Funding Opportunities Late January

The YWG BRT grant program has three designated award periods contingent upon available funding. All grant criteria is designated by the request amount of under or over $10,000. Please review the requirements and goals of the program to determine the appropriate application level for your request. These grants will be awarded in November, February and April depending on available funds. Click HERE for more information.

Colorado Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) State Conservationist, Clint Evans announced the 2021 opportunities for enrollment into the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program - Wetlands Reserve Easement Program (ACEP-WRE). To compete for available funding in signup 1, landowners must submit a complete application to their local NRCS field office by 4:00pm, Friday, February 12, 2021 (MST) and by 4:00pm, Friday, April 9, 2021, for funding consideration in Signup 2. ACEP-WRE provides financial and technical assistance to help conserve wetlands and their related benefits. ACEP-WRE easements provide habitat for fish and wildlife, including threatened and endangered species. Additionally, they can have a wide range of other benefits, including filtering sediments and chemicals to improve water quality, reducing impacts of flooding, recharging groundwater, protecting biological diversity, and providing opportunities for educational, scientific and limited recreational activities. Please click HERE for more information.

The Bureau of Reclamation has published a funding opportunity for the WaterSMART Cooperative Watershed Management Program Phase I to develop a watershed group, complete watershed management planning activities, and design watershed management activities. Applicants may request up to $100,000 for projects to be completed within two years. A non-federal cost-share is not required for this funding opportunity. The funding opportunity is available on grants.gov HERE. Applications are due on January 19th, 2021 (4:00 p.m. MST). The Bureau of Reclamation will host an informational webinar on Wednesday, December 2nd, 2020, at 2:00 p.m. MST. Click HERE to join the live event or use the same link to watch a recording after the completion of the live event. If you have questions regarding applicant and project eligibility, program requirements, or the evaluation criteria, click HERE and select CWMP Phase I FOA Inquiry to schedule a time to talk with the program coordinators. Read even more HERE.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is seeking applications for wetland and riparian restoration, enhancement, and creation projects to support its Wetlands Program Strategic Plan. CPW will award up to $2.5 million in funds from Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) and Colorado waterfowl stamps to projects in Colorado that support the Wetlands Program Strategic Plan’s two main goals: 1. Improve the distribution and abundance of ducks, and opportunities for public waterfowl hunting. 2. Improve the status of declining or at-risk species. The application deadline for this year’s funding is January 27, 2021. The Wetlands Funding Request for Applications (RFA) is available on CPW’s website.

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.

Thanks to major support from Toyota Motor North America, International Paper (IP), and the Hilton Effect Foundation, the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) is pleased to announce $128,000 in grant funding to support public lands that have been impacted by increased use during the COVID-19 pandemic. With social distancing regulations in place, people are turning to the outdoors more than ever for exercise and rejuvenation. At the same time, the agencies and organizations responsible for maintaining public lands are hampered by reductions in staff, volunteers, and resources, leaving them ill-equipped to keep up with increased human presence in these delicate ecosystems on top of existing maintenance backlogs. In response, NEEF has established the Restoration & Resilience COVID Recovery Fund to help restore these special places by distributing resources and mobilizing volunteers. The deadlines for the next rounds of funding are February 1st, April 1st, and June 1st, 2021. For more information click HERE.

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.

Colorado's Water Plan Grants fund progress on the critical actions identified in the Colorado’s Water Plan (CWP) and its Measurable Objectives. See the grant guidelines and apply 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. 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 January

JANUARY 21st, 2021, 8:30 am-12:30 pm | Water Law in a Nutshell | Virtual. Don't miss this rare and unique opportunity with Aaron Clay in an online setting to learn more about all aspects of the law related to water rights and ditch rights as applied in Colorado. Subject matter includes the appropriation, perfection, use, limitations, attributes, abandonment and enforcement of various types of water rights. Additional subject matter will include special rules for groundwater, public rights in appropriated water, interstate compacts and more. Registration is only $35. Click HERE to learn more.

