BLUE RIVER VALLEY — A panel of Summit County officials replaced White River National Forest supervisor Scott Fitzwilliams at Sunday's Friends of the Lower Blue River annual meeting to engage northern Summit County residents in dialogue about the group's mission: To maintain the rural character, quality of life and environment of the Lower Blue River Valley.

The panel consisted of Lower Blue Planning Commission member Amy Mastin, House District 56 Rep. Millie Hamner, Summit County commissioners Karn Stiegelmeier and Thomas Davidson, and Summit County's “Weed King,” John Taylor.

Mastin said the Lower Blue Planning Commission hasn't met in awhile, but that's a good thing in terms of preserving the openness of the area.

“In this one regard, it's somewhat of a blessing ... to put the brakes on development and take a breath and stop developing at such a break-neck speed,” she said. “We can't just suck up every parcel as quickly as possible and throw up a 5,000-square-foot home just because the economy allows it.”

Noxious weeds are another hot topic for Friends of the Lower Blue River — and Taylor called for everyone to be involved in the fight that will be ongoing for years, if not forever.

“We'll never be successful in eliminating and containing noxious weeds if everyone is not involved,” he said, adding that his goal is “early detection, rapid response.”

Meaning, if he and others know about noxious weed infestations, there's a better chance of eliminating problem areas before they become ongoing maintenance areas. It's not uncommon for noxious weed seeds to wait years — or decades — to germinate, Taylor said.

“Don't think you're going to take after noxious weeds and hit a home run. It's all the singles that count,” he said.

As far as long-term forest and watershed health, Stiegelmeier recapped the Forest Service's renewed focus on restoration after timber management- and recreation-only eras. There's also the Colorado River Cooperative Agreement between Denver Water and the Western Slope that should help preserve water interests west of the Continental Divide, she said, so long as the changing climate in the Southwest doesn't require water calls downstream.

Stiegelmeier also described the Lake Dillon Fire-Rescue's new inclusion process, which opens up the ability for individual landowners to pay taxes in exchange for unbilled property protection. It's a mutual benefit, she said, because the Fire-Rescue in turn gets additional resources.

She added that the northern Fire-Rescue firehouse is “all ready to go” on paper, but has been stalled with economic conditions. The agency faces a nearly 20 percent decrease in revenue this year with a severe drop in property valuations, Davidson said, adding that the fire districts may consolidate to better apportion fewer resources.

Davidson added another wildfire issue to the pot: So far this year, Colorado wildfires have cost roughly $11 million to fight. The state's emergency fire fund brings in $1 million from several Western Slope and Front Range counties bordering the foothills — meaning the governor has had to supply the remaining $10 million. It's an unsustainable practice that needs to be resolved, Davidson said, though he added that Summit County's 2008 approval of an additional wildfire fighting tax helps the situation locally.

After introducing herself at the Lower Blue River Valley stop on her tour of Summit, Eagle and Lake counties, including voicing personal support for including Acorn Creek and Ute Pass in the Hidden Gems wilderness proposal, Hamner heard comments from Summit County's northern residents.

Mastin asked Hamner to consider the other side of proposed Interstate 70 improvements, such as Summit County becoming a “bedroom community” for Denver.

Leigh Girvin of the Continental Divide Land Trust suggested Hamner keep an eye on the increasingly scrutinized tax benefits for conservation easements.

“It's an important incentive,” she said. “It's what keeps Colorado, Colorado.”