Conferences & Events for Early March

Kids who raised razorback sucker. These students in a Western Slope school raised endangered razorback suckers. Here they are releasing them into the Colorado River. Division of Wildlife, 2004

MARCH 7th - 9th, 2017: High Altitude Restoration Science & Practice joint conference hosted by the High Altitude Revegetation Committee and the Central Rockies Chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. The aim of the conference is to connect practitioners, scientists, land managers, students, and policymakers to enhance our understanding of restoration theory and practice in diverse ecosystems using a variety of methods. Online registration is now open. Click HERE to register. 

MARCH 9th, 2017: Colorado Trout Unlimited 2017 River Stewardship Gala at the Mile High Station in Denver, CO. The Gala is Colorado TU’s biggest fundraising event of the year and the largest fishing-oriented auction in Colorado. The funds raised will go towards CTU’s work in youth education, protecting stream flows and temperature across the state, reintroducing and protecting native fish, and preserving and restoring fisheries and their watersheds. They will be honoring the Colorado Water Conservation Board for their work in developing Colorado’s first ever state water plan. This plan will guide water decisions made in the state and lead water conserving initiatives. Prizes will be available ranging from fishing trips, fishing gear, nights out on the town, art, and much more! There will even be great trips around the state and even a trip to fish in Argentina! For more information about the Gala including tickets, donations, or sponsorships visit http://coloradotu.org.

MARCH 9th, 2017: Beyond the Controller Lunch 'n Learn at Aurora Public Library, 14949 E Alameda Pkwy from 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm. Join Colorado WaterWise as they kick off the 2017 Lunch 'n Learn series. The Rachio team and CEO Chris Klein will discuss how smart sprinkler controllers are changing how homeowners, professionals, and water utilities think about water management. As the Internet of Things and smart home technology increase consumer engagement and awareness around outdoor water use, they'll discuss the downstream opportunities of big data and its impact on future water resource management. RSVP HERE!

MARCH 10th-11th, 2017: Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education's (CAEE) Environmental Education Conference at Auraria Campus in Denver. This year marks the 17th year of CAEE's environmental education conference in Colorado. In 2017, the conference will bring exciting new opportunities and formats to foster learning, discussion and collaborations around new ideas, trends, and practices that advance environmental education. Peruse the list of conference sessions with their days/times online now.

MARCH 11th, 2017: The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour Durango stop is fast approaching! It will showcase outstanding adventure, environmental, exploration, and mountain culture films from around the world. All proceeds of the event will benefit Rocky Mountain Wild and San Juan Citizens Alliance. Reception at 6:00 pm reception, films 7:00 - 9:00 pm at the Community Concert Hall at FLC, 1000 Rim Dr, Durango, CO 81301.  Tickets are available through the ticket office.

The Green Foundation is offering Adventures Outside Holiday Camps
Upcoming 2017 Dates:

• MARCH 27th-31th, 2017: Reptiles and Amphibians of Colorado ($225). Join SPREE to become herpetologists-on Colorado’s reptiles and amphibians.
• APRIL 3th, 2017: Crazy about Crawdads ($45). Become a crawdad expert as we investigate one of the South Platte's most amazing creatures!

MARCH 16th & 17th, 2017: Western Places/Western Spaces Conference: Creating Inclusive Communities. Join the Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute's 26th annual land use conference at the University of Denver campus. The theme for the 2017 Western Places/Western Spaces conference, Creating Inclusive Communities, focuses on the challenges and strategies available to cities—large and small—to plan for and build communities in which everyone can thrive. They will explore options for conserving and protecting our lands and natural resources. Water and energy development—whether from fossil fuels like oil, gas, and coal or renewable sources like wind and solar—remain inextricably linked with the West. And as our metropolitan areas grow, it becomes increasingly important to preserve the character of our rural and agricultural communities, as well. Click Here to Register for this Event.

Mountain Park Environmental Center (MPEC) Summer Camps provide children with days filled with Nature fun and life-long memories. They have several new camps planned for this summer. Transportation from Pueblo is included in MPEC camps, and they have a scholarship program that can help those who need financial assistance. Camp descriptions, prices, and other details can be found BY CLICKING HERE, including applying for a scholarship and registering. Please do not wait to register, as many camps fill up!

