Funding Opportunities for Early March

Echo Lake, near Mt. Evans. Mt. Evans can be accessed through Bergen Park (Evergreen) or by Hwy 103 out of Idaho Springs, Division of Wildlife, David Hannigan, 2009

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. Applications must be submitted by March 31st. 

LOWER GUNNISON IRRIGATION IMPROVEMENTS. Funding is available to support irrigation efficiency projects in the Bostwick Park, Paonia, SmithFork and Uncompahgre areas of the Lower Gunnison Basin. March 17th, 2017 is the final application deadline. Details here.    

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.

New EPA Water Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act (WIFIA) Program Provides $1 Billion in Loans for Water Infrastructure Projects (Details here). The program will provide long-term, low-cost credit assistance in the form of direct loans and loan guarantees to creditworthy water projects. Example projects include: drinking water treatment and distribution, wastewater conveyance and treatment, enhanced energy efficiency projects at drinking water and wastewater facilities, desalination, aquifer recharge, alternative water supply, and water recycling projects, and drought prevention, reduction, or mitigation projects. WIFIA is available to state, local, and tribal governments; private entities; partnerships; and State Revolving Fund programs.

The US Department of Agriculture has announced that $252 million will be made available through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program for "innovative, workable and cost-effective approaches to benefit farming, ranching and forest operations; local economies; and the communities and resources in a watershed or other geographic area." Pre-proposals are due April 21st, 2017. Details here.

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 30th (all applications received in April will receive a response by the end of August) and August 31st (all applications received in August will receive a response by the end of January). Click HERE for grant guidelines and application.

Trainings for Early March

South Boulder Creek in Moffat County almost to Rogers Pass, Division of Wildlife, Dan Slauson, 2008

MARCH 9th, 2017: EPA webcast on the new tool “Model My Watershed” from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm EDT. “Model My Watershed” is a user friendly, online watershed modeling application that allows users to learn how land use and soil together determine whether rainfall infiltrates into the soil, runs off into streams, or is evaporated and transpired by plants. This web tool is intended to provide an easy-to-use professional-grade modeling package to inform land-use decisions, support conservation practices, and enhance watershed education. The webcast will provide an overview and a demonstration of the application and will highlight how the tool is being used by several states for their total maximum daily load, nonpoint source, and municipal stormwater programs. Webcast participants are eligible to receive a certificate for their attendance. To learn more, CLICK 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, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm EST, Webcast 1: Stormwater Contaminants of Emerging Concern - Register for this webcast! 

May 17, 2017, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm EST, Webcast 2: Nutrient Trading - Register for this webcast!

June 21, 2017, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm EST, Webcast 3:  Making Urban Trees Count - Register for this webcast! 

September 13, 2017, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm EST, Webcast 4: Stream Restoration: Where are we now? - Register for this webcast!

October 18, 2017, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm EST, Webcast 5: Bringing Better Site Design into The 21st Century - Register for this webcast!  

November 15, 2017, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm EST, Webcast 6: Modeling for Water Quality - Register for this webcast! 

MARCH 23rd, 2017: Source Water Protection Workshop. Starts at 9:00 A.M.  to 4:00 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.

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.   

MAY 15th-19th, 2017:  Larimer County is holding the annual Ranger Excellence School. This year they are offering courses in Leadership, OC/Pepper Spray Certification, Baton Certification, Wilderness Survival, Land Navigation, Medical, Driving, and Self Defense , just to name a few. They also have the Wilderness First Aid Certification/Wilderness First Responder Re-certification class taught by NOLS. They will also have demonstrations by the local Sheriff's K-9 and SWAT teams and a Helicopter Evacuation demonstration. It will be held at the Budweiser Event Center in Loveland, Colorado.  Click HERE for more detail.

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.

JUNE 5th- AUGUST 5th, 2017: Pitkin County Open Space and Trails is advertising for an agriculture and easement monitor/stewardship intern to assist with stewardship of their agricultural leases and easements. As per Pitkin County policy, only students that obtain college/high school credit for the internship will be allowed to participate. The ideal applicant will have an interest in private land conservation or recreation easements and/or public land leasing and will be pursuing a degree in an environmental management, parks and protected area management, natural resources, conservation, or a related field program. The internship will be 40hrs/week at $13.00/hour with an approximate start date of June 5th and approximate end date of August 5th dependent on the intern's schedule. For a full intern description and application visit the Pitkin County hiring website at; https://www.appone.com/MainInfoReq.asp?R_ID=1523061       

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.  

