Funding Opportunities Early November

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) has announced the application period for Wildlife Rehabilitation Grants is now open. Wildlife Rehabilitation Grants are offered by CPW to support wildlife rehabilitation efforts across the state. Grant amounts are for a minimum of $1,000 and are awarded with the goal of maximizing wildlife rehabilitation efforts in Colorado. All applications must be submitted by November 4th, 2020.

The Colorado Department of Agriculture is making $1 million in grant funding available for Colorado farmers, ranchers, food hubs, and processors to support them in adjusting to the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the food supply chain. Colorado agricultural producers are eligible for grant awards up to $12,500. Farmers markets, food hubs, processors, and other intermediaries that support producers are eligible for up to $50,000. Applications are open now and will be accepted through Monday, November 9th, 2020. Find more details and apply HERE. If you have questions, please reach out to Erin Foster West at erin@youngfarmers.org.

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) Water Quality Planning Design and Engineering Grants provide money to small communities to help cover costs associated with the State Revolving Fund pre-application requirements. Grants require a 20% match from the applicant. Planning grant applicants must complete the pre-qualification form and attend a pre-application meeting. Design and engineering grant applicants will be considered by project needs assessment submissions by approved disadvantaged communities. The next water quality loan deadline is November 15th, 2020. For more information click HERE.

The Colorado Water Conservation Board Water Supply Reserve Fund (WSRF) 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. Basin Account application timelines vary by basin. Statewide Account applications are brought before the board in March and September. Applications for the March CWCB meeting are due December 1st. Applicants seeking both a Water Plan Grant and a WRSF Grant should submit both in December for March board review. For more information click HERE.

Colorado's Water Plan Grants fund progress on the critical actions identified in the Colorado’s Water Plan (CWP) and its Measurable Objectives. The next application deadline is December 1st, 2020. See the grant guidelines and apply soon HERE.

CDPHE’s Nonpoint Source Program is now accepting applications for watershed implementation projects that restore waterbodies impaired by nonpoint sources of selenium, sediment, pathogens and/or nutrients AND/OR protect waterbodies from nonpoint sources of pollution. The question deadline is December 7th, 2020. Answers will be posted on npscolorado.com on December 15th, 2020. Applications must be submitted by 5:00 p.m. January 4th, 2021. Get the application and reference materials HERE

The National Forest Foundation is pleased to announce 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. There will be an informational webinar on MAP December 10th, 2020. Round 1 Application Deadline is January 13th, 2021. 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.

Denver Audubon's Lois Webster Fund (LWF) is now soliciting grants in support of Colorado non-game wildlife research, education, and conservation projects. The Committee is accepting grant proposals through January 31st, 2021. A maximum of $11,602 funding is available in the coming project year. Grantees will be notified by early March 2021 and the funds dispersed in time for the spring field season. Now available online are the LWF grant 2021 Guidelines, Requirements, and Application. The LWF Guidelines require partnering with other organizations. The grantee is expected to provide the leadership and coordination to obtain additional funding and to involve others.

USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS) offers financial and technical assistance to farmers and private landowners through the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) to create, restore, and enhance wetlands. Click HERE for more information.

In response to the impacts of COVID-19, Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) has launched the Resilient Communities Program (RCP). The $15 million program aims to fund one-time, immediate needs or opportunities that have emerged in direct response to the pandemic. It will help partners advance outdoor recreation, stewardship, and land protection projects in a manner that best reflects community needs and priorities at this moment in time. Capacity and operations support, stewardship efforts, projects that support community vitality, and urgent and emergent land acquisition opportunities will be considered. For more information, including eligibility criteria and application forms, click HERE.

The Geospatial Experience Center (GeoEx) at Front Range Community College was created to give students the opportunity to take on GIS projects and gain experience to prepare them for the workforce. GeoEx is funded by a National Science Foundation (NSF), Advanced Technological Education (ATE) grant. GeoEx can take on various project types, from digitizing to lidar analysis. Projects GeoEx can take are only limited by the experience of students and their availability. Projects can be completed at your location, the students’ home, or at school. For all projects GeoEx will ensure students can use their experience to further their careers. Students must be able to use what they work on with you in their portfolio. If sensitive data is involved, the student can create mock data to represent the original.  If you would like to ensure your project is a good fit for our students, become involved in FRCC activities, or have other questions, email GeoEx at skye.lewis@geoexcenter.org. Initiate a project HERE.