MARCH 20th - 24th, 2017: Forest Spring Break Camp (2nd, 3rd, 4th Graders)

JUNE 12th - 16th, 2017: Cubs Camp (Entering K-1st Grade)

JUNE 19th - 23rd, 2017: Nature Explorers (Entering 2nd-3rd Grade)

JUNE 20th - 22nd, 2017: Mission Wolf (Entering 6th-8th Grade)

June 26th - 30th, 2017: Intrepid Adventurers (Entering 4th-5th Grade)

JUNE 27th - 29th, 2017: NEW Water and Rock Camp (Entering 6th-8th Grade)

MARCH 20th - 22nd, 2017: 37th Annual American Geophysical Union Hydrology Days at Lory Student Center, Colorado State University. Hydrology Days is a unique celebration of multi-disciplinary hydrologic science and its closely related disciplines. The Hydrology Days vision is to provide an annual forum for outstanding scientists, professionals and students involved in basic and applied research on all aspects of water to share ideas, problems, analyses and solutions. The focus includes the water cycle and its interactions with land surface, atmospheric, ecosystem, economic and political processes, and all aspects of water resources engineering, management and policy.For more information and to register visit their website at http://hydrologydays.colostate.edu/.

MARCH 22st - 23rd, 2017: Conservation Excellence 2017 Conference at the University of Denver. Colorado Coalition of Land Trust's Annual Conservation Excellence Conference is the place for the land conservation community across the Rocky Mountain region to share knowledge and network. With more than 250 attendees annually, CCLT's conference helps define and influence the future of land conservation in the Intermountain West. Register HERE. 

MARCH 27th-31st, 2017: Unsure what to do when your children have a day off form school? Sign them up for a Holiday Camp with SPREE. They got two more chances for your child to try out the programs before summer camp starts. They'll be learning about Reptiles & Amphibians of Colorado over spring breakandget Crazy for Crawdads on April 3rd. Click here to sign up.

MARCH 31st, 2017: Healthy Headwaters 12th Leadership Convening: Smart Partnerships for Fast Times starting at 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Aurora Municipal Center, Aurora, CO. Carpe Diem West’s Healthy Headwaters Alliance pioneers innovative, scalable policies and actions to protect and restore the forested headwaters - the major source of our water supply in the American West. Each Healthy Headwaters convening highlights the work of key western communities that are catalyzing innovation in the region and beyond. Click HERE FOR REGISTRATION.

APRIL 5th, 2017: 9th Annual ARKWIPP Field Workshop in Trinidad, CO with the Arkansas River Watershed Invasive Plant Partnership. The cost is $20 and includes morning refreshments, lunch, drinks, afternoon snacks. The registration deadline is April 3rd. You can register online at, tamariskcoalition.   

APRIL 4th, 2017: National Watershed & Stormwater Conference, Online and Remote Hub Locations. Mark your calendar for the second year of this unique conference.  This conference is designed to allow both in-person discussion at multiple locations and online attendance.  Participants can learn about local and national stormwater and watershed issues while networking at their preferred attendance location. Major conference topics may include: IDDE, Public Education, National Certification, Monitoring, Drinking Water and Stream Restoration. Learn about exciting research, case studies, innovative technology, and special regional considerations from experts around the country. Registration will open soon.  Stay tuned for more information on registration and sponsorship at CWP.org.

APRIL 12th, 2017: The Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) Rocky Mountain Chapter Annual Meeting will be in Golden, Colorado at the American Mountaineering Center. The meeting is expected to bring together over 150 research­ers, students, government scientists, private sector consultants, and other wetland practitioners. It will cultivate scientific exchanges between diverse groups of professionals involved in wetland stewardship around the region. A draft agenda and other details of the meeting will be available soon. Stay tuned! You can also visit their website for updates at www.sws.org/rocky-mountain-chapter.

APRIL 26th - 27th, 2017,  Arkansas River Basin Water Forum in Colorado Springs. For 22 years, the Arkansas River Basin Water Forum has served as a conduit for information about water issues and education.  Through the Forum a broader understanding of water issues has evolved along with the opportunity to find common ground. For more information click  ARBWF.org

APRIL 19th - 21st, 2017: The Colorado Wildland Fire Conference will take place at the Pueblo Convention Center in Pueblo, CO. This year’s conference will expand on the Fire Adapted Communities concept, providing the framework for moving from awareness to action, messaging to mitigation, and words to work. This conference is a great opportunity to share your knowledge and expertise about reducing communities’ vulnerability to wildfire.Watch for more details about the 2017 Colorado Wildland Fire Conference soon at www.wildfire-colorado.com. 

MAY 17th, 2017: Denver Metro Water Festival, Denver, CO, this half-day event for sixth grade students in the Denver Water service area is designed to complement their science unit on water by offering engaging, hands-on water-related lessons and activities that expose students to the many ways water plays a role in our lives and the world around us. This annual festival offers an opportunity for individuals and organizations throughout the state to participate through presentations, volunteerism and sponsorships. For more information, click here.