JUNE 19th-23rd, 2017: Western State Colorado University is pleased to host the Summer Teacher Institute, Monday – Friday, 8:00am-6:00pm. Learn how to incorporate rivers into your curriculum, creating relevant context and connections for your students. This five-day, field-based course includes water management, river ecology, fisheries, and geography of the Colorado River Basin. Rivers are the basis of our Colorado livelihoods and are critical to the future of our students and communities. Our natural affinity to water makes rivers and watersheds a useful and familiar context for cross-disciplinary teaching and learning. Field experiences include a Morrow Point Reservoir boat tour, Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery tour, Gunnison River ecology field day, and a visit to Coldharbour Institute. The second part of the week incorporates participation in the Colorado Water Workshop Conference engaging with water resource professionals from across Colorado. Participants must register for the Colorado Water Workshop to earn 3 ENVS credits.(All meals are included beginning Wednesday at noon; 3 credit course fee of $375; additional $40 course fee plus additional fee of $150 (50% discount) for Colorado Water Workshop. Total cost is $565.) Register Here

Job Announcements for Early March

Electro Fishing, Division of Wildlife, Colorado Division of Wildlife, 9/11/2005

Colorado Canyons Association (CCA) is seeking applicants for the position of full-time Education Specialist. CCA fosters community stewardship of our National Conservation Lands with a focus on Dominguez-Escalante, Gunnison Gorge and McInnis Canyons National Conservation Areas (NCAs) in western Colorado. The Specialist is responsible for curriculum development, land-based education program implementation and general program support for CCA. Deadline to apply is MARCH 3rd. Details here. 

The Tamarisk Coalition is hiring a Restoration Ecologist. This position is based in their Grand Junction, CO office, and is intended for a person with expertise and experience in riverside habitat restoration, ecology, and closely related environmental sciences. A “big picture” perspective on river system health and restoration in the West is necessary. Responsibilities may include vegetation monitoring and coordination, interpreting scientific information to inform Tamarisk Coalition efforts (e.g. restoration design, staff), project management, and providing technical assistance and education to public and private land managers. Deadline to apply is MARCH 6th. Details here. 

The Little Thompson Watershed Coalition announces a full-time, salaried opening for a Watershed Coordinator reporting to the president of the Board of Directors. The Coordinator works closely with its board of directors to facilitate board meetings, coordinate with government agencies, other watershed coalitions, landowners, homeowner associations, irrigators, farmers, ranchers and water districts, to implement projects, manage detailed compliance files, conduct community outreach, internal/external communications, and coordinate volunteers to further the Coalition’s mission, including identifying and seeking funding sources and other resources. Click on JOB ANNOUNCEMENT or go to www.ltwrc.org.

The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks is seeking a 10-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.

Summit County Open Space & Trails has a job opening for an Open Space & Trails Resource Specialist.  The ideal candidate for this full time, year round permanent position will have a Bachelor’s degree and at least 3 years experience in natural resource management, recreation or open space planning.  For a full job description please visit http://www.summitcountyco.gov/221/Employment-Opportunities                         

The City of Boulder is accepting applications to a Water Quality Specialist position. Under general direction, implement and support various aspects of water quality monitoring, analysis, and investigations for the Water Quality and Environmental Services Group. Perform water quality monitoring and laboratory support, field equipment maintenance, data management and analysis and field investigations related to surface water, drinking water and wastewater. For duties and responsibilities, required minimum qualifications and to apply, please visit http://www.bouldercolorado.gov.     

South Platte Park (Littleton) is hiring two Part Time Park Interpreter/Birthday Party Hosts.  These positions are ‘occasional’, meaning that employees choose shifts based on availability.   During busy seasons, employees can work several times a month up to 10 hours per week.  Duties primarily include setting up/hosting nature-themed birthday parties, but can also include assignments such as Nature Center coverage, evening programs, booth events and special events. It’s good experience in the field and extra income without a committed schedule.  For more information click here.

City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks is now recruiting for summer field positions with their teen service corps –\ the Junior Ranger Program. Seeking dedicated outdoor educators for a dynamic season of service, learning and mentorship. Review the job postings for Junior Ranger Crew Leader and Junior Ranger Program Assistant. Apply at www.osmp.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.

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.

Announcements for Early March

Belly Boat Fisherman, Division of Wildlife, Michael Seraphin, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 2000

SAVE THE DATE for the next Watershed Wildfire Protection Group meeting on Friday, MARCH 10th, 2017 from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm MST at the Colorado Parks & Wildlife Administration Building; Bighorn Room @ 6060 Broadway in Denver. Contact Richard M. Edwards, CF, Colorado State Forest Service at Rich.Edwards@colostate.edu with any questions.

Call for Abstracts for the San Juan Mining and Reclamation Conference “Coming Full Circle: Making a Difference and Forging Ahead” to be held on May 24th & 25th, 2017 in Ouray, Colorado. This conference has made a full tour through the mining communities of southwestern Colorado over the past six years. It has featured presentations and discussions about the history and heritage of mining in the San Juan Mountains, contemporary hardrock mining practices, alternative remediation approaches to legacy mining impacts, and the regulatory frameworks for both. There is also the opportunity to consider how industry in the region has utilized innovative mining technologies and environmental mitigation plans to energize hardrock mining in the San Juans. Please submit your abstract and supporting information via the ABSTRACT SUBMISSION FORM available at www.mountainstudies.org/sjmrc by MARCH 15, 2017 at 5:00 pm.