JANUARY 25th & 26th, 2020: Green Infrastructure: Concepts, Planning, Implementation, and Maintenance | EUCI. This course will be led by Brian Wethington, Green Infrastructure Project Manager, City of Denver and Tom Liptan, Green Infrastructure Consultant, LIVE Center and will provide a comprehensive overview of green infrastructure terminology, planning and site selection, design, modeling, construction, maintenance, and monitoring while providing a number of real world examples and looking at the barriers and solutions to green infrastructure implementation in your region. To view the brochure, click HERE. Click HERE to register.

JANUARY 27th-28th, 2021, 9 am- 4 pm | Cybersecurity Fundamentals for Water and Wastewater Utilities | EUCI. Water and Wastewater industry leaders attending this course will learn about the most common cyber threats, specific counter measures that can be employed by any organization, and the role organizational culture plays in impacting risk mitigating activities against water and wastewater facilities’ critical infrastructure. The key take away from this course is to provide organizational leadership with knowledge needed to be able to ask their team of cyber security professionals the right questions when conducting an internal assessment of their organization’s ability to be resilient to cyber-attacks. For more information click HERE.

JANUARY 28th, 2021, 3 pm ET | Development of the Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework and Use by NRCS for Watershed Planning | USDA | Webinar. Nutrient and sediment losses from agricultural watersheds have impacts on U.S. aquatic and marine ecosystems. Improving agricultural water quality requires planning and voluntary installation of new conservation practices through producer engagement. To help meet this challenge, ARS scientists in Ames, Iowa, have developed the Agricultural Conservation Planning Framework (ACPF) to provide watershed databases and software tools that can be used to present realistic options for placement of conservation practices that can improve water quality outcomes. Click HERE to learn more.

APRIL 19th & 22nd, 2021 | CRWA’s 40th Annual Conference and Exhibition. This event has been RESCHEDULED. For questions and/or to register, please call 719-545-6748.

The Clean Water Certificate (CWC) training program for workforce development provides high quality training opportunities that promotes job growth in the stormwater industry and delivers industry-specific, job-readiness skills and knowledge. Click HERE to learn more about this training program offered by the Center for Watershed Protection.

“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 January

The Adams County Parks, Open Space & Cultural Arts Department is looking for a dynamic individual to join our team and assist in bringing the County’s Vision - Adams County is the most innovative and inclusive county in America for all families and businesses; and the Department’s Vision - To significantly enhance quality of life, enrich communities & INSPIRE! - to life. If selected, you will manage all planning, design, and construction projects for the Parks, Open Space & Cultural Arts Department. This includes but is not limited to providing leadership to various planning efforts for the department, leading capital projects planning, design and construction and working with consultants in support of these efforts. Applications close January 22nd 4:30 PM Mountain. For more information and to apply click HERE. 

Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) is hiring for our 2021 Seasonal Field Projects Coordinator position. The Seasonal Field Projects Coordinator is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys working in the outdoors, is ready to meet great people dedicated to taking care of Colorado, and is looking to build their professional network in the outdoor stewardship industry. This Seasonal Field Projects Coordinator is a full-time, term limited, non-exempt position that reports to VOC’s Senior Projects & Operations Manager. This position works within the VOC program team and closely with other project staff positions to provide professional project management, logistical support and volunteer leadership coordination on VOC volunteer projects both in the office and in the field. For more information about this position and other current openings, please visit HERE. Applications for this position must be received by January 24th, 2021.

Boulder County Parks & Open Space seeks 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. Our approach to stewarding agricultural land is to partner with farmers and ranchers who lease the land for a broad spectrum of farming and livestock operations. For more information click HERE. Applications close on January 27th, 2021 11:59 PM MDT

Ken-Caryl Ranch Master Association is seeking to hire a full-time Park Ranger-Natural Resource Specialist. Primary duties include noxious weed control and ecological restoration, forestry-related tasks, open space patrol, and providing basic services to community members. Work experience in various exotic plant control field operations, use of chainsaws and other power equipment required. Must have 1-5 years’ experience in a related field. The ideal candidate will have strong interpersonal and communication skills and solid experience working with and training volunteers. Application deadline: Thursday, January 28, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. For more information and how to apply click HERE.