JUNE 13th - 15th, 2017: Changing Lands, Changing Hands Conference at the DoubleTree Stapleton North, Denver, CO. A National Conference on Farm and Ranch Access, Tenure and Transfer. Land access, agricultural land tenure and farm succession are priority challenges for US agriculture. USDA and groups across the country are addressing these issues with research, policies, programming and professional development. In cooperation with USDA, Land For Good will host Changing Lands, Changing Hands, a national conference on these topics. More information and registration can be found at landforgood.org.

JUNE 14th, 2017: Save the Date, for the 9th Annual RiverBank fundraiser from 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Join them for a beautiful evening in support of Colorado's rivers. Activities will include a silent auction with river trips, stay-cation packages, outdoor gear, and many other exciting items to bid on along with a presentation of The David Getches Flowing Waters Award.

NOVEMBER 6th - 9th, 2017: SAVE THE DATE, 37th Annual Symposium of the North American Lake Management Society - Finding Balance at the Westin Westminster. After 26 years, Colorado welcomes NALMS back to the headwaters state. Colorado is home to thousands of both natural alpine lakes and reservoirs across the state. We are proud of our mountains and appreciate the importance of our lakes and reservoirs. In Colorado, water is used for fishing, drinking, farming, rafting, camping, mining, ranching, boating, brewing, and much more. All of these uses are supported with a stateside annual average of just 17 inches of rainfall. The lakes and reservoirs throughout the West and the Rockies do so much. Finding balance in how we manage them is important. For sponsorship or general information, contact nalms.org, 1-608-233-2836. For other details, contact conference co-chairs Steve Lundt or Jean Marie Boyer at ColoradoLRMA@gmail.com.

Funding Opportunities for Late February

The Fishing Is Fun program, combined with support from Chaffee County and local volunteers, helped open a new trail that keeps anglers off the narrow shoulders of busy roads, and also reduces "social trails" across private property. Colorado Division of Wildlife, 2004

Environmental Workforce Development and Job Training Grants are available through EPA’s Brownfields program. These grants allow nonprofit and other organizations to recruit, train, and place predominantly low-income and minority, unemployed and underemployed people living in areas affected by solid and hazardous waste. Residents learn the skills needed to secure full-time, sustainable employment in the environmental field, including assessment and cleanup. These green jobs reduce environmental contamination and build more sustainable futures for communities. Applications are due February 24, 2017. For more information click HERE.

The Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Nonpoint Source Program is accepting applications for the development of watershed plans that will restore and protect waterbodies impacted by nonpoint sources of pollution. Watershed plan projects must address nonpoint source water quality impairments and/or other nonpoint source water quality priorities and target meeting Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) nine elements of watershed-based plans to maximize future funding opportunities for implementing plans. Visit npscolorado.com and look for “NEW- 2017 Watershed Plans Funding Announcement - Apply Here" link for application and reference materials. Applications must be submitted to evan.butcher@state.co.us by March 31st. Questions about the RFA should be directed to: evan.butcher@state.co.us until March 1, 2017 at 5pm MST and answers to those questions will be posted on the NPS website on March 8, 2017.

The Bureau of Reclamation is seeking applications for a new WaterSMART water marketing strategy funding opportunity. Reclamation is making approximately $3 million available for implementing water marketing strategy grants under this funding opportunity. CLICK HERE to learn more by searching for funding opportunity announcements. Applications are due by April 19, 2017 at 4:00 PM MDT.

Outdoor clothing and gear company Patagonia provides grants to nonprofit organizations engaged in environmental work. The company's environmental grant program supports small grassroots activist organizations that have provocative direct-action agendas and are working on multi-pronged campaigns to preserve and protect the environment. Grants of up to $15,000 will be awarded in support of projects that are action-oriented, build public involvement and support, are focused on root causes, and demonstrate a commitment to long-term change. There are two annual deadlines for this process - April 30 (all applications received in April will receive a response by the end of August) and August 31 (all applications received in August will receive a response by the end of January). Click HERE for grant guidelines and application.

Trainings for Late February

A sailboat on Lake Granby, Division of Wildlife, David Hannigan, 2009

FEBRUARY 21st, 2017: Water Quality in the Lower Arkansas Basin: Impacting your Bottom Line Workshop from 9:00 am - 4:00 pm at the Otero Junior College Student Center, La Junta, CO 81050. This workshop will highlight best management practices to improve water quality in the lower Arkansas River. Changes in water rights, non-point source and point source pollution have had cumulative effects on water quality and further impact the uses of Arkansas River water. This is a FREE event but RSVP is required. A complimentary lunch will be served during the workshop. Please RSVP by February 17th, 2017.

