Trainings & Workshops Late August

SEPTEMBER 4TH, 2019 at 11:00 a.m: Management Responses to Mountain Pine Beetle Infestations on National Forestland in the Western U.S. Research results on management responses to Mountain Pine Beetle infestations in the western U.S will be presented, including case studies of national forests and surrounding communities that were heavily affected by impacts from the beetle in Colorado, Montana, South Dakota, and Washington. Differences and similarities between management responses to mountain pine beetle impacts and what policies, authorities, and approaches managers used to address beetle issues in their national forests will be explored. Register HERE.

SEPTEMBER 16th, 2019: Land Use in Water Efficiency Plans. This free workshop will focus on opportunities, requirements, and new guidance for incorporating land use practices into Water Efficiency Plans. This workshop will be available at different locations throughout the state, each with a different speaker from a municipality and a special district. Workshop dates include: Sep 16 (Longmont), October 30 (Durango), November 5 (Pueblo) and November 12 (Grand Junction). Register today – the workshop is FREE, but space is limited to 30 participants. For registration click HERE.

Qualified MS4 Stormwater Compliance Professional (MS4-SCP). Topics covered in this training include: review of MS4 permit requirements, best management practices (BMPs) for MS4s, compliance with six minimum control measures, identifying common illicit discharges to the MS4, construction inspection techniques for MS4 inspectors, green infrastructure and LID techniques, and stormwater permit compliance assistance. Click location and date below for more information.

Online Courses Available Through Colorado Rural Water Association. Industry studies have shown employee-training budgets for most water and wastewater utilities are tighter than ever. Web-based operator certification and license renewal training provides employers and their employees the flexibility of taking training courses at their own pace without the hassle and cost of attending live classes. Check them out HERE.

Conferences & Events Late August

AUGUST 21st, 2019: The Happiest Hour in Steamboat by Colorado Water Trust. Colorado Water Trust is hosting a happy hour fundraiser from 5:30-6:30 p.m. at Colorado Water Congress in Steamboat Springs. Join CWT to learn more about their work across Colorado, and induldge in food and drink! For more information and to RSVP head HERE.

AUGUST 21st, 2019: Tour of Cozy Point Open Space from 5:00-6:30 p.m. This is your chance to join Roaring Fork Conservancy and City of Aspen Parks & Open Space on an excursion onto Cozy Point Open Space. With Brush Creek running through it, this 170-acre parcel includes multiple ecosystem types and is managed for multiple uses including horses, agriculture, education, ranching, recreation and habitat preservation. Come see how the land, water and human elements work together at Cozy Point! This FREE program brought to you by the City of Aspen Parks & Open Space. For more information and to register click HERE.

AUGUST 24th, 2019: Gunnison River Festival. The Gunnison River Festival (GRF) strives to educate water users throughout the watershed about the Gunnison River and put on a wide variety of events from concerts to whitewater races that appeal to all. Due to this amazing water year, the main festival event with whitewater races, educational booths, food, and more was rescheduled to Saturday, August 24th, 2019. Visit the website HERE for more information.

SEPTEMBER 7th, 2019: 2019 Watershed By Bike. Shuttle, bike, learn! Explore and learn about one of the most beautiful sections of the Middle Colorado watershed with MCWC. Meet at Glenwood Adventure Company at 8:15 AM to shuttle to Bair Ranch, where riders will start their ride through scenic Glenwood Canyon. There will be educational stops along the way with our featured speakers. Bikes and helmets are included as well! Suggested donation is $10/person. For registration click HERE.

SEPTEMBER 14, 2019: Family Exploration at Filoha. Bring your family to explore this unique thermal wetland called Filoha Meadows from 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Learn about wildlife and their adaptations through games and hands-on activities in areas of Filoha Meadows not typically open to the public. This program is appropriate for families with children of all ages and their parents. This FREE program is brought to you by Pitkin County Open Space & Trails. For more information and to register click HERE.

SEPTEMBER 17th-19th, 2019: San Luis Valley Rural Philanthropy Days. RPD conferences include many opportunities to increase your understanding of nonprofit best practices, collaborate with other community leaders, and connect with Front Range and local funders. The funder roundtables are a signature of the RPD program and provide a unique opportunity to meet with grant-makers in a rural setting. The goal of RPD is to bring increased access to resources to support sustainable rural nonprofits, increase the engagement of funders in rural communities, and encourage effective collaboration on a regional scale. For more information head HERE.

