I am a student enrolled in the Fort Lewis College Water Justice Class. As a class, we are proposing a resolution to the Durango City Council regarding granting rights to the Animas River. We have surveyed the community about its feelings toward our river, gathered case studies of other cities’ resolutions for similar efforts and drafted a resolution to be proposed at the City Council meeting on Nov. 18.
Our resolution supports protecting the Animas River, its tributaries and watershed by recognizing the “rights of nature” and the city’s responsibilities to care for and protect them.
The Animas River binds together the community by offering a place for recreation, spirituality and riparian ecosystems.
On behalf of the class, I am writing this letter to raise awareness of our movement. We hope our efforts can lead our community to take personal steps to be stewards of our Earth. Thank you for your time and consideration.
Durango
