Job Announcements Early July

The City of Steamboat Springs is seeking a Water Resources Manager to join the Public Works team! The Water Resources Manager is responsible for enhancing water supply resiliency and stream health for the City of Steamboat Springs through water rights management and supply planning, water conservation and source water protection, and stream health protection and water quality permit compliance, including oversight of its Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit. Click HERE for more information. Applications are due by July 3, 2021.

Colorado Water Conservation Board is seeking a Water Resource Specialist. This position is in the Stream and Lake Protection Section which exists to develop, administer, and protect instream flow and natural lake level water rights within the context of the State's Instream Flow and Natural Lake Level Program ("ISF Program") by correlating the activities of mankind with some reasonable preservation of the natural environment. The application will close on July 7th 5 pm MDT. Click HERE for more information and how to apply.

The Denver Audubon is seeking a part time Center Naturalist. This position will engage public visitors, program participants, Audubon volunteers, and community volunteers in the stewardship of the Audubon Nature Center at Chatfield, as well as educate and inspire actions that protect birds, other wildlife and their habitats. Applications are accepted June 18th-July 9th 11:59 pm. Click HERE for the full job description.

The City of Longmont is seeking a Senior Civil Engineer. This is the advanced journey-level classification of the engineering series. Work at this level includes coordination and management of major engineering projects and/or a major component of the City’s infrastructure. Assignments are general and of a continuing nature, requiring the exercise of independent judgment and initiative in prioritizing, scheduling, assigning, and coordinating the work. The deadline to apply is July 15th, 11:59 pm MDT. Click HERE for more information.

The Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed (CPRW) is hiring an Executive Director. If you are a smart, energetic nonprofit leader that is passionate about keeping the Poudre River watershed resilient and want to share that passion with others, then CPRW has an opportunity for you. The ideal candidate will be a skilled, mission driven, self-directed leader, with a proven track record of successfully managing nonprofits; and is knowledgeable about watershed health. This position has the opportunity to play a visionary role for the health of the Poudre River watershed. For more information click HERE.

The San Juan Mountains Association (SJMA) is hiring two public lands ambassadors to work in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management educating Alpine Loop OHV visitors to stay on trail, utilize “leave no trace” practices, track user numbers, and monitor tundra conditions throughout the alpine wonderland of the Alpine Loop outside Silverton, CO. Click HERE for more information.

San Juan Mountains Association is seeking to hire a lead instructor for its very popular environmental education day camp. This position will teach curriculum already developed by SJMA’s staff. They will be one of 4 instructors responsible for a group of 26 kids, ages 6-17. This position will work with the SJMA education team to deliver outdoor education programming at SJMA’s Durango Nature Center and on public lands throughout the region. Click HERE for more information.

The Applied Scientist II (ICR) provides technical and scientific support and leadership for the Colorado River Program’s (CRP) conservation initiatives in Conservation by Design (CbD) and measures of conservation success (MOS). The CRP Freshwater Scientist will play a role in shaping water management strategies that help better meet the water needs of native species and habitats across the Colorado River Basin by conducting technical analysis and planning activities necessary to advance on-the-ground flow restoration and water infrastructure projects. For the full job description click HERE.

The Poudre Learning Center is seeking a Director of the PLC. The Administrator of the Poudre Learning Center (PLC) is responsible for the overall leadership and management of the PLC. The Administrator has board authority to govern the operations, mission, goals and strategic objectives as approved by the Board of Directors. Primary responsibilities include implementation of strategic plans, staff management and development, environmental science education curriculum, financial management, fundraising in concert with the PLC Foundation (PLCF), marketing, developing community relations, PLC program training, promotion, evaluation, and building organizational partnerships. For more information click HERE. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled.

The San Juan Mountains Association (SJMA) is hiring a crew of wilderness crew members to work in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service to educate wilderness visitors on “leave no trace” practices, conduct trail work, and monitor wilderness characteristics throughout the San Juan and Rio Grande National Forests. Click HERE for more information.

CRWA is seeking a Wastewater Technician. The right candidate will reside in the state of Colorado and will travel the state extensively providing technical assistance and training to wastewater systems under the population of 10,000. The right candidate will be a Certified Water Professional with certifications in wastewater treatment and collections along with multiple years of experience in wastewater treatment and collections. For more information click HERE.

The San Juan Mountains Association (SJMA) is seeking to hire a team of two (2) to three (3) seasonal San Juan Public Lands Ambassadors to educate and inform public lands visitors how to responsibly visit the spectacular public lands in San Juan County, Colorado. The San Juan Public Lands Ambassadors will work with SJMA staff and volunteers and in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and Silverton Chamber of Commerce to provide accurate public lands information to visitors while encouraging Leave No Trace practices. The team will work in the Town of Silverton, at the Ice Lakes Trailhead, and at other public lands information centers in the region. For more information click HERE.