Applications open now for Water Education Colorado’s Water Leaders Program are now open. Apply by Monday, Feb. 15 2021. This is not your average leadership or professional development program! WEco has graduated nearly 200 professionals from across all sectors of Colorado water since 2006. While the program covers examples of water-related leadership challenges and case studies, the primary focus is individual growth. Participants receive extensive training in skills related to navigating conflict and diversity, leading self and others, and effective problem-solving. Water Leaders Program graduates walk away with better understanding of their strengths and how to utilize them, learn how to address challenges both in their workplace and the broader community, gain skills to enhance their teams or projects, and form a network of peers to further their career growth. Click here to learn more and apply.

I4ES seeks a new Executive Director. The Executive Director is the chief operating officer (COO), chief financial officer (CFO) and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Institute for Environmental Solutions (IES). The Executive Director is responsible to the Board of Directors (BOD) to implement the strategic goals and objectives of the organization and to provide direction and leadership toward the achievement of the organization's philosophy, mission, and strategy. For more information and application click HERE.

The City of Aurora Naturalist program is seeking an enthusiastic and motivated part-time, temporary employee to assist with nature center staffing, program planning and presentation, and event staffing for 2021 and possibly beyond. This position is a part-time position that is supervised by the natural resource's supervisor. Employment may extend beyond December 2021, depending on budget and staffing needs. On average, this position works 20 hours a week, Friday – Sunday, but some weeks may vary. Applicants must be willing to adjust the schedule to work evenings, holidays, and partial days, depending on programming needs. For more information click HERE.

The City of Aurora is recruiting for Seasonal Park Ranger positions. This is a front-line, customer-focused position responsible for public safety, natural resource education and Aurora Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) rules and regulations education and compliance for the purpose of protecting and preserving natural resources, sites, and structures throughout the PROS system including reservoirs (Aurora & Quincy), trails, open space and developed parks. Seasonal Part-time positions typically start March 1, 2021 and end November 31, 2021 with possible earlier start date or extension. Seasonal Full-time positions start May 1, 2021 and end October 31, 2021 with possible earlier start date or extension. For more information and to apply click HERE.

The City of Aurora is recruiting for Seasonal Watercraft Inspector positions. Watercraft Inspectors help protect the City of Aurora's drinking water supply and provide exceptional customer service through watercraft inspections and Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) education contacts with recreational boaters at Aurora Reservoir and Quincy Reservoir.  Seasonal Part-time positions start March 15, 2021 and end November 31, 2021. Seasonal Full-time positions start May 1, 2021 and end October 31, 2021. For more information and to apply click HERE.

The Boulder Climbing Community is looking to hire professional individuals for its Front Range Climbing Stewards (FRCS) crew for the 2021 field season. Positions range from Crew Leader and Level II for applicants with extensive prior trails experience to Level I for applicants with minimal to no prior trails experience and that are interested in working outside, being part of a team, and giving back to the local climbing community. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until all positions have been filled. Interviews of well qualified applicants will begin in mid January. The 2021 season is scheduled to begin in March and run through early November. Read the full position descriptions and apply HERE.

RMFI is hiring multiple seasonal positions for the 2021 field season. Position openings include Field Instructor and Field Coordinator positions to begin in March 2021 and end in October/November 2021. These positions help RMFI achieve stewardship objectives at multiple public land sites in Southern Colorado and the Pikes Peak region including Garden of the Gods, Barr Trail, Pikes Peak, Shelf Road, Sangre de Cristos, and much more. If you love getting your hands dirty, using your problem-solving skills to find creative solutions, being directly involved in the hands-on stewardship of public lands, being part of a team, spending time in nature, and working with the local community then please check out our openings and apply! Click HERE for more information.

