whitney	New Member Welcome: Emily Weigel
	MEPP: Bay Roberts

We are still looking for a volunteer to act as recording secretary, take minutes at the monthly meetings and distribute them via e-mail to interested members. This is not very time consuming and is an enormous help. If you are interested, contact Cherie Long at 447- 0922.

As PUMA's newest president, I am honored to follow in Scott Reuman's steps. As former president, Scott helped conceptualize and form PUMA and has devoted many hours to issues that affect us all: DIA noise abatement, the county's 68J Road Closure meetings, the Gross Reservoir relicensing process, the Forest Service's 10-year Management Plan and the Red Zone project near Twin Sisters, not to mention PUMA potlucks, monthly meetings, and endless phone calls, faxes and letters. We have been lucky to have someone as dedicated and caring as Scott. Thank you, Scott for a job well done!

This summer, there have been a number of incidents in which residents felt uninformed about PUMA's actions. Changes in the 68J corridor and issues with mountain bike trails took some members by surprise. I apologize for not getting the word out better concerning these actions and encourage residents to attend monthly meetings to find out what is happening in our neighborhood and share their thoughts and concerns. We need everyone's input so that we can represent the community's interests fairly and respond in a thoughtful way to the many challenges we face.

If you can't come to meetings, please feel free to call me (447-8836) or email me (bdr@indra.com)with your questions and comments. I am excited about the challenges ahead and am very proud of what we, as a group, have already accomplished.

MEMBERSHIP What does being a PUMA member mean? It means helping defray PUMA's operating costs and fund our quarterly newsletter, a valuable tool for keeping you informed about what is going on in and around your community.

Members are also invited to vote for officers during annual elections and on specific issues at monthly meetings. Members unable to attend a meeting are welcome to vote by e-mail, phone or letter proxy. Our agendas are published prior to meetings and indicate whether a vote will occur and on what subject.

Annual membership dues also provide funds for correspondence, community announcements, the annual potluck, and other miscellaneous expenses. Household membership is $24/year (pro-rated at $2/month). If membership dues are cost prohibitive to anyone, please make whatever contribution you feel is appropriate.

PUMA newsletters are distributed to all Magnolia residents, homeowners and other interested people regardless of membership status. If you donated to PUMA recently, we'll make sure to credit you for your first year of PUMA membership.

Send your 1998 membership dues to PUMA, P.O. Box 536, Nederland CO 80466 by January 1. Please list the names of each person in your household who would like to be recognized as a PUMA member. If you have questions about membership dues, please contact Brian Whitney at 258-0939.

Taken literally, Preserve Unique Magnolia is an important concept. Preservation is an ongoing process made up of numerous parts. One valuable way each of us can truly help preserve the natural character of this area is slash removal. Not only do piles of slash aesthetically compromise our roads and property, they are an enormous fire hazard as well. In a recent survey, fire was local residents' primary concern.

In recent years it seems the amount of slash is increasing faster and faster. Now is the time to get it under control. To help facilitate increased safety in this area, PUMA has taken an active role in learning about slash removal and is sharing this information with local residents. Here is what we know.

Other than burning, which is not always a safe or easy solution, chipping is probably the easiest way to get rid of slash. Branches and dead wood that are smaller than six inches in diameter can be fed into a rented chipper or you can hire a chipping contractor to do it for you. Chips can be dispersed randomly on your property, put in piles, hauled away to a dump, picked up by a friend, or neighbor who would love to take the chips off your hands.

This summer PUMA has coordinated chipping services for residents with the Colorado State Forest Preserve and Boulder County. The program is wrapping up this month with a total of over 20 participating landowners.

Another option for getting rid of branches, limbs, and dead wood is simply hauling the slash to a dump site (Longmont Recycling for one). You can load up a pick-up truck or check the Mountain Pages for names and numbers of hauling services that will do it for you. Your author, after completing a mistletoe removal project and as a believer and participant in slash removal, has successfully transported countless loads of slash to an appropriate dump site.

While getting rid of slash can be time-consuming and sometimes costly, it is an important step to take in preserving and protecting your home and your community. Fire prevention should be of interest to all individuals who choose mountain living. Piling slash along fire breaks (i.e. roads) or along property lines far away from your home is not a solution; in fact, this creates fire tunnels and makes it more difficult and dangerous for firefighters to enter that area.

We as a community have a responsibility to one another to make Preserving Magnolia a reality. Slash removal is a great way for you to help. If you have comments, concerns, or questions, please snail-mail or e-mail us.

