My scholastic aptitudes always tended towards the humanities. My high school offered “Humanistic Physics” for such dummies. In the textbook for this class was a quote by English Poet Francis Thompson that I have never forgotten. 

“All things by immortal power

Near or far

Hiddenly

To each other linked are

That thou canst not stir a flower

Without troubling a star.”

—Francis Thompson

The Crystal Valley Environmental Protection Association (“CVEPA”) is the only organization that seeks to watch over the health of the entire Crystal River watershed. Despite John Wesley Powell’s urging that political boundaries in the arid west be matched to watershed boundaries, our County lines seem indifferent to the flow of rivers. In its short 40 mile run to the confluence with the Roaring Fork, the Crystal River traverses three different counties – Gunnison, Pitkin, and Garfield. The CVEPA board seeks to focus its energies within that watershed. 

And yet, Thompson’s insight into the interconnectedness of things frequently leads our board into interesting discussions about which issues merit our concern. Our deliberations over the methane recapture proposal in Coal Basin were somewhat vexing as we all recognize that Climate Change is hurting our little watershed. To what extent should we accept some intrusion into our valley to help fight this battle on a larger front? The Board remains somewhat perplexed by that question. 

 And now comes the proposed Harvest Roaring Fork development on the 283 acres Sander’s Ranch property, long known as a critical winter Elk habitat along the Roaring Fork River a couple miles below the Crystal River confluence.  A Texas company, Reality Capital, proposes to build 1,500 residential units, 450 accessory dwelling units, 55,000 square feet of commercial space and a 120-room hotel.