SEPTEMBER 18th, 2019: Filoha Evening Walk: Elk & Bighorn Sheep. Take a rare, autumn, sunset walk to enjoy the unique and beautiful Filoha Meadows before its seasonal closure from 4:30-6:30 p.m. Thermal hot springs, bighorn sheep, important elk habitat, a local bat population, healthy riparian habitat, and beaver ponds are only a few of Filoha’s distinctive attributes. John Groves, District Wildlife Ranger with Colorado Parks & Wildlife, will discuss elk and big horn sheep natural history, and the importance of Filoha Meadows for calving, habitat, and food. Bring binoculars (or a spotting scope) and a camera as we enjoy fall at Filoha. This FREE program is brought to you by Pitkin County Open Space & Trails and Colorado Parks & Wildlife. For more information and to register click HERE.

SEPTEMBER 18th, 2019: Colorado River District’s Annual Water Seminar. Registration is open for the Colorado River District’s Annual Water Seminar set for 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction. “Uncertainty: You can count on it; Feast or famine on the Colorado River” is the theme of this year’s affordable, one-day briefing on important Colorado River challenges. As the theme suggests, the historic poor snow year of 2018 was completely reversed by the healthy snowpack of 2019 and the unusual runoff, which continues to be strong. The cost to attend is $35 in advance and $45 at the door; the cost includes lunch. For full information and registration click HERE.

OCTOBER 8th - 10th, 2019: 2019 Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference "The Human Element" at the Westin Riverfront Resort, Avon, CO. The 2019 conference will explore the influence of The Human Element on water and watersheds in Colorado and the West. Our growing human presence and resulting impacts on watersheds is undeniable. At the same time, our human experiences and social/emotional connections to watersheds are integral components to be considered in the work to preserve, protect and restore our watersheds. Together we will delve into our impacts and connections. We will look for ways our influence can be fostered and mitigated to avoid loving our home to death. For more information visit our SCW CONFERENCE webpage.

OCTOBER 23rd & 24th, 2019: The 30th Annual South Platte Forum. The annual conference will be full of expert speakers, relevant exhibitions, and informative topics, all set in The Westin Westminster. There will also be an off-site networking event for attendees on Wednesday, the 24th. To claim your spot, head HERE.

OCTOBER 30th, 2019 from 8:15 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.: 11th Annual Water Conservation Symposium hosted by Colorado WaterWise at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. The event will cover water, climate, drought, and planning for the future. For more information and registration, click HERE.

Job Announcements Late August

The Hudson Gardens & Event Center in Littleton, CO is hiring a full-time Community Programs & Outreach Specialist. This position oversees and provides leadership, development, and execution of community programs and outreach efforts. Visit the full job listing for the Community Programs & Outreach Specialist for more details and the online application.

The City of Fort Collins is seeking an Environmental Planning Manager in the Natural Areas Department.  The Department has an annual budget of approximately $13 million and manages 37,000 acres of fee land and holds 6,000 acres of conservation easements.  This senior level, supervisory position is responsible for all strategic, management, restoration, and recreation planning. The position includes responsibility for the City’s Nature in the City program. For more information, click HERE.

Leonard Rice Engineers, Inc. is currently seeking applicants for a Senior-Level Water Resources Engineer for a Water Resources Engineer, specializing in Water Rights. The successful candidate will be responsible for completing tasks including water resources data collection, water use demand forecasting and planning, water rights analysis, and river basin modeling. For more information and how to apply click HERE.

Leonard Rice Engineers, Inc. is also seeking applicants for a Senior Project Manager. If you thrive on understanding and implementing complex water-related projects, applying watershed science, navigating environmental regulations, and developing dynamic partnerships, this is the position for you! The ideal candidate will have a Master’s degree in watershed science, engineering, natural resources, or a similar field of study. A Bachelor’s degree is required. Highly-qualified candidates will have 10-15 or more years of experience. For more information, click HERE.

Aurora Water is seeking a GIS Intern responsible for the operation and maintenance of drinking water, sewer and storm drainage systems, treatment and non-potable reclaimed wastewater for irrigation, and water conservation, acquisition and development. Primary duties will include compile information for data requests, reports, summaries, etc., assist with updating utility extension agreement records and documentation and executing Map Requests. No Closing Date. Contact Doug Rulison drulison@auroragov.org.

The City of Westminster has an opening for a Seasonal Specialist of Water and Wastewater Treatment Facilities. The Seasonal Specialist is responsible for repairing, painting, cleaning, and performing various manual labor jobs at the City's water or wastewater treatment facilities. The application deadline is September 9th at 8:30 a.m. For more information, head HERE.