Palmer Land Conservancy seeks a qualified and motivated individual to manage the Land Stewardship Program. The Land Stewardship Manager (LSM) builds and maintains positive relationships with landowners, ensures annual fulfillment of Palmer’s legal obligations for conserved properties, provides interpretation of conservation easement terms for landowners, identifies and responds to potential concerns and violations on conserved properties, and completes regular maintenance of stewardship records. Read the full job description 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.

Conferences & Events Late January

JANUARY 21st, 2021, 6 pm | Virtual Trivia Night to Support Poudre River Watershed | CPRW. Join the Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed (CPRW) for a virtual Trivia Night. Have fun from the comfort of your own home and support watershed restoration! Each ticket includes access to the virtual event on Thursday, January 21 at 6 p.m. MST for one computer/household. Plus, receive a complimentary Horse & Dragon 6-pack with every ticket purchased. And, the first 24 tickets sold will receive two pint glasses with their six-pack. For more information and to register for this fun filled night click HERE.

FEBRUARY 17th-26th, 2021 | Rivers Edge West Annual Conference | Virtual. Connect with others in your field who are managing or studying riparian lands and stream environments and discover novel techniques, scientific findings, and lessons learned that make restoration successful! 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! Due to COVID-19, our 19th conference will be held virtually over the course of two weeks; February 17-18, 2021, and February 23-25, 2021 from roughly 10 am - 3 pm MT each day. For more information and to register, click HERE.

FEBRUARY 23rd, 2020: An Evolving Climate: Frameworks for sustainability and social inclusion | Land and Water Summit | Virtual. The goal of the Land and Water Summit is to bring together design professionals, construction and management companies, agencies, farmers, artists, teachers, hydrologists, ranchers, climatologists, wildlife advocates, homeowners, and policy makers to find sustainable ways to protect and share our state’s water and resources. For more information click HERE. To register 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 January

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 Boulder Valley & Longmont Conservation Districts are hiring a Conservation Forester to join our team in the Longmont office. This position reports to the Conservation Districts' District Manager. The position undertakes a variety of office (approx. 50%) and fieldwork (approx. 50%) duties, with a focus on the support and delivery of USDA Farm Bill programs through partnership with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). This position involves significant landowner outreach, education, and coordination toward the development and completion of private lands forest conservation projects. Applications close on February 5th, 2021. For more information click HERE.

Applications for 2021 Growing Water Smart Workshops in Colorado and Arizona are open. The virtual workshops will be held over 3-4 days; mid-May for Colorado and mid-June for Arizona. This physically distanced but highly collaborative workshop provides a great opportunity for counties, municipalities, or regions to link water and land use, create an action plan, and qualify for technical assistance to support your path forward. There is no cost to participating teams. Contact climateresilience@sonoraninstitute.org with questions. Applications are due by February 15th, 2021.

USDA is seeking members for a new advisory committee on urban agriculture, part of a broader effort to focus on the needs of urban farmers. The 12-person committee will advise the Secretary of Agriculture on the development of policies and outreach relating to urban, indoor and other emerging agricultural production practices as well as identify any barriers to urban agriculture. Interested individuals or organizations may nominate themselves or others by March 5, 2021. Read the full press release HERE.

The City of Longmont Ecosystem Management Division is excited to launch our new funded research program to provide grants for scientific research, monitoring, and resource inventories.  Priority will be given to projects on City lands but we will consider projects on other properties that will help further the City’s understanding of our natural resources and management practices. Funding is available up to $10,000. Proposal deadline is March 5, 2021.  See HERE for more information and proposal submitting guidelines.

Colorado State University is surveying ranchers in Colorado, Wyoming, North and South Dakota, Montana, New Mexico, and Nebraska on ranch management planning.  Results will inform outreach and program design on ranch management planning, not just for Colorado State, but also other groups supporting ranching. Too often, programs come to producers via national or university programs that may not match rancher needs and preferences. Here is your chance to have a voice and help steer programs to be more effective for conservation AND ranchers.  Please help us circulate the survey through sharing this link with landowners you work with! The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete and is anonymous.

