Save Silverton Wetlands
UPDATE: July 13
A letter using our logo and impersonating our group was sent this week. This letter is full of misinformation and was not sent by Save Silverton Wetlands or anyone affiliated with our group.
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From Day 1 in this process, we have stated that we support sustainable development throughout Silverton.
This website raises awareness about wetland destruction in the town of Silverton, Colorado.
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Wetlands in Silverton are no longer protected from development by the Clean Water Act and Corps of Engineers as they previously were.
Save Silverton Wetlands has been working since late 2022 to protect non-jurisdictional wetlands in Silverton.
We must protect our natural resources in town as outlined in the newly approved Compass Master Plan.
Why are wetlands no longer protected?
The Army Corps of Engineers no longer have jurisdiction over isolated wetlands. They're non-jurisdictional. Wetlands that used to have protections no longer do.
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Wetlands are not just "willows" and do so much more for our environment. A non-jurisdictional wetland is still important and should be protected.
Nothing has changed about these wetlands, but the federal government was stripped of its budget under the last presidential administration. Rules on wetlands continue to change, including a recent rule change in January 2023.
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The Supreme Court curtailed Wetland protection in a late May 2023 ruling.
The building code of the Town of Silverton does not have specific protections for the non-jurisdictional wetlands, likely because it was assumed the federal government’s protection would be adequate. The code is vague and outdated, failing to account for the loss of protection from the federal government.
The Board of Trustees is about to enter a code re-write for the entire town and protecting wetlands is an important part of moving Silverton forward.
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About Wetlands
Watershed Protection
Wildlife
Historical Site
Wetlands filter water, are valuable for flood protection, and wetlands store carbon within their plant communities and soil instead of releasing it into the atmosphere.
Wetlands also provide a haven for wildlife. We often see moose, deer raising their families, coyotes, red foxes and ermines and a variety of bird species in the wetlands. Elk also bedded down for protection in the wetlands in recent winters.
The wetlands are a pristine, historical and unique site within town limits. Did you know our ancestors used to get peat from the wetlands to burn for warmth in the winter? Silverton should value protecting this unique aquatic system and the wildlife that make their home in the wetlands.
How can you help?
1. Contact Silverton Town Trustees and tell them you want protections for non-jurisdictional wetlands in Silverton.
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2. If you have other ideas for how to stop wetland destruction in Silverton, contact us so we can work together.
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