Funding Opportunities Late November

WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program Phase II. The objective of this FOA is to invite established watershed groups composed of a diverse group of stakeholders, which have completed a watershed restoration plan, and are capable of promoting the sustainable use of water resources to submit proposals for watershed management projects under Phase II of the CWMP. Funding provided under this FOA may be used to implement on-the-ground watershed management projects, collaboratively developed by members of a watershed group, that will address critical water supply needs, water quality concerns, and restoration needs, helping water users meet competing demands and avoid conflicts over water. The deadline is November 17th, 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.

The Water Quality Improvement Fund provides money for water quality improvement projects using civil penalties from water quality violations. This includes storm water management training and best practices training to prevent or reduce the pollution of state waters. The grants are an important assistance tool for communities working to improve water quality in their area. Small and economically challenged communities are given priority for the funds. Entities that pay a Colorado Water Quality Control Act civil penalty are prohibited from receiving a grant from the WQIF for a period of 5 years from the date of the payment of the penalty. Deadline for receipt of applications is December 4th, 2020 (2:00 p.m. MST). For more information click HERE.

The National Forest Foundation has partnered with Vail Resorts Management Company, Copper Mountain Resort, Arapahoe Basin Ski and Snowboard Area, and Beaver Run Resort and Conference Center to help maintain and enhance the quality of the White River National Forest and the visitor experiences. By combining Federal funds with individual donations voluntarily made by resort guests, the NFF Ski Conservation Fund™ is able to multiply the resources available to nonprofit partners to implement projects that directly benefit the White River National Forest. Grant applications are now being accepted for projects on the White River National Forest that implement action-oriented, on-the-ground conservation projects. The deadline for applications is December 16th, 2020. For more information and complete application instructions please review the program information HERE.

Noxious Weed Management Fund (WMF). The primary objective of the CDA Noxious Weed Management Fund (WMF) grant program is to provide additional financial resources to counties, communities, weed control districts, and other entities that are engaged in cooperative efforts to eradicate and/or contain state, regionally, or locally rare noxious weed species populations, and to prevent the spread of high priority weed populations. Applications are due December 18th, 2020. For more information click 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 Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) department of the City of Boulder has funding available through its funded research program for scientific inquiry on OSMP lands. Preference is given to original proposals that address priority research topics identified by the department. However, all proposals will be considered based on their merits. For research that crosses the boundaries of OSMP and our neighbors (Boulder County Parks and Open Space and Jefferson County Open Space), we will also consider interagency grant proposals for joint funding. The maximum award amount for OSMP proposals is $10,000. Proposal deadline is January 11th, 2021. Full details are available 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 Late November

NOVEMBER 19th, 2020: Drought Information Needs in Land Use Decision Making | Webinar | 10:00-11:30 a.m. NOAA's National Integrated Drought Information System (NIDIS), in partnership with the University of Colorado's Master of the Environment Graduate Program, is hosting a webinar on drought information needs of the land use decision making sector in the Southwest. This webinar will include background information, research findings, and recommendations to improve the dissemination of drought information to land use decision makers. Presentations will be followed by 30 minutes of discussion and feedback from participants. For more information and to register click HERE.

DECEMBER 3rd, 2020: After the Flames: “Post-Fire Water Impacts” | 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 Late November

Boulder County Parks & Open Space is hiring an Agricultural Resources Division Manager. This position provides leadership to a highly qualified team of agricultural land and water resources specialists who perform a multitude of duties to support agricultural activities on the 25,000 irrigated, dryland, and rangeland acres held by the county open space program. It also requires equally strong managerial and leadership skills in order to effectively lead a diverse team in implementing the county’s vision for sustainable agriculture, support tenants whose farming practices vary from organic market farms to conventional commodity production, and strategically direct staff and financial resources to address a myriad of concerns ranging from protecting and utilizing water rights to resolving infrastructure maintenance backlogs. Application will close November 30th, 11:59 p.m. For the full job description and how to apply 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.

The Colorado Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is hiring a temporary Philanthropic Development Advisor. The philanthropic development advisor works within Colorado Parks & Wildlife’s (CPW’s) Marketing and Creative Services Team and in partnership with CPW’s Policy and Planning Unit, CPW’s Financial Services Section, and DNR’s Executive Director’s Office to establish a program within CPW to solicit donations from private individuals to support CPW’s mission. For more information click HERE.

Colorado Rural Water Association is seeking a Source Water Protection Specialist under a USDA grant. The primary goal of this position is to assist rural and small communities served by public water systems to reduce or eliminate the potential risks to drinking water supplies through the development of source water protection plans and providing assistance to entities for the implementation of contamination prevention measures. See additional details and apply HERE.

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.

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 Late November

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:

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 18th, 2020: “Practical Resiliency in Urban Stream Corridors” | Colorado Riparian Association’s Colorado Stream Restoration Network | 9:00-11:00 a.m. With this panel, there will be a conversation about how stream corridor managers can account for risk and dynamism in stream corridor management. More discussion will revolve around how “riverine infrastructure” can be constructed and managed in a way that makes it more or less compatible with stream corridor processes and dynamism. Finally, case studies related to these concepts will be discussed. For more information and speaker lineup click HERE.

