The San Miguel Watershed Coalition presented two related items to the county on Nov. 12: a needs analysis for wet‑meadow restoration and a funding request to support a wildfire‑ready action plan (WRAP) planning grant. Intern Jaden Scott summarized literature on incised channels and described rock‑and‑wood restoration structures used to slow flows, raise local water tables and restore meadow hydrology. "Wet meadows are really great for kind of building ecosystem resilience to things like drought and wildfire," Scott said.

Adrian Richer, representing the coalition, framed the WRAP as a proactive, watershed‑scale complement to the county's Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP). He described hydrologic and hydraulic modeling—using high‑severity fire scenarios—to identify susceptibility zones and project locations, and said the coalition's planning budget target is roughly $400,000 for consultant work, modeling and deliverables.

Richer said the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) planning grant the coalition is pursuing requires a 3:1 match (25% local match). To meet that requirement, the coalition plans to raise roughly $100,000 in matching funds and requested $20,000 from San Miguel County as part of that local match. The coalition listed secured and pending local contributions (Town of Telluride, Norwood Water Commission, Norwood Fire Protection District, Telluride Foundation and a Southwestern Water Conservation District grant request) and said Montrose County is expected to provide in‑kind staff time and possibly cash.

Commissioners and staff did not take a formal vote during the work session. They urged coalition staff to secure additional commitments — especially from Montrose County and the Telluride Fire Protection District — before San Miguel County commits funds. County emergency management staff and commissioners endorsed the proposal's goals; Shannon Armstrong said the WRAP would "absolutely complement" the county's CWPP and recommended support.

Adrian reminded the board that the CWCB water plan grant deadline is Dec. 1 and that letters of financial commitment can arrive after the application but the county's application needs a clear budget; commissioners directed the coalition to continue fundraising and return to a regular meeting for formal action.