FEBRUARY 23rd, 2017: Webinar - An Accounting Approach to Ecosystem Services for Public and Private Sector Decision Making in the U.S., 3:30 pm - 5:00 pm EST. The Nicholas School is hosting a webinar on natural capital accounting - a tool being used in dozens of countries globally and by the private sector that tracks changes in ecosystem services and directly ties these changes to costs and benefits across different economic sectors. In this National Ecosystem Services Partnership webinar, Ken Bagstad and Carl Shapiro of the U.S. Geological Survey will describe ongoing work to develop the infrastructure for a national natural capital accounting system in the United States.The webinar is free, but advanced registration is required. Details HERE.

FEBRUARY 24th, 2017: Seminar on Current Water Issues on the Western Slope hosted by the Colorado Association of Stormwater and Floodplain Managers (CASFM). This seminar will be held at the Glenwood Springs Community Center, Sopris Rooms A & B, 100 Wulfsohn Rd., Glenwood Springs, CO 81601.  Check-in starts at 8:30 a.m. The seminar is from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. For more information, seminar agenda and to register CLICK HERE. A light breakfast will be provided.

FEBRUARY 24th, 2017: 28th Annual Winter Tree Care Workshop. The Colorado State Forest Service has teamed up with the City of Greeley Forestry Program and the Colorado Tree Coalition for this workshop which provides updates and state-of-the-art information from Dr. Whitney Cranshaw, local tree care representatives, national experts and others. It will be held at the Island Grove Events Center, 421 N 15th Ave. in Greeley, the cost to attend is only $25/person. The cost includes lunch for those who register by Feb. 17. Individuals desiring a vegetarian lunch option must call(970)339-2405 to notify the event planners of this request. You can register, check out the agenda, and pay online HERE.

FEBRUARY 27th, 2017: Let’s WRAP – Fountain Creek! Workshop with the Colorado Data Sharing Network and Colorado State University eRAMS Team from 10:00 am - 1:00 pm, location to be announced. Learn about water quality data sharing systems that can help you navigate upcoming Reg 85 Requirements and manage your water resource data more effectively to get better results in your watershed management decisions.  The Colorado Data Sharing Network has been providing service to water organizations for over 15 years.  Colorado State University has been working with CDPHE to develop the Watershed Rapid Assessment Program and other tools to bring together disparate watershed data sources and provide the ability to do analytics on that data on one cloud based platform. RESERVE YOUR SEAT!

FEBRUARY 28th, 2017: Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE) will be hosting a Financing Sustainable Water Workshop in Glenwood Springs, CO. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from experts about resources and strategies that can help navigate the challenges of rate setting and resource management. CLICK HERE to learn more about AWE's Financing Sustainable Water initiative. Register for the Glenwood Springs workshop HERE.

FEBRUARY 28th, 2017: Rio Grande Ag Producers' Water Future Workshop by Colorado Ag Water Alliance, Colorado Cattlemen's Association, and CSU. The Colorado Water Plan aims to address the water needs of cities, agriculture and the environment in light of projected shortages. Agriculture is a focus; all the basin roundtables and the IBCC expressed that while water for other needs will come partly from agriculture, we must guard against large scale dry-up. Instead, the Plan promotes alternative transfer methods as an alternative. What does this emphasis on alternative transfer methods mean? What’s the motivation for farmers and ranchers to participate in leasing or to improve irrigation efficiency? What are the barriers? Colorado Ag Water Alliance is hosting a series of workshops throughout the state to share information and foster dialogue among agricultural producers. For more information go to rio-grande-ag-producers.

MARCH 2nd, 2017: Alliance for Water Efficiency (AWE) will be hosting a Financing Sustainable Water Workshop in Lakewood, CO. Don't miss this opportunity to learn from experts about resources and strategies that can help navigate the challenges of rate setting and resource management. CLICK HERE to learn more about AWE's Financing Sustainable Water initiative.
Register for the Lakewood workshop HERE. 

MARCH 2nd, 2017:  Annual Colorado Nutrient Management Workshop hosted by the CSU CLEAN Center and Colorado Monitoring Framework. The 2017 stakeholder workshop will be held at the Metro Wastewater Reclamation District Board Room in Denver, Colorado.  You can register for the workshop HERE.

MARCH 22nd, 2017:  Yampa Basin Ag Producers’ Water Future Workshop will take place from 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm at the Steamboat Springs Community Center at District at 1605 Lincoln Avenue, Steamboat Springs, CO 80487. The Colorado Water Plan encourages the use of “alternative transfer methods” to keep water in agriculture while addressing the anticipated gap in future water supply given projected population growth. What does this mean for agricultural water users in the Gunnison Basin? Irrigators will hear about opportunities for cost sharing of efficiency improvements, water leasing programs, and concerns about “use it or lose it” at this workshop hosted by the Community Agricultural Alliance and the Colorado Ag Water Alliance. For more information go to yampa_ag-producers.    