Service Objects, a company specializing in contact validation services, offers an in-kind grant program for organizations working to encourage environmental leadership and conservation. The goal for creating this unique program is to inspire and assist non-profit organizations that are working to promote environmental health, economic vitality, informed land-use decisions and sound management of our planet's natural resources. Grants of up to $2,500 will be awarded on an individual basis. Programs that may qualify for the grant include those that aim to reduce waste or assist in the aftermath of natural disasters. More information about the grant can be found HERE.

Colorado River Network offers funding from the Business for Water Stewardship Project Bank. 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. The program is currently accepting applications. Full details, including requirements and guidance, can be found HERE.

Colorado Emergency Drought Response Program.-The Program provides up to $1 million annually, in the form of loans or grants, for emergency drought-related water augmentation purposes to Colorado’s agricultural water users. For more information click HERE.

The Colorado Water Conservation Board offers numerous loans and grants to water providers and other entities statewide for a variety of water-related projects, studies, planning documents, awareness campaigns and other activities. Click HERE to find out more about the CWCB’s funding programs.

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

Trainings & Workshops Early November

NOVEMBER 10th, 2020: The Three C’s of Urban Riparian Restoration: Coordination, Communication, and Challenge | RiversEdge West. Rica Fulton, a Restoration Coordinator with RiversEdge West who leads the DRC, will talk about the importance of coordination with different partners, the necessity of communication, and the challenges of restoration in the Grand Junction Area. Rica will also discuss some strategies and lessons learned for overcoming challenges, including the importance of working with private landowners, the value of leveraging funding, and the forthcoming riparian restoration stewardship framework to ensure restoration is effective and long-lasting. For more information and registration click HERE.

NOVEMBER 14th-15th, 2020: Rivers: Willow Planting on the Poudre | Wildlands Restoration Volunteers | Fort Collins, CO. Join CSU's Environmental Learning Center on the Poudre River! Plant willows on the weekend to help prevent erosion of a cut bank. This will help keep the river in its channel and protect the facilities at the ELC. For more information click HERE.

DECEMBER 3rd, 2020: After the Flames | CoCo | Webinar | 1:00-3:00 p.m. What does current science and experience tell us about the near and long-term impacts of fire on water quality and how to recover? Coalitions & Collaboratives, Inc. thanks the National Cohesive Wildland Fire Management Strategy for their sponsorship, allowing them to offer this webinar at no cost. For speakers and registration click HERE.

“Stormwater Treatment Systems and Green Infrastructure” | Hermit’s Peak Watershed Alliance. Educational video shot and edited by Jacob Erickson (Hermits Peak Watersheds Alliance PR Media Specialist), narrated by Aaron Kauffman of Southwest Urban Hydrology, and produced by Hermit's Peak Watersheds Alliance. Click HERE to view.

“Returning Rapids Project: A discussion with Peter Lefebvre and Mike DeHoff” | Colorado River Studies. The Returning Rapids Project seeks to document the recovery of river resources once inundated by a full Lake Powell, and now being exposed as reservoir storage declines. Peter Lefebvre and Mike DeHoff, principal investigators of the Returning Rapids project and professional river guides in Moab, Utah, are working to record these changes. They will share their preliminary findings and matched photographs in the talk. Watch the full video HERE.

The American Stormwater Institute, LLC now offers courses in a live setting and online that deal with developing the knowledge and skills required to conduct stormwater inspections. Our courses are based on a “Real World” attitude of finding implementable solutions to the challenges that stormwater inspectors face every day. The state and federal regulations require that “QUALIFIED PERSONS” conduct inspections related to stormwater permits. The overarching goal of the ASI classes is to ensure that our students are well qualified to conduct these inspections. For a list of all classes offered click HERE.

“Episode 32: The River Is Who We Are - The Waccamaw Indian People and the Waccamaw River” | American Rivers | Podcast. Through displacement, genocide and enslavement, the Waccamaw Indian People sustain their river heritage. Join us today to learn more about the Waccamaw Indian People and their history with the Waccamaw River in coastal South Carolina. For the Waccamaw Indian People, layers of oppression eroded the relationship between people and the river they relied on and that coursed through their history, culture, and being. But the impacts of that displacement don’t just live in the past, and it is essential that the connection the Waccamaw Indian People have with the river is strengthened and reestablished for the future of their communities, and for the future of the Waccamaw River. Listen to the full podcast on Soundcloud HERE.