NOVEMBER 19th, 2020: 12th Annual RMFI Fall ShinDIG | Virtual | 6:00-7:00 p.m. The 12th annual Rocky Mountain Field Insitute Fall ShinDIG will celebrate the season’s accomplishments, partners, and volunteers as well as give a preview of exciting projects planned for the 2021 field season. In addition, watch a premiere of 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: Virtual Cheese and Beer Tasting | Poudre River Watershed Coalition | 6:30-8:00 p.m. Join the Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed, The Fox and The Crow Cheese Shop & Bistro, and Odell Brewing Co for a virtual Cheese and Beer Tasting. Community support is needed to accomplish all that needs to be done to protect and restore the Poudre River watershed. CPRW is currently running an end of year campaign that will directly support its efforts to combat the devastation left from the Cameron Peak Fire. Tickets range from $20-$25. For more information and registration click HERE.

NOVEMBER 21st, 2020: Big Snow Bash | Friends of the Yampa & RiverWonderGrass | 6:30 p.m. The Big Snow Bash (BSB) and Silent Auction is Friends of the Yampa’s (FOTY) annual fundraiser raises money for FOTY and showcases local music and art in a spirited event. This year, given the impact of COVID-19, the BSB has moved to a virtual event, and with the support of the Winter/RiverWonderGrass teams, aims to be the strongest to date. Buffalo Commons will be streaming LIVE from Old Town Pub! Click HERE to learn more.

DECEMER 1st, 2020: Ideas RoundUP: Conversations on Urban Planning, Land Use, Pandemic & Race | Rocky Mountain Land Use Institute | 10:00-11:30 a.m. The RMLUI Ideas RoundUP series is an effort to explore shared land use agenda, taking into account what we are learning about our policies as they relate both to containing a pandemic and promoting a socially just and sustainable community. These conversations are intended to be opportunities for the entire RMLUI community―land development professionals, community leaders, academic partners, and students―to come together in thoughtful dialogue about the problems we’re facing and how we improve the land use system to better address the inequities in our society. Visit the RMLUI web page to learn more about upcoming events in the series.

DECEMBER 6th, 2020: Virtual Wreath Making | Poudre River Watershed Coalition | 2:00-3:30 p.m. Join the Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed (CPRW) and make a custom wreath in the comfort of your own home! PRWC will provide a curated box of wreath making supplies, materials, and accents. (Boxes will be available for pick up in Fort Collins or Metro Denver.) Choose from Neutral, Moody, or Traditional accents to add your own style. Proceeds from the virtual event go to support Poudre River watershed restoration. Gather virtually for a group wreath making session with special instruction from florists at Lace and Lilies. Attendees will also hear an update from the team at CPRW on the Cameron Peak Fire impacts on the Poudre River watershed. CPRW is currently running an end of year campaign that will directly support its efforts to combat the devastation left from the Cameron Peak Fire. For more information and registration click HERE.

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, will deliver the keynote address: Whither provenance? The science of restoration seed-sourcing in a changing world. 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.

DECEMBER 12th, 2020: Virtual Trivia Night | Poudre River Watershed Coalition | 6:00 p.m. Have fun from the comfort of your own home and support watershed restoration! Each ticket includes access to the virtual event for one computer/household. Attendees can answer trivia questions for a chance to win great prizes, while also hearing an update from the team at CPRW on the Cameron Peak Fire impacts on the Poudre River watershed. CPRW is currently running an end of year campaign that will directly support its efforts to combat the devastation left from the Cameron Peak Fire. Tickets are $20. For more information and registration click 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.

DECEMBER 1st & 2nd, 2021: South Platte Forum. Check back for registration opening in 2021. Read more HERE.

Announcements Late November

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.

Community Agriculture Alliance: Colorado Water Rights Abandonment List. “Every 10 years, the Colorado Division of Water Resources publishes its water right abandonment list. The list, released July 1st, represents water rights that each division engineer is recommending for abandonment based on real or perceived non-use over the past 10 years. A water right may be placed on the abandonment list if the amount of water diverted over the past 10 years is less than the decreed amount.”. Read the full article by Phil Brink and Greg Peterson HERE.

Arapahoe County Open Space is currently looking for input online, on potential priorities for Arapahoe County’s Open Spaces program for the next decade and beyond. Please take a few minutes, if you haven’t already, to complete a questionnaire and review an interactive tool that overlays these potential priorities on a map of the County. Click HERE to take the survey.

At the opening of Fishers Peak State Park in Trinidad on Friday, October 30th, Governor Jared Polis signed an Executive Order creating the Colorado Outdoor Regional Partnerships Initiative.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is ending the emergency public fish salvage that was enacted at Barr Lake State Park back on September 4th. Anglers are expected to revert to fishing under the normal regulations. 

We are so happy to share Colorado Water Conservation Board’s newest podcast, "3 Birds and a Fish," highlighting the importance of the Platte River Recovery Implementation Program. To listen to this podcast on various platforms, click HERE.

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 River Network’s Clean Water Act resources, click HERE.

2020 has seen the three largest wildfires in Colorado history and over 600,000 acres have burned across the Centennial State. Along with many of the obvious concerns that come with fires of such magnitude, additional concerns have been expressed towards the impacts on wildlife. In the newest podcast episode of Colorado Outdoors, we dive right into the pros and cons of wildfire as it relates to wildlife, aquatic life and the health of our forests. Providing the context on the subject is senior wildlife biologist for CPW's northeast region Shannon Schaller, northeast region senior aquatic biologist Jeff Spohn and Casey Cooley, who is CPW's forest habitat coordinator. Listen to the podcast 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.

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.