The Center for Watershed Protection's 2017 Webcast Series is open. Register today and join them via Adobe Connect for the following sessions: 

March 22, 2017, 1 - 2:30 PM EST, Webcast 1: Stormwater Contaminants of Emerging Concern - Register for this webcast! 

May 17, 2017, 1 - 2:30 PM EST, Webcast 2: Nutrient Trading - Register for this webcast!

June 21, 2017, 1 - 2:30 PM EST, Webcast 3:  Making Urban Trees Count - Register for this webcast! 

September 13, 2017, 1 - 2:30 PM EST, Webcast 4: Stream Restoration: Where are we now? - Register for this webcast!

October 18, 2017, 1 - 2:30 PM EST, Webcast 5: Bringing Better Site Design into The 21st Century - Register for this webcast!  

November 15, 2017, 1 - 2:30 PM EST, Webcast 6: Modeling for Water Quality - Register for this webcast! 

March 23rd, 2017: Source Water Protection Workshop. Starts at 9 A.M.  to 4 P. M.  Longmont Utility Services Building, 1251 S. Bowen Street Longmont, CO. The Source Water Protection Workshop will explore opportunities for representatives from watershed coalitions, watershed groups, utilities, and counties to protect sources of their drinking water and identify partnership opportunities.  During this Workshop you will: learn about potential contaminant sources, hear from topic experts on water quality impacts from septic systems, mining operations, and wildfire, and how you can work with local and state agencies to mitigate impacts, identify partner agencies and protective management strategies that can be implemented, and begin to develop a source water protection action plan to fit your own watershed. The workshop is free, but registration is required.  For more information click here.

APRIL 3rd - 4th, 2017: National Stormwater Center Certified Stormwater Inspector Training-Municipal, Denver, CO. Designed specifically for MS4 personnel, this course focuses on stormwater permit compliance as the key to restore and maintain the waters of the United States. Testing will be conducted. Students are expected to achieve a minimum overall score of 75% to be awarded 1.2 CEUs (Continuing Education Units) from National Storm-water Center, and a five (5) year CSI™ Inspector Certificate. This certification indicates that the services are being performed by professionals who have completed the stormwater inspector certification requirements and have met established standards of knowledge, experience, and competence required in the field of stormwater inspections. This two-day course is $799 per person plus $25 registration fee, for a total of $824 per person. There is a $50 per person discount for 2 or more registrations from the same organization. For more information and to register go to www.npdes.com.

May-July 2017,  Colorado Foundation for Water Education (CFWE) will be offering training. The Water Fluency offering will run with classes in the corridor between Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction. Register now for Water Fluency, CFWE's professional development course to boost your water knowledge.  Participants learn through site visits; in-person classroom discussions; and online materials, presented with Colorado State University's online water course. Learn more about the course, review the agenda, and register here.

AUGUST 2nd - 4th, 2017: The Park Planning and Maintenance Academy (PPMA) is a new school for park and recreation professionals, reinvented, with greater sessions focused on trends and cutting edge park maintenance practices in addition to the fundamentals of park planning. Training will be at the Radisson Hotel, Denver Southeast, 3155 S. Vaughn Way, Aurora, CO 80014. PPMA IS LIMITED TO 50 PEOPLE. REGISTER TODAY, swprti.org/PPMA.

Conferences & Events for Late February

Animas River Gorge near Durango, CO., Division of Wildlife, Pete Walker, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 2004

The Green Foundation is offering Adventures Outside Holiday Camps
Upcoming 2017 Dates:

February 20th, 2017: The Secret Lives of Hibernators ($45)
Investigate the animals who are sleeping through the winter in Colorado!

March 27th-31th, 2017: Reptiles and Amphibians of Colorado ($225)
Join SPREE to become herpetologists-on Colorado’s reptiles and amphibians!

April 3th, 2017: Crazy about Crawdads ($45)
Become a crawdad expert as we investigate one of the South Platte's most amazing creatures!

Register Here

FEBRUARY 23rd, 2017: Screening of the National Young Farmers Coalition new short film called "Conservation Generation." From 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm at the San Juan College Greenhouse. Are you interested in the future of agriculture? Interested in having a discussion with other farmers of all ages? Check out this event co-hosted by the National Young Farmers Coalition and the San Juan Soil & Water Conservation District. The event will include a potluck dinner (bring a dish to share). Everyone welcome!

