Conference & Events Early August


October 11th-13th, 2022 | The 2022 Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference. Conference registration is now open for the 2022 SCW conference in Avon Colorado.


August 7th, 2022, 11am-3pm | 2022 FOLBR Annual Gathering. The FOLBR Annual Gathering will be Sunday, August 7th between 11:00am and 3:00pm at Slate Creek Hall. It will be a great time to catch up with everyone and hear what FOLBR has been up too. There will be a buffet lunch and music from the Blue Grass group Blue Valley Grass. We decided to make this a bring your own beverage event (BYOB) to reduce our carbon footprint in the environment. Tickets are $20/person. We also encourage new members to join and existing members to renew.

August 10th, 2022, 10-2pm | Creek Cleanup. Come clear up Cherry Creek! There is a commitment to keeping the campus and its surrounding areas clean and litter free. Waders, gloves, trash grabbers, and trash bags will all be provided. Be sure to bring appropriate clothing, water, snacks, sunblock and a smile.

August 20th, 2022, 5:30-8pm | Burning Issues: How to Prepare Your Farm/Ranch for the next Wildfire. Join for an evening of education, storytelling, and conversation with Flatirons Young Farmers Coalition. This wildfire preparedness event is designed for our county’s farmers, ranchers, land stewards, and farmworkers who are on the front lines of disasters posed by a changing climate.

August 26th-28th | Blue River Watershed Festival. Join the Blue River Watershed Group in events showing your appreciation for the water in our lakes and rivers by participating in the River Cleanup and fun events of the Watershed Festival. Events include a huge river cleanup and volunteer party, silly boat races, a fun run, live painting, free music, SUP yoga, fly casting lessons and more!

September 8th, 2022 | President’s Reception. Help celebrate Water Education Colorado's 20th anniversary at this year's annual President's Reception on Sept. 8! The in-person event will include a cocktail hour (indoor/outdoor), plated dinner, live auction, and awards ceremony (all indoor). The venue has large garage roll-up doors that will remain open (assuming good weather) to provide ventilation for the indoor portion of the event.

September 9th-10th, 2022 | Advancing Environmental Education Conference. Colorado’s Advancing Environmental Education Conference is annually hosted by the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education (CAEE), a statewide leader in environmental education since 1989. CAEE facilitates communication, coordination, resource sharing and professional development to advance environmental education among over 850 members across the state among various sectors. CAEE also advocates for increased access to environmental learning opportunities for all Colorado residents in order to increase environmental literacy in Colorado.

September 14th, 2022, 8:30-11:30 am | Fall Forest Bathing with Darlene Rooney-Keller. This morning walk will allow us to a break from our “thinking minds” and let our “heart’s intelligence” have time to be alive and present, all while lowering stress hormones, calming the nervous system, regulating the heart rate, increasing white blood cells, supporting creativity, improving mood, and decreasing anxiety. The gifts of this practice are abundant!

September 16th, 2022 | The Colorado River Districts Annual Water Seminar. Save the date!

October 26th, 2022, 9am-4pm | 2022 Water Conservation Symposium | Colorado WaterWise. Save the date!

April 11th-14th, 2023 | Colorado Wildland Fire Conference. Save the date!

Job Announcements Early August

The Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) team is recruiting for a 9-month intern position. The TMDL public outreach intern will assist the TMDL team in developing new content for the TMDL website to improve public education and outreach about water quality restoration and TMDLs. The intern will also assist the TMDL workgroup lead with stakeholder outreach coordination. This includes support for meeting agenda development, managing lists of stakeholder contacts and sending emails and meeting invitations. The intern will develop Fact Sheets for each of the TMDLs currently under development. The intern will also assist the TMDL team with reviewing, proof-reading and editing TMDL reports and other documents. To apply for this contract position, please submit the following 3 materials via email to Barbara.bennett@state.co.us by midnight on August 5, 2022.

Colorado Water Conservation Board Hiring Regional Project Managers. In alignment with the mission of the CWCB, the role of the Regional Project Manager is to work with local water users and stakeholders to provide strategic proactive grant outreach partnerships and project concept development to further the progress on the Colorado Water Plan actions and other critical objectives. Applications closing August 9th.

Aspen Valley Land Trust is seeking a Director of Science, Restoration, & Land Management / Land Steward. They are seeking a motivated team member with experience in natural resource science, ecological restoration, project management, and partner relationship management to help manage our growing portfolio of conserved lands. This position will lead the active and hands-on management of land owned or co-managed by the Trust, and provide technical direction and assistance to conservation easement owners and other partners in land management as part of a dedicated and talented team of eight staff, guided by a nine-member volunteer board of directors. Applications will be accepted until August 15, 2022 or until filled.

Water Education Colorado is seeking a eeCorps K-12 Water Educator Liaison. The K-12 Water Educator Liaison will support educators in implementing water-focused environmental education by connecting educators with opportunities for increased exposure to locally relevant water issues, leading teacher professional development opportunities, guiding educators towards quality content resources, and connecting K-12 educators to collaboration opportunities through a new affinity group of the WEco-led Water Educator Network. This individual will play a critical role in the Water '22 Student Showcase and youth engagement in the Water '22 campaign. This position is open until filled and will begin August 15, 2022.

Highline Canal Conservancy is seeking a Chief Financial Officer. Working in partnership with the Executive Director, Chief Operating Officer and in close collaboration with the senior staff, the Chief Financial Officer (CFO) will drive key financial functions, providing strategic guidance, to further Conservancy growth, organizational sustainability, accountability, and impact. The CFO will report to the Chief Operating Officer on strategic and tactical matters related to budget planning, management, cost benefit analysis, and forecasting. Apply by August 19th, 2022.

