Funding Opportunities Early November

Downstream from the Bridge - part of the Blue River improvement project in Silverthorne. Division of Wildlife. Photo taken 10/28/2005.

The Nature Conservancy is working to promote environmental education through the creation of Nature Works Everywhere gardens. The core principle behind the Gardens program is that gardens model conservation science on a relatable scale. The program empowers students and teachers to work together to create and implement their own solutions to environmental challenges in their communities. Grants of up to $2,000 will be awarded to support projects that implement green infrastructure to address local environmental challenges. These include access to healthy food, air quality, heat island effect, climate change, and storm water collection. Through the program, young people will work as social innovators to help their communities through project design and implementation. Link to Complete RFP.

FEMA FY17 Flood Mitigation Assistance Application Cycle – Due November 14: FEMA has posted the Fiscal Year 2017 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) announcements for the Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA) grant program on www.grants.gov. The NOFO provides an overview of the grant program and details about the agency's funding priorities and review process. FMA grants are available to implement measures to reduce or eliminate risk of severe repetitive and repetitive flood damage to buildings insured by the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). New in this application cycle is a set-aside of $70 million for community advance assistance and flood mitigation projects. The remainder of the FY17 FMA grants will continue to focus on reducing or eliminating the risk of repetitive flood damage to buildings and structures. FEMA will also fund flood hazard mitigation planning as well as technical assistance for applicants who were awarded FMA grant program funds totaling at least $1 million in FY16. Further information is in the NOFO: DHS-17-MT-029-00-99.

FEMA FY17 Pre-Disaster Mitigation Application Cycle - Due November 14, 2017: FEMA has posted the Fiscal Year 2017 Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) announcements for the Pre-Disaster Mitigation (PDM) grant program on www.grants.gov. The goal of the PDM grant program is to reduce overall risk to the population and structures, while at the same time reducing reliance on federal funding from Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (Stafford Act) disaster declarations. FEMA’s highest priority for FY17 competitive sub-applications is multi-state/tribal mitigation initiatives. FEMA will select eligible planning and project sub-applications that limit duplication of other HMA programs by prioritizing funding in areas without post-disaster funding available through the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP); and projects that cannot be funded by the FMA grant program. Further information is in the NOFO: DHS-17-MT-047-00-99.

Applications are being accepted for Colorado Corn Future Farmers of America (FFA) Grant Program. For a fifth year, the Colorado Corn Administrative Committee (CCAC) is accepting applications from FFA chapters around the state as part of its Colorado Corn FFA Grant Program. The deadline to apply is November 15th. Be sure to let your local FFA chapters know about this opportunity. The Colorado Corn FFA Grant Program assists FFA chapters in Colorado on projects that lack funding in their school's budget. Adding to its support of other youth-focused projects, Colorado Corn began its FFA grants in 2013, awarding a $5,000 grant to the winner during the first year, and all together has contributed nearly $30,000 to FFA chapters through this program. Click HERE for more information.

EPA Brownfields Grants – Due November 16, 2017 (Details here): EPA’s Brownfields Program provides grants and technical assistance to communities, states, tribes and others to assess, safely clean up and sustainably reuse contaminated properties. Proposals are open for Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund and Cleanup grants.

2018 Matching Awards Program: Funding Available for Natural Resource Projects with a Clear Benefit to National Forests and Grasslands. The National Forest Foundation is pleased to announce the that it is currently soliciting proposals for its Matching Awards Program (MAP). MAP is a nationally competitive grant program that provides federal funds for direct on-the-ground projects benefiting America’s National Forests and Grasslands. The program supports action-oriented projects that enhance outdoor experiences, forest and ecosystem health, and engage local communities in caring for their public lands. Nonprofits with  501(c)(3)  status, universities and Native American tribes are eligible to apply. All projects must show a strong commitment to civic engagement and community involvement through direct public involvement. Grants are awarded for one year and require a 1:1 non-federal cash match. Submission Deadlines January 23, 2018 at 11:59 pm MST or June 13, 2018 at 11:59 pm MDT.  Informational Webinar January 9, 2018 at 11:00 am MST. Register for Webinar HERE. For more information about MAP, click HERE.