Winter is tough on wild critters, that’s why Colorado Parks and Wildlife maintains State Wildlife Areas to protect critical habitat that provides refuge areas for big game. In Montrose and Ouray counties, the Billy Creek State Wildlife Area and the Cimarron State Wildlife Area provide more than 11,000 acres of important winter range that is well used by deer and elk. Please click HERE to read more about closures protecting wildlife this winter.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife managers at Highline Lake State Park are hosting a virtual meeting the evening of Jan. 13 to discuss a proposal to designate one day each week for a mellower on-water experience. The proposal would create “Wakeless Wednesdays” at the park - meaning that no boat or watercraft is allowed to operate at speeds that create a wake. Click HERE for more information.

Aquatic biologists and researchers at Colorado Parks and Wildlife have launched an intensive review of data on Bear Creek after a routine survey revealed a troubling decline in greenback cutthroat trout populations.Read the full article HERE.

The City and County of Denver, Denver Water, Mile High Flood District, Metro Wastewater Reclamation District, the Greenway Foundation, and CWCB have come together to create Denver's first One Water Plan. Complete and share this short survey to inform the process and help ensure the Denver One Water program meets the goals and needs of the community. The survey will remain open until early 2021.

2020 Review and 2021 Plans for Colorado River Headwaters

Impact in 2020 looked very different for River Network and the groups served. Cultivating community and youth stewardship of waters was no less important this year – in fact, it was more important than ever. Read highlights from the River Network staff about a few of the many programs supporting these types of activities, both in and on the water, with community in mind. Click HERE to read more.

Get to know the US's landmark water policy, the Clean Water Act! This video, produced in collaboration with Resource Media, provides an overview of the history and contents of the Act including designated uses, water quality criteria, and antidegradation (as well as what all that means!). It's a great primer for your community scientists, monitoring program staff, or anyone else interested in Clean Water Act policy and advocacy.

Construction work is getting underway to improve the heaviest use areas in Rifle Falls State Park. When completed the waterfall viewing area and trails near the falls will be more able to handle the growing number of visitors at this West Slope treasure. To read the full article, click HERE.

Green Team Academy is offering complimentary sponsorships for the 2020 International Climate Action Challenge to Climate Reality Chapters and Branches. The challengers are planting trees, doing cleanups, and transforming their communities! To get started click HERE and request a free Level 2 Sponsorship as a Climate Reality Chapter or Branch.

Mountain Area Land Trust (MALT) is pleased to announce the completion of a Conservation Easement on the 71-acre Sacramento Creek Ranch located near Fairplay within MALT’s Red Hill to Hoosier Pass Priority Area! The Conservation Easement on Sacramento Creek Ranch will prevent the future subdivision of the property and protect critical open space and wildlife habitat for Elk, Moose, Black bear, Beaver and numerous other species that call this area home. The Colorado Natural Heritage Program has identified this region as having “Very High Biodiversity Significance." In addition to critical biodiversity protection, the Conservation Easement specifically ensures use of the property for public recreation, education and research purposes. If you are interested in visiting Sacramento Creek Ranch or learning more about the public uses, please send an email to malt@savetheland.org or call the MALT office at (303) 679-0950.

The Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) has just recently released the 2020 Forest Action Plan (FAP), which is a road map to improving forest health across Colorado in the next decade.  The 2020 FAP was created by forestry experts at the Colorado State Forest Service.  This in-depth analysis of forest trends offers solutions and guidance for improving forest health and ensuring our forests — and the resources they provide — persevere for future generations.  This plan will also help assist decision-makers in investing in our forests where these investments will make the most difference.  If you would like to take a look at the plan please click HERE and HERE. Additionally, there is a Forest Action Plan app on the CSFS Forest Atlas page HERE. This is an easy, interactive tool that drills down into the themes of the Forest Action Plan and is an important tool to understand and know how to use.  For CSFS and federal grants, partners will need to show where their project fits in relations to the FAP and will need to convey how the projects that they are proposing ties into this plan.

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, Colorado Outdoors dives 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.

Help plan your public areas. 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.

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.

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.

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.