FEBRUARY 26th, 2017: SNOTEL Site Tour, Understanding Colorado's Snowpack. Join Roaring Fork Conservancy's Liza Mitchell and National Resources Conservation Service's Derrick Wyle, a professional snow surveyor, to learn how snowpack is measured in the mountains. Fuel up indoors with refreshments while Liza and Derrick introduce snow science practices and their critical role in understanding Western water. Then head outdoors and snowshoe to a SNOTEL site on McClure Pass where they'll conduct a snow course survey, and interpret the layers of a snow pit as it tells the story of snow's past and water's future! Visit their WEBSITE for additional details, including how to register.

FEBRUARY 27th, 2017: One-day Conference on Environmental Permitting at the University of Denver. The laws, regulations, and policies affecting projects in the west are constantly changing, sometimes in significant ways. At this new program, the regulated community, law firms, and public agencies will join together to get insights on strategies and issues that arise during environmental reviews and permitting for both public and private development projects. Eligible to earn up to 7 Hours MCLE credit. Get the latest on; National Environmental Policy Act, Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, National Historic Preservation Act and Colorado's LEAN Permitting Process. Program Co-Chairs are Ruth Hamilton Heese, Esq. (US Department of the Interior, Office of the Solicitor, Lakewood) and Peter Nichols, Esq. (Berg Hill Greenleaf Ruscitti, Boulder). Bring a colleague, or your entire team! Register now: www.cle.com/permitting.

MARCH 2nd, 2017: 2017 Eastern Colorado Community Forestry Conference
A Community Tree Gathering to be held from 8:30 am - 3:30 pm at the
Lamar Community Building in Lamar, CO. Registration deadline is February 22nd. For questions regarding registration call the Colorado State Forest Service at 719.383.5780 Office or 719.468.9499 Mobile.

MARCH 7th - 9th, 2017: High Altitude Restoration Science & Practice joint conference hosted by the High Altitude Revegetation Committee and the Central Rockies Chapter of the Society for Ecological Restoration at Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado. The aim of the conference is to connect practitioners, scientists, land managers, students, and policymakers to enhance our understanding of restoration theory and practice in diverse ecosystems using a variety of methods. Online registration is now open. Click HERE to register. 

MARCH 9th, 2017: Colorado Trout Unlimited 2017 River Stewardship Gala at the Mile High Station in Denver, CO. The Gala is Colorado TU’s biggest fundraising event of the year and the largest fishing-oriented auction in Colorado. The funds raised will go towards CTU’s work in youth education, protecting stream flows and temperature across the state, reintroducing and protecting native fish, and preserving and restoring fisheries and their watersheds. They will be honoring the Colorado Water Conservation Board for their work in developing Colorado’s first ever state water plan. This plan will guide water decisions made in the state and lead water conserving initiatives. Prizes will be available ranging from fishing trips, fishing gear, nights out on the town, art, and much more! There will even be great trips around the state and even a trip to fish in Argentina! For more information about the Gala including tickets, donations, or sponsorships visit http://coloradotu.org.

MARCH 16th & 17th, 2017: Western Places/Western Spaces Conference: Creating Inclusive Communities. Jointhe Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute's 26th annual land use conference at the University of Denver campus. The theme for the 2017 Western Places/Western Spaces conference, Creating Inclusive Communities, focuses on the challenges and strategies available to cities—large and small—to plan for and build communities in which everyone can thrive. They will explore options for conserving and protecting our lands and natural resources. Water and energy development—whether from fossil fuels like oil, gas, and coal or renewable sources like wind and solar—remain inextricably linked with the West. And as our metropolitan areas grow, it becomes increasingly important to preserve the character of our rural and agricultural communities, as well. Click Here to Register for this Event.

Mountain Park Environmental Center (MPEC) Summer Camps provide children with days filled with Nature fun and life-long memories. They have several new camps planned for this summer. Transportation from Pueblo is included in MPEC camps, and they have a scholarship program that can help those who need financial assistance. Camp descriptions, prices, and other details can be found BY CLICKING HERE, including applying for a scholarship and registering. Please do not wait to register, as many camps fill up!

MARCH 20th - 24th, 2017: Forest Spring Break Camp (2nd, 3rd, 4th Graders)

JUNE 12th - 16th, 2017: Cubs Camp (Entering K-1st Grade)

JUNE 19th - 23rd, 2017: Nature Explorers (Entering 2nd-3rd Grade)

JUNE 20th - 22nd, 2017: Mission Wolf (Entering 6th-8th Grade)

June 26th - 30th, 2017: Intrepid Adventurers (Entering 4th-5th Grade)

JUNE 27th - 29th, 2017: NEW Water and Rock Camp (Entering 6th-8th Grade)

MARCH 20th - 22nd, 2017: 37th Annual American Geophysical Union Hydrology Days at Lory Student Center, Colorado State University. Hydrology Days is a unique celebration of multi-disciplinary hydrologic science and its closely related disciplines. The Hydrology Days vision is to provide an annual forum for outstanding scientists, professionals and students involved in basic and applied research on all aspects of water to share ideas, problems, analyses and solutions. The focus includes the water cycle and its interactions with land surface, atmospheric, ecosystem, economic and political processes, and all aspects of water resources engineering, management and policy.For more information and to register visit their website at http://hydrologydays.colostate.edu/.