The Colorado River Basin Salinity Control Program has released a new funding opportunity announcement. Past projects funded by the program have typically involved converting unlined canals and ditches to pipelines located in the Upper Basin States to reduce seepage that picks up salt and carries it into the Colorado River system. The Colorado River and its tributaries provide municipal and industrial water to about 27 million people and irrigation water to nearly four million acres of land in the United States. The river also serves about 2.3 million people and 500,000 acres in Mexico. The threat of salinity is a major concern in both the Unites States and Mexico. Salinity affects agricultural, municipal, and industrial water users. Click HERE for more information. 

EPA Wetland Program Development Grants – Due date varies by region. Wetland Program Development Grants (WPDGs) provide eligible applicants an opportunity to conduct projects that promote the coordination and acceleration of research, investigations, experiments, training, demonstrations, surveys, and studies relating to the reduction and elimination of water pollution. WPDGs assist building programs to protect, manage, and restore wetlands. States, tribes, local governments, interstate associations, and intertribal consortia are eligible to apply for the Regional WPDG Request for Proposals. Click HERE for more information.

The National Water Quality Initiative will work in priority watersheds to help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners improve water quality and aquatic habitats in impaired streams. NRCS will help producers implement conservation and management practices through a systems approach to control and trap nutrient and manure runoff. Qualified producers will receive assistance for installing conservation practices such as cover crops, filter strips and terraces. More Details here.

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), provided through the Natural Resource Conservation Service, is a voluntary conservation program that helps agricultural producers in a manner that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible goals. Through EQIP, agricultural producers receive financial and technical assistance to implement structural and management conservation practices that optimize environmental benefits on working agricultural land. EQIP applications are accepted on a continuous basis, however, NRCS establishes application "cut-off" or submission deadline dates for evaluation, ranking and approval of eligible applications. EQIP is open to all eligible agricultural producers and submitted applications may be considered or evaluated in multiple funding pool opportunities. To learn more CLICK HERE.

The Colorado Water Conservation Board Water Supply Reserve Account (WSRA) Program provides grants and loans to assist Colorado water users in addressing their critical water supply issues and interests. The funds help eligible entities complete water activities, which may include competitive grants for: Technical assistance regarding permitting, feasibility studies and environmental compliance; Studies or analysis of structural, nonstructural consumptive and nonconsumptive water needs, projects or activities; and structural and nonstructural water projects or activities. For more information click HERE.

Colorado Water Conservation Board Water Efficiency Grant Program. The Water Efficiency Grant Program provides financial assistance to communities, water providers and eligible agencies for water conservation-related activities and projects. Eligible entities as well as state and local governments and agencies can receive funding to develop water conservation and drought plans, implement water conservation goals outlined in a water conservation plan and educate the public about water conservation.
Types of Water Efficiency Grants available - Click on programs below for more information about each and how to apply:

• Water Conservation Planning Grants: For water providers seeking to develop or update their water conservation plans.
• Water Conservation Implementation Grants: For water providers implementing water conservation plan goals and programs identified in locally adopted and CWCB-approved water conservation plans.
• Drought Mitigation Planning Grants: For water providers or state and local governmental entities developing drought mitigation and response plans.
• Water Resource Conservation Public Education and Outreach Grants: For agencies seeking to promote the benefits of water resource conservation through public education and outreach.

Tamarisk Coalition has a list of riparian restoration funding opportunities maintained by the Tamarisk Coalition.  For list click restoration funding opportunities. 

Trainings and Workshops Early November

Jefferson County Stream. Winter stream near Tarryall Reservoir in Jefferson, CO. Division of Wildlife. David Hannigan. Photo taken 4/25/2009.

NOVEMBER 6th, 2017: Colorado Foundation for Water Education is hosting a workshop in Colorado Springs, CO, 2017 Considerations in Implementing Regional Water Solutions. As Colorado’s urban areas grow, we must consider leveraging resources, infrastructure, water supply and facilities to secure general well-being and a healthy economy. This informative, day-long workshop provides a forum for planning and discussion around the best approaches for regional water solutions. It includes a close examination of the tradeoffs, hurdles, and opportunities for success. For more information and to register, click HERE.

NOVEMBER 6th, 2017: Community Workshop 6pm-7:30pm at Steamboat Springs Community Center, Community Room West, 1605 Lincoln Ave. Workshop includes short workshop followed by participant discussion and input. For more information contact Kelly Romero-Heaney, Water Resources Manager, at: kromeroheaney@steamboatsprings.net.