$10-$49 Scott Reuman, Carpenter Mountain Ranch, Colleen Cannon & Howard Kaushansky, Mr. & Mrs. John Wrenn, Stephen and Tracey Steffek, Kathy Teuber, Rosalie Hoge, Jay Vogt, Marty Kinsley, Jane Kellogg, Newell Brown, Paul and Mary Goldan, Ma Deva Parmita, Randy and Jan Abbott, Allen Robie, Tedd Beegle, Kenneth & Dorene Leonard, Bruce Liebert & Judith Kellogg, Deborah Sinay, William & Laura Border

$50-$99 Erwin and Janet Goldman, Angela Camarillo & Robert Remington, Dave Kingsbury, Chris & Pete Jensen, Rick Cobb & Lisa Coash, Steve Moore & Martha Griffin, David Hall, Rob Ellis & Sandy McMannis, Bill & Rita Tesar, Richard Chinman, Ken and Sally Maydew, Jim & Todd Cowart, Sharon Ticehurst & Lynne Rodney

$100-$250 Loren & Monique Blaney, John and Beth Sprow, Paula Hendricks & Norman Lederman, Arik & Sally Brissenden, Bob Poling & Louise Grunewald, Sal and Sue Mazzone, Brad Hatter, John Brennan, Terry Mooster and Mai Lowantel-Beare, Susan Robertson, Brent Warren, Will & Betty Kellogg, Otsie Stowell & Elisha Love, Steve Belmont & Mary Scheller

OVER $250 Joel Erlich & Priscilla Press, Bernard Gateau & Dina Bennett, Herb & Barbara Poppe, Jimmy Keith, Mark Burget & Ann Skarvedt

68J As you know, several PUMA representatives, Lakeshore subdivision residents, Boulder County, Denver Water Board and Forest Service employees met this past winter to discuss solutions to the illegal dumping, off-road driving, shooting, unattended campfires, littering and noise that are currently plaguing the 68J corridor.

The group-designed solution was implemented this summer beginning in May, when 25 to 30 PUMA and Lakeshore volunteers worked with the Forest Service to close and sign spur roads off 68J. In July, the Boulder County Transportation Department installed two "locked-open" gates on both ends of 68J. Signs intended to prevent trespassing on private property, and discourage shooting, camping, dumping and fires were then posted at both ends.

The signs caused some confusion to local residents who have been long-time users of that area. To clarify, land on either side of the gates and signs is private property, but 68J is a year-round county road. Horseback riders, mountain bikers, hikers, bird watchers, walkers are encouraged to use and enjoy 68J. The sole purpose of the signs and gates is to prevent abuse of the area. This fall, the County will return to 68J to install boulders in front of spur road entrances to prevent people from driving around closure signs or removing the existing temporary barriers of dead wood.

Magnolia and Lakeshore residents living on or near 68J report that the signs, spur road closures and gates have alleviated many of the problems. So far, none of the spur road closure signs have been removed. The 68J working group will reconvene this November to assess the situation and plan for any future work needed in the area. At that time, PUMA will present a summary of all the 68J and Winiger road/trail surveys conducted this summer by PUMA volunteers. If you want to participate in the 68J working group or would like to provide input or ask questions, please call Bay Roberts at 447-8836 or e-mail at bdr@indra.com.

MEPP PUMA volunteers were busy over the summer conducting breeding bird surveys, surveying vegetation, mapping weeds, doing trail inventories, monitoring the roads and trails of the 68J and Winiger Ridge areas, and collecting historical data. On September 29th, volunteers will meet with Mike Figgs, environmental consultant, to learn how best to compile and write up their data (7 P.M. at Bay Robert's house: 914 Pine Glade Road). Mike will then synthesize all these reports and PUMA members' input into the MEPP draft document. Numerous opportunities will be available this fall and winter to provide comments and revisions to MEPP to ensure that the final document will reflect a consensus of Magnolia residents' opinions.

Fundraising efforts for MEPP were successful and we have all of you to thank for your generosity and support. Initial donors gave $3250 to the project. Community members then rallied to raise $2370, matched by a $1000 challenge grant. Over 54 different households gave to the project. Total funds raised for MEPP were $6620, which should more than cover all anticipated expenses. Again, thanks to all of you for making MEPP possible.

GROSS RESERVOIR During the past eleven months PUMA members have met with residents on all sides of the reservoir, State, City and County Parks representatives, the US Forest Service, and special interest groups to discuss a future recreation management plan for the reservoir.

The result of this year-long process is a draft management plan that Denver Water will submit for approval. A 90-day review period of the draft management plan begins at the end of this month. Once stakeholders, agencies and public comments are made, a final plan will be sent to the Federal Energy Regulatory Committee (FERC) in Washington, D.C.

If you are interested in the draft or would like to be able to review and make comments on it, please contact Leslie Parker with the Denver Water Board at 303-628-6553. PUMA remains active in this process and will continue to keep you posted.

PUMA Web Site.... Visit PUMA's new web site. If you are familiar with Peaknet, you can find us under community groups and environment. On your browser, go to www.peaknet.org and check the community section. We post our newsletters, issues of concern, meeting dates and all kinds of other valuable information. Peaknet has done a great job of using the internet to build community in the Peak-to-Peak area, and has links to many interesting web sites.

Please let us know what you think or if there are other things you'd like to see on our web page. Contact us at puma@indra.org

PUMA Evolves	Smash Slash
A Letter From The President	Membership
Updates: 68J, Mepp, Gross Reservoir	Contributors
Community News	June '97 Newsletter