The San Juan Mountains Association (SJMA) is hiring two public lands ambassadors to work in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management educating Alpine Loop OHV visitors to stay on trail, utilize “leave no trace” practices, track user numbers, and monitor tundra conditions throughout the alpine wonderland of the Alpine Loop outside Silverton, CO. Click HERE for more information.

The Southern Rockies Seed Network (SRSN) seeks a part-time program coordinator to manage current projects, grants and fundraising. Established in 2014, SRSN provides an exciting opportunity for professional growth and to work among a diverse range of federal, state, and local partners and industry representatives to create a sustainable solution to native plant materials development in the Southern Rockies Ecoregion. This position will oversee the Strategic Seed Reserve Program, manage and assist with fundraising activities, and other duties as outlined HERE.

The Colorado Cattlemen's Agricultural Land Trust (CCALT) is excited to announce a new Land Conservation Internship opportunity out of our satellite office in Steamboat Springs. The Land Conservation Internship position is a paid part time seasonal position that will help CCALT meet the conservation demands of Northwest Colorado by assisting the team with annual monitoring of conserved properties in the YVCP service area, outreach and community engagement efforts, and grant applications and management. Through this experience, the Land Conservation Intern will gain a greater understanding for non-profit structure and governance. View the full job description HERE.

Southwest Conservation Corps is looking for four young adults to serve in a maintenance role at Great Sand Dunes National Park! Recent high school graduates and those seeking a degree at a trade school preferred. Join the Southwest Conservation Corps’ intern team and help the National Park Service carry out its mission to preserve unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the national park system for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. For more information and how to apply click HERE.

Denver Parks and Recreation is seeking an Open Spaces Crew Lead to perform lead work over a crew involved in Denver’s East District open spaces and natural areas maintenance operations. This is a great opportunity for a budding leader to build on their leadership and open space management skills while contributing to the resiliency and sustainability of the city’s natural resources and keeping the city wild! For more information and how to apply click HERE

Trainings & Workshops Early July

JULY 15, 2021, 11 am - 12 pm MT | Mycorrhizae & Climate Change | RiversEdge West. This second webinar in the mycorrhizae for managers series will discuss how mycorrhizal fungi assist plants during and after drought by increasing water retention in the soil, moving water vertically and horizontally, modulating plant water use efficiency, contributing to nightly hydraulic lift and local water cycles, and generally improving plant survival, growth and water relations. For more information about this FREE webinar series click HERE.

JULY 19th-20th, 2021 | Regulatory Compliance for Water and Wastewater Systems. The Regulatory Compliance for Drinking Water & Wastewater course covers US Federal, State, regional and local standards for regulatory compliance associated with drinking water and wastewater systems. The course will include overviews of regulations and standards, including not only those directly related to drinking water and wastewater quality, but also related areas such as treatment, chemical storage, land use, risk mitigation and infrastructure construction. Click HERE to register. Click HERE to view the full brochure.

Colorado Master Irrigator offers farmers and farm managers advanced training on conservation- and efficiency-oriented irrigation management practices and tools. This program is the product of efforts led by several local producers, district management representatives, and others. Colorado Master Irrigator is modeled on the award-winning Master Irrigator program created and run since 2016 by the North Plains Groundwater Conservation District in the Texas panhandle. Topic experts from Colorado and adjacent Ogallala states, serve as instructors over the 32 hours of the program. Colorado Master Irrigator's interactive class format is designed to encourage peer-to-peer exchange among participants and instructors, helping forge useful contacts that graduates can reach out to after their participation in the program. Click HERE for more information.

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.

Silt Removal - Positive Impact on Crop Yields, Water Use Efficiency, & Irrigation Systems. Presentation from the 2021 World Ag Expo on sources of silt, its impacts, and current and new methods of removal. Watch the presentation 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.

Funding Opportunities Early July

The Colorado Water Conservation Board is accepting grant applications for Water Plan-related projects. Applicants may include government entities and private entities (including non-profits and partnerships). Projects may fit into one of the following categories: water storage & supply, conservation & land use planning, engagement & innovation, agricultural, or environmental & recreation. Upcoming deadlines include July 1 and December 1, 2021. Learn More.

The National Park Service (NPS) Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program (ORLP) opportunity is a $150 million competitive grant program offered through the Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF), administered by the Colorado Parks and Wildlife State Trails Program.The program supports projects that create or reinvigorate parks and other outdoor recreation spaces in urbanized communities that are underserved in terms of parks and recreation resources and where there are significant populations of people who are economically disadvantaged. Proposals must be submitted to Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) for review no later than July 29, 2021. CPW will then submit proposals on behalf of Colorado to the NPS by late September 2021. The NPS Washington Office will review and select the final projects. Click HERE for more information.

The Environmental Justice Collaborative Problem-Solving (EJCPS) Cooperative Agreement Program provides financial assistance to eligible organizations working on or planning to work on projects to address local environmental and/or public health issues in their communities. The program assists recipients in building collaborative partnerships with other stakeholders (e.g., local businesses and industry, local government, medical service providers, academia, etc.) to develop solutions that will significantly address environmental and/or public health issue(s) at the local level. Click HERE for more information.