NOVEMBER 8th, 2017: Stewardship Agreement Training Session #1: "Developing and Using Stewardship Agreements" During this session, Forest Service staff with Stewardship Agreement experience will provide insights into developing and using these agreements to attain land management and restoration goals. The target audience for this session is district-level foresters and wildlife biologists. For more information and to register, click HERE.

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

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

NOVEMBER 16th, 2017: Stewardship Agreement Training Session #2: "Successful Use of Stewardship Agreements" During this session, Forest Service staff will present Stewardship Agreement case studies where partners were successfully engaged and where the benefits of using these agreements were tangible. The target audience for this session is district-level foresters and wildlife biologists. For more information and to register, click HERE. 

SPRING 2018: For the first time One World One Water Center will offer a Water Studies Online Certificate through Metropolitan State University of Denver! Participants are required to complete four courses: Water Law, U.S. Water Concerns, Colorado Water and the American West and a final capstone project. For more information and to register: click here.

Job Announcements Early November

Mt Evans View. A view of Mt Evans. Division of Wildlife. David Hannigan. Photo taken 6/23/2009

Cal-Wood is seeking energetic, flexible, hard-working, and motivated applicants for an exciting and rewarding field instructor positions. 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. Typical programs are three-day / two-night programs with 4th – 6th graders. Our 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. We provide access to dynamic, hands-on science education in the field to students from all different backgrounds. For more info and to apply, click HERE.

Join a passionate team-leading stewardship effort on public lands in Southern Colorado! Rocky Mountain Field Institute (RMFI) seeks to hire a full-time, salaried Program Manager to coordinate RMFI’s trail and restoration projects and programs in Southern Colorado and the Pikes Peak Region. These positions at RMFI do not come around very often, so this is an exciting opportunity for the right person wanting to make a difference. This position requires a strong skill set in various trail and restoration techniques; attention to detail; strong conservation ethic; excellent leadership, communication, logistical, coordination, writing, and team skills; experience leading and managing seasonal staff and volunteers; excellent people skills; ability to prioritize and work on multiple projects simultaneously; and a desire to implement highly effective projects that help protect public lands. The first round of interviews will commence the week of November 6, 2017, and will continue until the position is filled. Full Information HERE.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is hiring for a full-time Policy & Planning Assistant to support our regulatory processes and provide administrative support. OPEN TO COLORADO RESIDENTS ONLY. See the job announcement and apply online HERE. Applications due November 8th, 2017; capped at first 75 applicants. 

The City of Fort Collins Natural Areas Department is hiring a full-time, permanent Education and Volunteer Coordinator for their large and diverse volunteer program to plan, organize, direct, administer, and evaluate programs related to natural areas, environmental education, public information, marketing, and public involvement, as well as coordinate programming, including school field trips. The deadline to apply is 3 p.m. on November 14, 2017. HERE is the link to apply.  

Hands-On Labs, Inc. (HOL) is seeking a Science Laboratory Curriculum & Product Developer. This person develops laboratory experiences, curricula, and products that support the academic requirements of secondary and post-secondary science courses.  This individual designs, develops, enriches, and supports all sales and production facets of the experiments contained in HOL products, which provide wet science lab experiences in support of educational institutions’ science courses, primarily online science courses. This position works collaboratively within a team of science colleagues, clients, and HOL’s Sales, Production, and Documentation teams to develop, write, produce, and confirm challenging and effective science experiments that engage students, meet traditional academic learning objectives, and can be safely and successfully conducted at home. Please submit resume to Rick Carmichael,  rick.carmichael@holscience.com. Applicants MUST have a science degree. MS or PhD preferred.

The Mountain Park Environmental Center is seeking an experienced, collaborative, and engaging individual to join their team as Environmental Educators who will primarily work with their new Forest School for Little Rangers program. This position will co-facilitate MPEC’s preschool program and have the option to facilitate other programs when needed. The ideal candidate will possess a solid early education background, environmental science background and demonstrable experience working at the intersection of nature education and early child development. Position is idea for a retired teacher who is looking for a part time position working with young children in the outdoors. Click HERE for more information and to apply. 

Metro to Mountain Native Plant Master Program is Seeking Volunteer Educators. Are you interested in native plants? Would you like to share your knowledge with others? The Metro to Mountain Native Plant Master® Program is seeking volunteer educators who have a passion for educating others about native plants. Both experts and those with more intermediate knowledge are encouraged to apply. There is a comprehensive training program and in depth resources so volunteers are fully equipped to begin their teaching role in 2018. For more information click HERE.