MARCH 21st - 23rd, 2017: Conservation Excellence 2017 Conference at the University of Denver. Colorado Coalition of Land Trust's Annual Conservation Excellence Conference is the place for the land conservation community across the Rocky Mountain region to share knowledge and network. With more than 250 attendees annually, CCLT's conference helps define and influence the future of land conservation in the Intermountain West. Register HERE. .

MARCH 31st, 2017: Healthy Headwaters 12th Leadership Convening: Smart Partnerships for Fast Times starting at 8:30 am – 4:30 pm Aurora Municipal Center, Aurora, CO. Carpe Diem West’s Healthy Headwaters Alliance pioneers innovative, scalable policies and actions to protect and restore the forested headwaters - the major source of our water supply in the American West. Each Healthy Headwaters convening highlights the work of key western communities that are catalyzing innovation in the region and beyond. Click HERE FOR REGISTRATION.

APRIL 4th, 2017: National Watershed & Stormwater Conference, Online and Remote Hub Locations. Mark your calendar for the second year of this unique conference.  This conference is designed to allow both in-person discussion at multiple locations and online attendance.  Participants can learn about local and national stormwater and watershed issues while networking at their preferred attendance location. Major conference topics may include: IDDE, Public Education, National Certification, Monitoring, Drinking Water and Stream Restoration. Learn about exciting research, case studies, innovative technology, and special regional considerations from experts around the country. Registration will open soon.  Stay tuned for more information on registration and sponsorship at CWP.org.

APRIL 12th, 2017: The Society of Wetland Scientists (SWS) Rocky Mountain Chapter Annual Meeting will be in Golden, Colorado at the American Mountaineering Center. The meeting is expected to bring together over 150 research­ers, students, government scientists, private sector consultants, and other wetland practitioners. It will cultivate scientific exchanges between diverse groups of professionals involved in wetland stewardship around the region. A draft agenda and other details of the meeting will be available soon. Stay tuned! You can also visit their website for updates at www.sws.org/rocky-mountain-chapter.

APRIL 19th - 21st, 2017: The Colorado Wildland Fire Conference will take place at the Pueblo Convention Center in Pueblo, CO. This year’s conference will expand on the Fire Adapted Communities concept, providing the framework for moving from awareness to action, messaging to mitigation, and words to work. This conference is a great opportunity to share your knowledge and expertise about reducing communities’ vulnerability to wildfire.Watch for more details about the 2017 Colorado Wildland Fire Conference soon at www.wildfire-colorado.com.

JUNE 13th - 15th, 2017: Changing Lands, Changing Hands Conference at the DoubleTree Stapleton North, Denver, CO. A National Conference on Farm and Ranch Access, Tenure and Transfer. Land access, agricultural land tenure and farm succession are priority challenges for US agriculture. USDA and groups across the country are addressing these issues with research, policies, programming and professional development. In cooperation with USDA, Land For Good will host Changing Lands, Changing Hands, a national conference on these topics. More information and registration can be found at landforgood.org.

JUNE 14th, 2017: Save the Date for the 9th Annual RiverBank fundraiser from 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Join them for a beautiful evening in support of Colorado's rivers!Activities will include a silent auction with river trips, stay-cation packages, outdoor gear, and many other exciting items to bid on along with a presentation of The David Getches Flowing Waters Award.

NOVEMBER 6th - 9th, 2017: SAVE THE DATE, 37th Annual Symposium of the North American Lake Management Society - Finding Balance at the Westin Westminster. After 26 years, Colorado welcomes NALMS back to the headwaters state. Colorado is home to thousands of both natural alpine lakes and reservoirs across the state. We are proud of our mountains and appreciate the importance of our lakes and reservoirs. In Colorado, water is used for fishing, drinking, farming, rafting, camping, mining, ranching, boating, brewing, and much more. All of these uses are supported with a stateside annual average of just 17 inches of rainfall. The lakes and reservoirs throughout the West and the Rockies do so much. Finding balance in how we manage them is important. For sponsorship or general information, contact nalms.org, 1-608-233-2836. For other details, contact conference co-chairs Steve Lundt or Jean Marie Boyer at ColoradoLRMA@gmail.com.

