Ancient Coldwater Spring -- restoration project. Public comment by March 25, '09

SUMMARY:
1) Comment on restoration of this ancient sacred spring, the last in the Twin Cities.
2) Join in PRI response, offering Fish and Wildlife Service permaculture design ethics and principles. Possible future paid project, possibly PRI-sponsored.

PRI Friends,

Coldwater Spring is a very special place, historically and culturally. It is the last natural spring in the metro area and deserves protection. It is an ancient sacred site of native tribes from a great distance, who used to gather there for ceremonies and peaceful trade. When soldiers were building Camp Coldwater and Fort Snelling (adjacent this site), they built the spring house and pond that now exists. The spring was the drinking water source for the fort. More recently, the US Bureau of Mines lab buildings there were abandoned and fell into disrepair along with the springhouse and reservoir. Local people, including various Native Americans, have continued to use the site for ceremony and to gather water for drinking and ceremony.

Just south of Minnehaha Falls in Minneapolis, this 23 acre site can become a natural oasis surrounded by urban development and park land. My concern is that the flow and quality of the spring be protected and the location honored as a gathering place of peace and spiritual practice for all. A permaculture approach is most likely to harmonize the human and natural values of this special place.

The National Park Service webpage about Coldwater status is http://www.nps.gov/miss/parkmgmt/bomcurr.htm Comments about the future of Coldwater will be taken by the National Park Service (NPS) until March 25. (More detail below.)

Short story: They are conducting an EIS (Environmental Impact Statement)
process. After a public comment period on the Draft EIS, the Preferred
Alternative selected basically is to return the land to its "native" state, also the cheapest solution to what to do with the abandoned Bureau of Mines site. NPS has a $3 million budget, no more.
This summer, after the property is officially owned by NPS, the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) will be in charge of its management, including designs and contracts. So no demolition or landscape construction is likely before fall 2009.

PRI INVOLVEMENT:
A group of interested PRI members is meeting to discuss this Tuesday, 6:30 PM at Merlin's Rest, John Digley's pub at Lake St.E. and 36th Ave. You are welcome to join us.
If we want to get organized, we could bring the permaculture ethics and principles to restoration of the original oak savanna at this site, which now has many mature oaks along the property toward the River.

We could make a formal proposal to PRI to sponsor this project. PRI could gain valuable visibility in this civic project. Members and community volunteers could learn a great deal from the design and rehabilitation process. There may be federal employment opportunities; we could
consider submitting a bid for a regular planning process and possible implementation, working with the FSW when they solicit bids for demolition and restoration.

MORE BACKGROUND
A lead citizens group following the Coldwater issue has been Friends of Coldwater. See http://www.friendsofcoldwater.org and http://www.preservecampcoldwater.org/ for very informative websites. Susu Jeffrey has proposed:
"Green Museum is a concept that came to me a few years ago. The idea is that the land itself is the museum, the land IS the teacher. Our job is to learn to learn from this land. For example, water cleans itself. ... When I think about science I consider the Western tradition of manipulation as opposed to careful, long-range observation. ...
Coldwater Spring has been flowing at least 10,000 years. The oldest human artifact in this area is a 9,000-year old bison spear point. In addition to "water is life," "water is the first medicine," springs are sacred in Native American & European history, & all religions have water rites. Green Museum designation might give Coldwater more approbation and protection."
http://parkplanning.nps.gov/projectHome.cfm?parkID=150&projectId=11443 Project home page

COMMENTS
http://www.nps.gov/miss/parkmgmt/upload/openHouse_22309.pdf Open house materials, February 23, 2009, describes the "preferred alternative" for future management, provides:
"INSTRUCTIONS: Please comment on the elements, conditions, and/or character you would like considered during the restoration. The green sheet provides information on what it means to restore the site and what it means to restore the spring.
Elements could include trails, parking areas, outdoor group gathering areas, interpretive signage, auto and bus access, restrooms, screening, landscaping, seating, etc.
Conditions could include hours of access, type of uses permitted with or without permits, use of motorized vehicles, how Coldwater Spring should be restored or treated, should parts of the buildings be left, etc.
Character relates to the look and feel of the site after redevelopment has occurred such as how natural the site appears, whether the site has a managed, park-like setting, how well the site blends or fits within its surrounding areas, whether the site appears contemplative and restful or active and busy, etc."

From our discussion, we may decide to submit individual comments or a group letter.

For more information, write info@WaterLegacy.org