Job Announcements Early November

RiversEdge West with support from Natural Resources Conservation Service is seeking a Private Lands Biologist/Technician. The Private Lands Biologist/Technician will be responsible for delivering conservation programs and riparian restoration practices on private lands in Western Colorado with a focus in Mesa and Delta Counties. The program will deliver technical resources to landowners and other land managers that integrate riparian restoration practices and NRCS supported conservation practices. Applications must be received by 5:00 p.m. November 10th, 2020. For the full job description and application process, click HERE.

Denver Audubon is looking for Education Interns—dedicated, energetic, and enthusiastic individuals—to join the team of talented and experienced staff and volunteers for the winter/spring 2021! This internship will constantly adapt to meet COVID-19 guidelines per the CDC and CDPHE. Environmental education interns will be responsible for assisting with the preparation of and teaching environmental educational programs (about birds, habitats, watersheds, water quality, and conservation) for school-aged and/or high school students. The application deadline is December 11th, 2020. Please click HERE for more information.

Colorado Rural Water Association is seeking an Energy Efficiency Technician, who reports to the Executive Director and Field Supervisor. The primary goal of the Energy Efficiency Circuit Rider is to assist rural and small community water and wastewater utility systems in evaluating their energy needs, consumption and costs. Recommending measures to reduce energy consumption and identifying potential funding sources for improvements. For more information click HERE.

Stillwater Sciences seeks highly motivated junior, mid-level, and senior-level Restoration Engineers to serve as a member of an interdisciplinary team working on habitat restoration planning, design, and implementation, as well as general water resources management projects, throughout California, the Pacific Northwest, and Rockies. Junior-level candidates should possess a B.S. or M.S. in engineering; Mid-level candidates should possess 3–7 years of engineering-related work experience in addition to degree; Senior-level candidates should possess 8+ years of engineering-related work experience in addition to degree. Positions will remain open until filled. For more information and how to apply, click HERE.

Adams County is looking to fill a brand new Senior Parks and Trails Ranger position (full-time, permanent) in Brighton, CO. This function is expected to identify and resolve problems that arise in the normal course of the work.  These efforts are to provide education, safety and well-being for those who visit and utilize the open spaces, trail system, and park facilities managed by Adams County. For more information and to apply, click HERE.

Aurora Water is looking to hire a GIS Intern. Aurora Water is 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 responsibilities will include: Compile information for data requests, reports, summaries, etc, assist with updating utility extension agreement records and documentation, execute Map Requests, assist with field data collection, create new GIS data from plans, field information, research, or other various sources. No Closing Date. For more information contact Doug Rulison at drulison@auroragov.org and visit HERE.

ICON Engineering is currently looking for a Stormwater Project Engineer / Manager & Engineer Intern. ICON Engineering is one of Denver’s most reputable planning, design, and project management civil engineering firms. They offer engineering services for stormwater management, stream restoration, flood mitigation, drainage, parks and trails. The engineer will assist in and/or manage the planning, design, and production of engineering documents for a variety of projects to include stormwater and drainage design, stream restoration, floodplain analysis, detention and water quality, roadways, parks and trails.Visit the Careers page HERE.

Conferences & Events Early November

NOVEMBER 4th, 2020: Acequia Landscapes: Ancient Water Systems in a Modern Context | Adams State University Colorado | 12:00-1:00 p.m. Cohosted by Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center and created as a community for inclusion, equity, leadership and opportunity. Join this discussion to learn the ancient water systems and how that impacts the modern world. Find the Zoom link HERE. Those who are unable to attend will be able to see the video in full posted HERE.

NOVEMBER 4th-5th, 2020: “Coming to Terms with Limits and Uncertainty” | Upper Colorado River Basin Water Forum | Colorado Mesa University. Join this online gathering with keynote speaker Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez and highlights from Basin State Leaders and Tribal Leaders plus the multi-state Ag Producers' Roundtable. Find the agenda and a link to register HERE.

NOVEMBER 5th, 2020: Virtual Pollinator Summit | Colorado Pollinator Network | 7:45 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. This year internationally, nationally and regionally recognized pollinator experts will present and discuss the best way forward in pollinator conservation. Through this summit, a broad audience will come together from researchers, educators, land managers and policy experts to community organizers, homeowners and landowners to 1) explore the state of pollinator conservation in Colorado; 2) identify impediments to conservation action across disciplines; and 3) identify strategies to overcome the challenges of pollinator conservation here in Colorado and beyond. For more information and registration click HERE.