Job Announcements for Late February

Chad Rudow Sampling at Meridith Site, River Watch Program

The City of Louisville Open Space Program has an opening for a Ranger Naturalist. This is a full-time, permanent position with benefits. Applications are due by Sunday, February 19th, 2017. Details can be found at the following website: www.louisvilleco.gov.

The Chama Peak Land Alliance is seeking a full-time Executive Director who will guide administrative, financial, and programmatic actions of the organization. The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors and is responsible for the organization's consistent achievement of its mission, financial objectives, and strategic goals. TheChama Peak Land Alliance is a diverse group of conservation minded landowners committed to embracing and practicing responsible land, water and wildlife stewardship in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico for the benefit of our tri-cultural heritage and for generations to come. This is a unique opportunity for a highly qualified candidate to become a critical part of a successful private lands based organization that is well known and respected throughout the region and the West. Submit cover letter, resume, and three references by February 22, 2017. For more information visit chamapeak.org.   

AloTerra Restoration Services, LLC (AloTerra) is seeking Restoration Crew Members to provide ecological restoration services for a wide range of projects (i.e., river and riparian restoration, wetland mitigation, upland restoration, erosion control, etc.) for a diverse range of Federal, State, and local clients throughout Colorado. Our professional restoration crew offers a great experience to apply your natural resources skills in a way that restores landscapes in the Rocky Mountains, and also an opportunity to develop advanced restoration skills through a great variety of projects. This job requires daily physical labor, including seeding, installing container stock, harvesting and installing willow cuttings, moving and placing rock, building site protection fences, and more. Application deadline is March 1, 2017.  They are accepting applications until positions are filled. Link to full position description. Please send a cover letter, resume, and three references (all as a single pdf or word doc) via email to:  John Giordanengo, john@aloterraservices.com.  No phone calls please.

Larimer County has a job opening for a Ranger II position. This person plays a key role in providing customer service and natural resource management services to the citizens of Larimer County. This position performs as a peace officer; enforces Colorado Revised Statutes and park rules and regulations; contacts violators and issues warning or citation; conducts investigations and arrests; performs a variety of professional work in providing ranger services to the public, including ranger natural resource management and interpretation, ranger and volunteer operations, enforcement of park regulations, supervision of Ranger I employees, seasonal, and assigned staff and minor maintenance tasks. This position will be based at Carter Lake Reservoir. For more information go to, https://careers-larimer.icims.com.

Cal-Wood is seeking Field Instructor position. Instructors are responsible for providing a fun and educational experience for a learning group made up of 10-15 students during each school’s visit to Cal-Wood. Typical programs are three-day / two-night programs with 4th – 6th graders. Their field instructors enjoy working in our 1,200-acre outdoor classroom with a team of other motivated individuals passionate about the outdoors, natural science, and education. For more information and details about how to apply visit, www.calwood.org.

The City of Aurora Naturalist program is seeking a Seasonal Naturalist to assist with nature center staffing, program planning and presentation, and event staffing for their busy programming season (March – October). This position is a temporary, part time and seasonal position that is supervised by full time naturalist staff. For more information and details about how to apply visit, jobs.auroragov.org.

Jefferson County Open Space has an open Planning & Projects Manager Position. The Planning and Projects Manager (PPM) oversees and supports the establishment of, and adherence to, standards, procedures and performance metrics specific to their team. Under limited supervision, the Planning and Projects Manager performs administrative and supervisory work and is responsible for planning including future land acquisitions, GIS and mapping, park and trail planning, design, and construction management. This position is responsible for special projects and budgetary expenditures. For more information or to apply, please visit http://jeffco.us/jobs.

South Suburban Parks and Recreation has two openings posted for Seasonal Bicycle Patrol Rangers along the South Platte River in Littleton. This position is bicycle patrol mingled with natural resource management projects. For more information go to,  https://www.governmentjobs.com.

The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks is seeking a10-month standard Human Dimensions Crew Leader position who supports the Human Dimensions programs and projects as needed. It requires a diverse range of skills including field crew scheduling and oversight, monitoring and data management, collaborative leadership with workgroup staff, project sponsors, seasonal staff and volunteers, and ability to positively interact with the public. For more information, please go to: https://bouldercolorado.gov/human-resources/city-jobs and click on Human Dimensions (Crew Leader).

The Boulder County Parks and Open Space seeks Budget/Administrative Division Manager. Boulder County's Parks and Open Space Department (POS) is accepting applications for the role of Budget and Administration Division Manager. The individual in this critical position will act as the department's budgeting expert, providing guidance and insights to the director of POS and division managers. Analyzing present business practices, and strategizing process improvements, are also important job duties of this role. The Budget and Administration Division Manager will also lead an administrative team of six individuals and actively participate as a colleague on the department's senior management team. For More Information click here.