Conferences and Events Early November

Sand Lake Pier. The Fishing Is Fun program, working with the City of Salida, supported a new, safer trail along Mesa Lane, taking anglers walking or biking to Sand Lake out of harm's way. The trail also connects with the Salida Trail System, improving and expanding access to Sand Lake from the city. Division of Wildlife. Photo taken 11/26/2004.

SPREE Holiday Camps 2017-2018

SPREE will be hosting several day camps during the 2017- 2018 academic calendar on days that Denver Public Schools are closed.These unique and educational programs are for children who are in kindergarten (must be at least 6 years old) through 5th grade. All holiday camps will be held at Johnson Habitat Park, 610 S. Jason St. Denver CO, 80223; from 8:00 am - 6:00 pm. Cost for this program is $50/child/day.

November 3, 2017: Geology Rocks!
What is the rock cycle? What types of rocks are found in Colorado? Become a geologist with SPREE and find out!

November 20-21, 2017: Time Travelers
Hop into your time machine and join SPREE to learn all about the Native Americans and Pioneers who lived along the South Platte River. 

January 15, 2018: Something Fishy!
oin SPREE as we learn about the fish in the South Platte River and the many amazing adaptations they have.

February 2, 2018: Raptors of the River
Investigate the birds of prey that live along the South Platte River.

To view specific dates/themes and to register, please visit the SPREE website!

NOVEMBER 1st, 2017: Save the Date - Cherry Creek Watershed Annual Conference presented by the Cherry Creek Stewardship Partners, the Cherry Creek Basin Water Quality Authority (CCBWQA), & the Southeast Metro Stormwater Authority (SEMSWA). Join them as they celebrate active stewardship in the Cherry Creek watershed! The focus for the conference is providing an update on ‘what’s happening’ in the basin. This year they are going to highlight watershed monitoring to illustrate how dynamic technical advances, successful regional planning, and stewardship engagement can benefit from raising awareness through data collection & analysis. Monitoring takes various forms and can be instrumental in supporting the positive environmental actions we see in our watershed today. For more information visit http://www.cherry-creek.org/events/.

NOVEMBER 1st, 2017: Join the Big Thompson Watershed Forum for its 15th Biennial Watershed Conference. They will welcome 14 speakers who will present on topics ranging from abandoned mines in the Big Thompson Watershed, to status updates on Highway 34 construction. The deadline to register is October 17th. This year's conference will feature the following five sessions: From Source to Treatment: Public Perception of Water Quality, Abandoned Mines: A Watershed at Risk?, Highway 34: Protecting a River Ecosystem, Ripple Effects of the 2016 Fish Kill Event and Wildfires and Watersheds: Lessons Learned. Go to their website to register for this conference. 

NOVEMBER 1st-2nd, 2017: The 2017 Upper Colorado River Basin Water Forum in Grand Junction, CO will showcase stories that illuminate the challenges and complexities involved in trying to understand Upper Colorado River Basin water issues and manage water in new ways. Topics include: Snow Science, Bridging Science & Decision Making, Vulnerabilities to Climate Change, Vegetation Interactions with Water Supply, Multi-benefit Infrastructure Upgrades, Community Connections to Riverfront, State of the Colorado River (interstate panel), Drought Contingency Planning across the Basin, Innovations in Agricultural Water Use, Recreation & Water Policy, Meeting Diverse Needs on Shared Streams Registration is free for CMU faculty, staff and students, as well as K-12 teachers. Note: Rates increase by $50 after October 15! Find the draft of the program HERE. For more information and to register, click HERE.

NOVEMBER 2nd, 2017: The next CREEC (The Consortium for Research and Education on Emerging Contaminants) meeting will be on Thursday, November 2 starting at 2 pm at the National Water Quality Laboratory on the Denver Federal Center in Lakewood, CO. Speakers will include: Bill Battaglin giving a presentation titled "How do anthropogenic bioactive chemicals in the Illinois Waterway impact the Big-headed carp population migration front, or are ABCs a migration deterrent?" and Ed Furlong giving a presentation titled "Contaminants of Emerging Concern in the United States: Landfill leachate and stormwater runoff as environmental inputs." Please RSVP to Bill (wbattagl@usgs.gov) if you plan on attending.