The City of Boulder is hiring a Water Quality Compliance Coordinator for Stormwater. This position the administration of water quality monitoring and aspects of stormwater quality compliance related to the city's Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit and other city and state regulations under the Water Quality and Environmental Services (WQES) Group. Assists with illicit discharge response and recordkeeping to comply with MS4 permit requirements and supports the enforcement of city code related to stormwater discharges and water quality protection. Coordinates and conducts special studies to further support regulatory requirements under the Utilities Division. Find the job announcement HERE.

The City of Boulder is hiring a Water Quality Compliance Coordinator for Stormwater. This position the administration of water quality monitoring and aspects of stormwater quality compliance related to the city's Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit and other city and state regulations under the Water Quality and Environmental Services (WQES) Group. Find more information and the job announcement HERE.

City of Denver’s Parks and Recreation Department has openings for part-time Urban Trails Utility Workers who will perform maintenance operations on off-street urban trails, parkways and paths, and nearby areas including Denver’s prized riparian and natural areas.  These positions are critical to ensure the safety and beauty of Denver's off-street urban trails system which widely used by bicyclists, walkers, and joggers for recreation as well as commuting and transportation.  These are seasonal positions with starting pay at $15.38. Apply now HERE.

Coalition for the Upper South Platte (CUSP) is seeking an Executive Director. CUSP is a non-profit organization dedicated to the health of the Upper South Platte Watershed. The selected candidate will work with our current Executive Director for several years, to ultimately transition into Executive Director position. Dedicated and passionate candidates are encouraged to apply. Details http://cusp.ws/jobs/

Work for nature this summer. USDA has various positions available. Browse Colorado summer job openings HERE.

The City of Aurora’s Open Space and Natural Resource division is hiring two Seasonal Naturalist positions. Join their team of enthusiastic, adventurous and educated natural resource professionals for a fun spring, summer, and fall season in their over 8,000 acres of open space and in their three award-winning nature centers. For more information and to apply, click HERE.

The city of Aurora’s Open Space and Natural Resource division is hiring one Go Wild Summer Program Assistant. Go WILD Summer Program Assistant works with the Go WILD Program Coordinator to provide logistic and administrative requirements in order to carry out the programs for this grant funded effort. Programs will be offered for groups of up to 50 students and their guardians, in open space and nature based outdoor recreation / education guided programs. For more information and to apply, click HERE.

Funding Opportunities Late August

Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) and the Colorado Youth Corps Association (CYCA) are pleased to announce a $500,000 grant opportunity for open space, local government, and land trusts to hire conservation corps!  In addition to public parks and open spaces, corps projects can occur on private lands protected by a conservation easement. The RFP can be uploaded HERE. The application deadline is Thursday, Sept. 19, 2019 at 4:00 PM early submissions are strongly encouraged. Successful projects will be announced in December 2019 and crews will complete the proposed work in 2020.

The Desert Fish Habitat Partnership (DFHP) is proud to announce the 2020 request for project proposals. As one of 20 federally recognized National Fish Habitat Partnerships, DFHP is a collaborative effort between 11 western states, federal agencies, sovereign tribes, and private conservation groups that seek to cooperatively conserve native desert fish species across their historic ranges by protecting, restoring, and enhancing aquatic ecosystems. Project funding is made available to grantees annually through the National Fish Habitat Partnership (NFHP) and the U.S. FWS. Applications are due on September 27th, 2019. For more information, click HERE.

The Bureau of Reclamation is releasing an applied science grant funding opportunity for non-federal entities to cost-share on projects to develop hydrologic information and water management tools and improve modeling and forecasting capabilities. Applications are due on October 30th, 2019. For full information click HERE.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife Wetlands Project Funding
The Colorado Wetlands for Wildlife Program is a voluntary, collaborative, and incentive-based program to restore, enhance and create wetlands and riparian areas in Colorado. Funds are allocated annually to the program - and projects are recommended for funding by a Parks and Wildlife committee with final approval by the Director. For more information, click HERE.

The Regional Conservation Partnership Program (RCPP) offers new opportunities for the NRCS, conservation partners, and agricultural producers to work together to harness innovation, expand the conservation mission, and demonstrate the value and efficacy of voluntary, private lands conservation. The next RCPP funding announcement is under development and will be posted later in 2019. More details about this fund can be found HERE.

Alliance for Community Trees Open Request for Projects. The Arbor Day Foundation is actively seeking proposals to fund planting projects around the country. Funding is limited to $15,000 per project, and budget information is required in the application. Applications should also focus on the issues the planting project will address, such as: urban heat island effect, natural disaster restoration, low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, water quality, air pollution, etc. No deadline, but earlier is better. More information on this funding opportunity can be found HERE.