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.

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.

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.

Conferences & Events Early July

JULY 11th-16th, 2021 | Camp Rocky. This is an educational, week long residential camp for 14 through 19 year old’s who enjoy the outdoors and are interested in natural resources! Camp is located outside Divide, Colorado. Camp Rocky’s professional staff helps participants learn about their environment through hands-on experiences. Students work in teams, making new friends from across Colorado. Scholarships are available. Click HERE to learn more about this unique opportunity.

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.

JULY 27th, 2021 | Water Fluency | Water Education Colorado. The Water Fluency program offers immersion in the language of water as well as tools for navigating the culture, complexity, and future of water management and policy issues. Water intersects all issues that communities are facing. Water is crucial for the economy, tourism, public health, and the environment—but it isn’t always clear how the decisions made on water trickle down to affect other sectors. Click HERE to register and for more information.

AUGUST 14th, 2021 | Colorado River Cleanup | RiversEdge West. Join RiversEdge West and the Grand Valley Paddling Club for their 17th Annual Colorado River Cleanup on August 14, 2021! The Colorado River Cleanup is an on-the-water cleanup where trash collected on the banks is floated downriver to the takeout and then disposed of. This is not only a time when tires and couches are pulled from the river banks, but also a time to raise awareness and stewardship for our rivers. Click HERE for more information.

SEPTEMBER 8th-10th, 2021 | Yampa Basin Rendezvous. Warming temperatures and rising snowlines pose serious risks to the boreal, alpine, and riverine ecosystems of the Yampa River Basin. How are we, as a community, measuring the existing seasonal variability and adapting to manage the impacts of current and expected seasonal changes? This question was at the forefront of the 2020 Yampa Basin Rendezvous. Click HERE for more information.

SEPTEMBER 9th, 2021 | 15th Annual President’s Reception | WEco. Gather for an evening of celebration, networking, and awards as we honor water leadership and raise money for our work. Enjoy dinner and a fun-filled evening in celebration of the best in Colorado water. This year’s event will take place in a hybrid format, with both in-person and virtual ticket options. Details are to come on virtual tickets! For more information click HERE.

SEPTEMBER 21st, 2021 | RiverBank 2021. Join in celebration at The Denver Botanic Gardens for RiverBank. Colorado Water Trust’s annual fundraiser to restore flows to Colorado rivers in need. This is a fun-filled evening of food, drinks, silent auction, and a presentation of the David Getches Flowing Water Award. Click HERE for more information and to register for this event.

SEPTEMBER 21st-23rd, 2020 | Colorado Wildland Fire Conference. Deadline for Presentation Proposals has Been Extended until March 5th, 2021. Registration coming soon. 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 Early July

You can now apply for a scholarship to Rocky Mountain Philanthropy Institute (RMPI). This year's conference will take place on September 9th -10th, 2021. RMPI will be hosted virtually again in real-time, with opportunities for in-person connection through optional conference pods and networking happy hours that suit attendees’ various comfort levels and locations. Apply by July 16th, 2021. Click HERE for more information.

Learn more about Colorado Water Trust’s Poudre Flows project and how the instream flow augmentation plan works to restore flows to the Poudre River from our staff attorney Alyson Meyer Gould! Watch the full video HERE.

This special Colorado Water Trust 20th anniversary edition photo contest is centered around the theme of “How Rivers Connect Us,” and asks you as a participant to submit photos and captions that demonstrate a community connected by a river. One of our values as an organization is that it takes a community to restore a river. We want to showcase, in this year’s photo contest, how our rivers bring us together. Check out the full details for when and how to submit your photos HERE!

Colorado lawmakers say “yes” to more than $53M in new water funding. Read more HERE.

Colorado is home to a large population of black bears, with numbers estimated at 17,000-20,000 in the state. As humans venture into Colorado’s great outdoors to spend time in nature, it is important to remember to take proactive steps to avoid conflicts with bears. Click HERE to read the full release.

Read the Colorado Leave No Trace brochure that includes a packing list and Colorado-specific lingo Click HERE to view the list.

WEco has recently produced several fact sheets focused on the Colorado Water Plan, Environmental Flows, and Fire and Watershed Health. The fact sheet series includes easy to understand background information, infographics and data on water topics. Be sure to download, print, repost and share them. And stay tuned for the next package coming soon! Click HERE to view.

Barr Lake State Park partnered with the acclaimed virtual reality experience design house TimeLooper to produce a new augmented reality app. This 360 degree virtual adventure includes points of interest around Barr Lake to educate and inspire visitors about nature, history, outdoor recreation, stewardship and Leave No Trace principles. Read HERE for more information.

SWEAP is gaining momentum thanks to individuals and organizations like you! Get involved in bringing water education to every community in Colorado by: Visiting the new SWEAP website | Downloading the SWEAP Executive Summary | Filling out a short form to share how you will bring SWEAP to your community and what resources would be most helpful | Signing up for email updates on SWEAP

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.

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.