NOVEMBER 6th-9th, 2017: After 26 years, Colorado welcomes North American Lake Management Society (NALMS) back to the headwaters state. Colorado is home to thousands of both natural alpine lakes and reservoirs. 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. These uses are supported with a statewide annual average rainfall of just 17 inches. The lakes and reservoirs throughout the West and the Rockies provide the resources to meet these diverse needs. Finding balance in how we manage them is important. Finding Balance is the key to managing our lakes, watersheds, and even day-to-day relationships with people. Come to NALMS 2017 in Colorado to hear fascinating lake talks, see the mountains, and network. Click HERE to register.

NOVEMBER 9th, 2017: Join host Down River Equipment Company for RIVER RUNNING HISTORY, presented by Sara Porterfield. We'll trace river running's history in the Colorado River Basin and how it spread from the American West to rivers around the world. We'll also screen Inside the Indus, a film about the November 2016 attempt to run the Indus River's notorious Rondu Gorge. For more information, click HERE. Register HERE.

NOVEMBER 14th, 2017: Join the Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed for a panel discussion on Wildfires in the West from 5:30-7pm at Avogadro's Number in Fort Collins. Hear from experts about how wildfire patterns are changing and what we can do to address the issues. The event is free and open to the public. Doors open at 5pm. Panel speakers include Michael Kodas, award winning photo-journalist & writer, and author of "Megafire: The Race to Extinguish a Deadly Epidemic of Flame;" Dr. Tony Cheng, Professor and Director of the Colorado Forest Restoration Institute at Colorado State University; and Bryan Karchut, Fire and Aviation Staff Officer for the Arapaho Roosevelt National Forest and Pawnee National Grasslands. More information found HERE.

NOVEMBER 15th, 2017: Notification of Public Meeting: Denver Water’s Draft Proposal for Adding New Uses to Reclaimed Water Control Regulation 84. Fourth Stakeholder Meeting: Denver Water’s Draft Proposal for Adding New Uses to Reclaimed Water Control Regulation 84.

Where:      Laboratory Services Division,
                  Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment
Address:   8100 Lowry Blvd. 
                  Denver, CO 80230
Room:       Laboratory Services Training Room
When:       November 15, 2017 (12:30 - 3:30 p.m.)
Call-in:      1-857-216-6700  (passcode 543213)
Weblink:   Adobe Connect Please enable Adobe Flash in your browser settings. We encourage you to use the online audio/visual option so you can follow along with the presentation.
RSVP:        Please RSVP HERE if you are planning to attend in person, by phone or via the web.

NOVEMBER 15th, 2017: Center for Watershed Protection webcasts will feature 4 of the nation's leading stream restoration experts who will address a series of questions about the state of the art of stream restoration and where they see its future direction. The webcast will follow a similar format to the recently published Watershed Science Bulletin article "Ask the Experts: Perspectives on the primary drivers of stream restoration, design approaches and techniques and restoration potential." For more information and to register, click HERE.

NOVEMBER 29th- 30th, 2017: Attend the Southern Rockies Seed Network 2017 Conference, Ecotypes: Science, Practice, & Policy at The Fort Collins Innosphere, 320 East Vine Drive, Fort Collins CO. More information to come. More information is found HERE.

NOVEMBER 30th, 2017: COLORADO GROUNDWATER ISSUES Denver, CO. A 1-day conference for state legislators, local government officials, water managers, regulators, environmental organizations, agriculture, industry and water utility end users and their scientific, engineering and legal advisors. Presentations Include: Ogallalawater.Org: Cross State Collaboration to Optimize Water Use, Sustaining Rural Communities; The Legal Landscape in Colorado as it Relates to Managing the Declining Ogallala Aquifer; Managing Risk at LNAPL Sites - Downstream Petroleum Product Contamination in Colorado; Why New ASR Rules are Needed and the Challenges in Developing the New Rules; Groundwater Management Modeling for Recharge Projects in Colorado. As in the conferences of previous years, there is an invited panel of State legislators participating in the program to discuss Colorado’s water policy priorities. The program has become established as a great annual information-exchange and networking opportunity for water-users, providers, managers, scientists, engineers, attorneys, regulators and city, county and state elected representatives. A "must attend" program for all professionals involved with Colorado's groundwater and Water Resources Management. If your business is dependent on an assured water supply - then you need to attend! More information and registration found HERE.