The National Forest Foundation is pleased to announce the that it is currently soliciting proposals for its Matching Awards Program (MAP). MAP is a national, competitive grant program that provides federal funds for 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. For more information, click HERE.

Get Your 2019 Project Funded. Are you planning, designing, or implementing on-the-ground restoration projects that will restore river flows and/or recharge ground water? Would you like the opportunity to share your projects with businesses who may be interested in providing support for your projects? If the answer is “Yes!” be sure to check out the Business for Water Stewardship Project Bank, a new opportunity for paid members of River Network to use a national platform to attract funding.

US Department of Agriculture Rural Development Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program. This program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas. Full details, including requirements and registration, can be found HERE. 

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Water Quality Planning Design and Engineering Grants. These grants provide money to small communities to help cover costs associated with the State Revolving Fund pre-application requirements. Grants require a 20 percent match from the applicant. Planning grant applicants must complete the prequalification form and attend a pre-application meeting. Design and engineering grant applicants will be considered by project needs assessment submissions by approved disadvantaged communities. For more information CLICK HERE.

Colorado's Water Plan Grant Opportunities: The purpose of the Water Plan Grant funding is to make progress on the critical actions identified in the Colorado’s Water Plan (CWP) and its Measurable Objectives. All applications will be assessed based on funds available for a particular CWP Measurable Objective category. The Board will select projects, programs and activities to fund from applications that have the best opportunity to make progress on the CWP’s Measurable Objectives or critical actions. The CWCB staff reserves the right to negotiate with successful applicants to modify the scope and budget of their project to better meet the CWP objectives in light of fund availability. CWCB staff will evaluate applications and recommend projects to the CWCB Board for final approval at its regularly scheduled Board meetings. Learn more 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.

What type of Water Supply Reserve Fund Grants are available?

Basin Account: Funds water activities from a basin roundtable. The CWCB evaluates applications for the Basin Account to ensure the Threshold Criteria are met.

Statewide Account: Funds water activities from a basin roundtable on a competitive basis. The CWCB evaluates applications for the Statewide Account to ensure each application meets the Threshold Criteria in addition to being evaluated using the Evaluation Criteria.

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:

The Environmental Protection Agency Water Finance Clearinghouse has access to hundreds of water funding opportunities that can be found HERE.

The Colorado Grants Guide® is Colorado’s leading online tool for grant funding research. This guide contains over 780+ profiles of local foundations and trusts, corporations, national funders, and government agencies that support Colorado nonprofit organizations.

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

Announcements Late August

AUGUST 29th, 2019: Desert Rivers Collaborative Summer Meeting. The Desert Rivers Collaborative (DRC) is hosting a summer partnership meeting on Thursday, August 29th, between 9:00-11:00 a.m. at the Mesa County Workforce Center, Room D in Grand Junction. The meeting will be a great place to hear updates from some of their partners, learn more about work in the Grand Valley, and to make connections. It’s free and open to the public. Please email Rica Fulton with any questions at rfulton@riversedgewest.org. For more information, head HERE.

The Colorado River just got a boost that’s likely to prevent its depleted reservoirs from bottoming out, at least for the next several years. For the full AZ Central article and a video about this update, head HERE.

Mountain Studies Institute released a detailed article on their water sampling in the Weminuche Wilderness. Read the full article HERE.

Colorado Water Conservation Board will hold upcoming workgroup meetings about a potential water-demand management effort in public. To read the full article, click HERE.

Denver Water is asking the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for a rare exemption to the Safe Drinking Water Act over how best to keep lead out of its customers’ tap water. For the full article, click HERE.

Ruedi Reservoir and other Colorado waterways are facing an increased threat of infestation by invasive mussels that could interfere with the function of dams and irrigation systems and harm native fish, according to state and local authorities. For the full article, click HERE.

Center for Health & Environmental Justice is exploring the possibility of working on a national campaign around water contamination. Several bills related to clean water have been introduced last year. These relate to testing school pipes, testing and repairing pipes within HUD housing, and testing and repairing older pipes in cities and towns that need new infrastructures. They are monitoring water related legislation that will be reintroduced this year. Please LET THEM KNOW whether or not there is a water related issue in your community, even if you are not working on it at this time.

Call for Abstracts and Symposia Riparian Restoration Conference | Abstracts due October 31, 2019. RiversEdge West invites you to share your work or session proposals with the riparian restoration community at the 18th Annual Riparian Restoration Conference (RRC)—one of the leading riparian restoration conferences in the West—to be held February 4-6, 2020 in Grand Junction, CO. View the call for abstracts flyer HERE.