NOVEMBER 14th, 17th & 19th, 2020: The CU Center for Sustainable Landscapes and Communities (CSLC) and integral partners welcome you to join three, interactive webinars. These three webinars will align with the November launch of the first-ever ‘Boulder Ecosystems Trends Report.’ Each 90-minute session will feature a moderator and several invited guests, who will interact in a “living-room” style forum and will address questions and comments from participants. The goal is to engage individuals, community organizations and municipal partners to develop and promote strategies to enhance community awareness and action toward environmental sustainability.

To register:

All Three Webinars from Nov. 14th-19th (see times below)

Webinar 1: Climate & Soil Health on Sat., Nov. 14th 10:00-11:30 a.m.

Webinar 2: Watershed Health & Air Quality on Tues., Nov. 17th 11:30-1:00 p.m.

Webinar 3: Biodiversity & Urban Land Cover on Thurs., Nov. 19th 4:00-5:30 p.m.

NOVEMBER 19th, 2020: 12th Annual RMFI Fall ShinDIG | Virtual | 6:00-7:00 p.m. The 12th annual RMFI Fall ShinDIG will celebrate our season accomplishments, partners, and volunteers as well as give a preview of exciting projects we are planning for the 2021 field season. In addition, we will be premiering a new short film about RMFI created by Owner & Creative Director of SolMtn Studios, Brian Lewis! For more information and registration click HERE.

NOVEMBER 21st, 2020: Big Snow Bash | Friends of the Yampa & RiverWonderGrass | 6:30 p.m. Save the date! Thanks to a partnership with WinterWonderGrass, Big Snow Bash will be sure to entertain and excite. Buffalo Commons will be streaming LIVE from Old Town Pub! More details coming soon. Click HERE to learn more.

DECEMBER 8th-9th, 2020: “Ecotypes: Research, Policy & Practice.” | Southern Rockies Seed Network's 2020 Virtual Conference | 9:00-11:30 a.m. Dr. Francis Kilkenny, research biologist with the USFS, deliver the keynote address. With the recent fires still smoldering under a blanket of snow and restoration plans being considered, the presentations this year couldn’t be more pertinent. To register click HERE.

CANCELLED South Platte Forum. Check back for registration opening in 2021. Read more HERE.

JULY 19th-21st, 2021: American Water Resources Association (AWRA) 2021 Land and Water Policy Specialty Conference | Denver. The 2021 Summer Specialty Conference will bring together stakeholders from various types of organizations and professions across multiple disciplines to address the design, integration, and implementation of the programs and research necessary to improve the connection of land and water planning and policy. For more information click HERE.

OCTOBER 11th-13th, 2021: Colorado Open Space Alliance Conference | Grand Hyatt in Vail.

Announcements Early November

The Colorado Nonprofit Association is extending support and clarity to you through their 2020 Ballot Measure Guide. The guide offers insight into all the amendments and referendum, and guidance to whether or not the issues are directly relevant to your work in the nonprofit sector. It is your go-to resource for making informed decisions on how these issues impact what you value most.

River Network compiled helpful information for your organization in regards to voting information in an article HERE.

Colorado Parks & Wildlife advises changing your clocks with your driving habits during daylight saving time can help prevent wildlife-vehicle collisions. Wildlife experts advise drivers that wildlife is on the move so be aware, drive with caution, and slow down especially at night.

Submit to RMFI's 8th Annual NATURE! Photo Contest through November 15th, 2020. Categories include Restoration, Mountains, Flora / Fauna, and Interaction! Youth submissions also accepted into a separate category. All finalists receive a $25 gift certificate from Mike's Camera. The Grand Prize winner will go home with a brand new pair of skis from Mountain Chalet! Learn more HERE.

Golden Gate Canyon State Park is offering 250 tree-cutting permits through an online application draw event. The entry period for the permit draw will be open through November 15th, and only one permit will be granted per household. The cost for a permit is $35. Those wishing to apply for a permit can find the application and entry information by following the link on the Golden Gate Canyon State Park page or at cpwshop.com. Applications are not available or accepted by phone or in person. By cutting trees, permit holders will assist Golden Gate Canyon State Park in thinning overcrowded and dense vegetation. This selective thinning will improve the overall health of the forest and reduce the impacts of future wildfires.

Due to COVID-19, RiversEdge West's 19th Annual Conference will take place virtually over the course of two weeks, from February 16-19 and February 23-26, 2021. The conference will feature a mix of live sessions and panels with interactive discussion, pre-recorded presentations followed by live Q&A, field tours, and demonstrations, as well as plenty of virtual networking opportunities! Abstracts for oral presentations are due on November 19th, 2020. View the call for abstracts here and submit yours before November 19th.

Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) is launching a pilot program to take an in-depth look at training designed to strengthen volunteer stewardship within two Colorado Parks & Wildlife regions. They are seeking proposals for contracted professional services to perform the initial assessment within each of the two regions that will then help determine the required next steps of this pilot project. Anticipated services include data collection through remote gatherings, one-on-one and group interviews, and electronic survey(s) to ascertain aspects of regional capacities that lend themselves to sustained volunteer investments within outdoor stewardship organization and agency programs. The contractor will also provide a written final report by February 15th, 2021 with data-driven recommendations for what specific volunteer stewardship capacity efforts are needed to address each region’s stewardship priorities. Click here for the full RFP. Proposals are due by 5:00 p.m. MST on Friday, November 20th, 2020.

Due November 30th, 2020: Call for papers! The SWAT (Soil & Water Assessment) special issue journal Sustainability: Sustainable Water and Land Management to Build Resilience against Climatic Shocks and Other Stressors is accepting submissions. You do not need to have presented at a SWAT conference in order to submit a paper.

The Call for Special Session Proposals for the AWRA Specialty Conference: Connecting Land and Water for Healthy Communities has been extended to February 1st, 2021. Hopefully this is a little relief for those who were planning to submit and will be incentive for those who wanted to submit but couldn’t due to the tight timeline.

The Clean Water Act (CWA) is one of the most comprehensive environmental statutes in the United States. It seeks to protect both human health and ecological resources, to maintain healthy waters, and to restore waters that are impaired. The Clean Water Act provides states and authorized tribes with the tools and guidance necessary to protect and maintain healthy waterways in cooperation with federal government agencies. To explore Clean Water Act resources, click HERE.

Lake Pueblo State Park has implemented winter hours for its boat ramps and the decontamination stations that guard against the invasion of non-native zebra and quagga mussels, known as Aquatic Nuisance Species, or ANS. Effective immediately, Lake Pueblo’s boat ramp gates are open from 5:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ANS decontamination stations are open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. daily. For more information click HERE.

Arapahoe County Open Spaces is in an exciting stage of 2020 master planning efforts!

  • Youth Adventure Workbook- This ACTIVITY GUIDE will help bring some structure and joy amid these challenging times. Please share with kids, educators and parents, and help encourage submissions. Return the completed workbook by November 6th (extended deadline) to receive a free bike frame bag from ACOS.

  • LISTEN Engagement Report- This DOCUMENT summarizes what has been learned to date from the community and County stakeholders through a variety of surveys, interviews, and targeted discussions during the LISTEN public engagement phase (spring/summer 2020).  

  • 2020 Master Plan Survey Results- This REPORT is for people who want to dive deeper into public survey data and key findings from the 2020 master plan survey. A SUMMARY is presented, along with the FULL SURVEY RESULTS.

The Denver Parks and Recreation Landscape Typology Manual is a system to identify landscape typologies and the health of individual typology sites. This is a great resource to evaluate and prioritize urban forest health efforts.

A $1 million science experiment is measuring the impacts of growing a native hay species in Grand County on a low-water diet in an attempt to conserve water without sacrificing nutrients provided to cattle. Read Water Education Colorado’s full article HERE.

The 2020 water year, which began Oct. 1st, 2019, and ended Sept. 31st, is now Colorado’s third driest on record, trailing behind only 2018 and 2002 for lack of precipitation. Click HERE to read Water Education Colorado’s full article.

The Babbitt Center for Land and Water Policy, a center of the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, proudly co-funded Swimming Upstream, a new StoryMap that highlights collaborative conservation efforts to protect endangered, native fish populations in the Upper Colorado River Basin and enhance critical streamflow management for recreation and agricultural needs in and around Grand Junction, Colorado, along a stretch of the Colorado River commonly known as the 15-Mile Reach. The StoryMap was developed by the Conservation Innovation Center for the Upper Colorado River Endangered Fish Recovery Program, in collaboration with the Colorado Water Conservation Board and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Click HERE to access the map.

Never-before-seen moths, a hunter's “sneak peak”, construction of visitor parking, picnic areas and trails highlight recent progress at Fishers Peak State Park. Click HERE to read Colorado Parks & Wildlife’s full article. 

Share your drought related-stories! Faced with the challenge of traveling and touring in the midst of the current COVID-19 pandemic, the Colorado Departments of Agriculture and Natural Resources invite all who are experiencing the impacts of drought, particularly in agriculture, to submit their drought-related stories online through a dedicated “Drought Virtual Tour” website managed by the Colorado Water Conservation Board.