DECEMBER 5, 2017: The Colorado Ag Water Alliance Summit will be in Loveland at The Ranch – Larimer County Fairgrounds – and brings together agricultural leaders from across the state, water professionals, elected officials, and decision makers to discuss agricultural water issues.  With this event comes the desire to continue the discussion of pertinent water issues, but also want to make this event an opportunity to tell the story of “Water and Agriculture” for people unfamiliar with the role of agriculture in Colorado. More information can be found HERE, or to directly register, click HERE.

MARCH 2nd - 3rd, 2017: 2018 Advancing Environmental Education Conference, "emPowered by Nature", Auraria Campus,Denver, CO. Colorado’s Advancing Environmental Education Conference is annually hosted by the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education (CAEE), a statewide leader in environmental education since 1989. CAEE facilitates communication, coordination, resource sharing and professional development to advance environmental education among over 850 members across the state among various sectors.  Information about the Conference Event.

APRIL 18, 2018: The Center for Watershed Protection is hosting the 2018 National Watershed and Stormwater Conference, which is designed for water management from all sectors, practitioners, regulators, and water and sewer authorities, and will present case studies and best practices as well as address cross cutting issues and emerging trends. This will take place online and at remote hub locations. Registration begins soon. Questions can be answered by emailing: center@cwp.org, or calling 410-461-8323. For more on the Center for Watershed Protection, click HERE.

Announcements Early November

Mount Evans Summit Lake. Mount Evans is reflected in the cool waters of Summit Lake. By David Hannigan. Division of Wildlife. Photo taken 8/5/2013.

Pay Dirt: It’s harvest time for much of the country and also a time to plan for the season ahead. For a growing number of farmers, that will mean planting something called "cover crops"—plants that control erosion, conserve water, build healthy soils, and reduce the need for fertilizers and pesticides—all while maintaining yields. As H2O Radio reports, the "soil health movement" is shifting the ground beneath farmers' feet—for the better.  Read more in the article: How Farmers Are Using Less Water, Avoiding Pesticides, and Building Healthy Soil—All While Maintaining or Increasing Yields. 

Eleven-year-old Gitanjali Rao from Lone Tree, Colorado, inspired to find an easy, quick test for lead in water by the Flint water crisis, has been named the winner of the 2017 Discovery Education 3M Young Scientist Challenge for her development of "Tethys," described as a sensor-based device that can detect lead in water faster than other current techniques. Read more HERE.

The Colorado Foundation for Water Education, first founded in 2002 by an act of the state legislature, is introducing a new look that comes with a new name: Water Education Colorado. Tasked with the mission to help Coloradans understand that water is a limited resource and to help them make informed decisions, the organization’s next chapter aims to engage and inform more Colorado residents by building on the programs and trust it has developed among the water community over the last 15 years. Read more HERE.

Colorado Awarded $1.3M for Arkansas River Water Quality: The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has awarded $1,293,010 to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to help protect human health and the environment through a Nonpoint Source Program Clean Water Act Section 319 cooperative agreement. This grant is given to states to implement environmental programs that address nonpoint source pollution in surface water and groundwater in order to improve and protect water quality. Read more HERE.

Aquatic nuisance species (ANS), plants and animals that invade lakes, reservoirs, rivers and streams, pose an increasing threat to Colorado’s water resources. The major threat is from zebra and quagga mussels invading water bodies across the state. Other nuisance species include New Zealand mudsnails and rusty crayfish. Colorado Parks and Wildlife has an inspection protocol in place since 2009 that has prevented the establishment and spread of ANS. The challenge is to develop stable annual funding sources to sustain the successful Colorado inspection program which has set the standard in the West for prevention of these invasives. Read the entire article HERE.

Groups File Lawsuit to Stop New Diversion and Protect Flows in Colorado River
Suit seeks to halt Windy Gap Firming Project and force alternatives. A coalition of environmental groups today filed a lawsuit in federal court to prevent additional diversions from the already struggling Colorado River. The suit questions the need for the Windy Gap Firming Project, which is a plan to divert on average an additional 30,000 acre-feet or 9 billion gallons of water annually from our state’s namesake river to pipe, store, and use on the Front Range. Save the Colorado, Save the Poudre, WildEarth Guardians, Living Rivers and Waterkeeper Alliance challenge the environmental review and approvals by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that gave the green light for this new diversion. Read more HERE.