Rivers EdgeWest (REW) is seeking a creative and outgoing leader to join their high functioning team making positive impacts on rivers in Colorado and the greater Western U.S. The candidate must be collaborative in nature and possess strong written and verbal skills, as well as broad knowledge of fundraising in a non -profit setting. The Development Director position will manage the planning and implementation of strategies to procure funding resources that support REW’s strategic and operational goals. The Development Director will have demonstrated knowledge, skills and ability to research, and acquire funding in a natural resources and environmental education context. Please send cover letter, resume, and three references in one document via email to rlloyd@riversedgewest.org, with the title “Development Director Application 2022”. Word and PDF files only. Position will remain open until filled.

Water Resources Engineer, Water Efficiency Specialist and Environmental Compliance Specialist. Read more and apply here.

Trainings & Workshops Early August

August 3rd, 2022 | Webinar: Funding drinking water and wastewater improvements with the State Revolving Fund. On Wednesday, Aug. 3, please join representatives from CDPHE’s Water Quality Control Division, the Department of Local Affairs, and the Colorado Water Resources and Power Development Authority for a webinar geared towards communities that are exploring funding sources for upcoming drinking water or wastewater infrastructure projects.

August 4th-5th, 2022 | Watershed Management. This course is important for developing a broad understanding of the environmental, legal, and regulatory frameworks that govern watershed management, and gives leaders an understanding of how to best overcome watershed challenges such as macroinvertebrate impairment, water quality exceedances, and general urban and stormwater runoff impacts. The instructor will review reports and case studies from national perspective, highlighting various climates and environments.

August 15th- September 22, 2022 | Grant Writing Practicum. This five-week practicum will show you how to find the best grant opportunities for your not-for-profit and teach you how to prepare a winning grant application! Sessions are one-hour each. Lecture on Tuesdays and Lab on Thursdays.

August 16th-17th, 2022 | Joining the James Ranch Journey. The James Ranch is a working example of success where their extended family, friends, and community joyfully participate in ranch activities and benefit from Holistic Management. It serves as a model and inspiration demonstrating how managing a healthy ecosystem results in thriving regenerative soils, forage, water, livestock, birds, insects and wildlife. It’s also a model for multi-enterprise success which includes grass-fed beef, artisan cheese, whey-good pork, gardens, a nursery, a grill, and a market for their wonderful products. At this 2-day workshop, the James family will share their rich history, invaluable experiences, and lessons learned.

August 17th or August 27th, 2022 | Birder’s Eye View: Bird Identification | Mountain Area Land Trust. Join Evergreen Audubon and the Mountain Area Land Trust for an opportunity to discover the birds that call South Park home. All are welcome whether you’re brand-new to the world of birding, or you already bird on the regular! These workshops will provide opportunities to engage with other birders of all levels and to become familiar with the interactive ‘eBird’ app. Together, we’ll collect meaningful data for the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and make Park County a birding hotspot!

August 23rd-24th, 2022 | Drought Mitigation for Water Utilities. This summit will bring together water utility leaders, government agencies, scientists, and thought leaders to discuss best practices for drought response and mitigation. Register now to gain insights and practical strategies for drought mitigation & contingency planning.

September 20th, 2022 | Building Resilience in Your Water/Wastewater System. You and your water and wastewater system personnel are invited to receive FREE training on Building Resilience in your Water/Wastewater System. Operators who participate can get up to 0.4 training units. Training available on Tuesday, Sept. 20 in Steamboat Springs, and Thursday, Dec. 8 in Colorado Springs.

The Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership presents 14 videos to help community members learn about how water is managed, restored and monitored in the upper Uncompahgre River watershed. Take advantage of this new education resource to learn about your watershed including mine reclamation, water monitoring, recreational use, water conservation, drinking water and waste water treatment and distribution, aquatic life, water scarcity, agricultural use, management, infrastructure, and more. Watch the video series here.

Master Irrigator Program- San Luis Valley. Over four sessions, this 32-hour program reviews water law and administration, history of water development, and gives participants the tools and strategies to improve water and energy use efficiency and conservation, soil health, and profitability on their operations. Those who complete the course will also receive a $2,000 stipend. To be eligible for this course you must farm in either Rio Grande, Alamosa, Costilla, Conejos, Saguache or Mineral County. Details will be available soon 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.

Non-standard MS4 Permit PDD Template and Program Strategy Templates. SPLASH members and SEMSWA worked with CP Compliance to create resources to educate permittees. It may also assist permittees with implementation of the new Non-standard MS4 Permit. Please click HERE to access the material.

San Juan Expedition Avy Course based at Thelma Hut. The AIARE Avy 1 Hut Course is designed to give you a full introduction to backcountry travel. Based out of the Thelma hut on Red Mountain Pass, you will spend day and night with your peers and instructors learning the foundation of avalanche education. In a hut format, you spend more time skiing, more time learning from and observing your instructors, and more time in the mountains—all with lodging and food included. When you take your level one with San Juan Expeditions you will get hands-on experience analyzing the avalanche hazard and using your observations to make decisions in the field. Click HERE for more information.

MSU Denver developed the noncredit Water Studies courses for people interested in safeguarding this precious resource. Students will learn history, law, management, and water trends in Colorado and the American West. The courses have recently been improved, offering the same high quality, but shortened to meet your busy schedules. The course structure has been redesigned for each class to be one month long to improve the learning experience and accommodate the schedules of busy professional students. Click HERE for more information.

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.

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!

Funding Opportunities Early August

Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) is pleased to announce the Colorado Wildlife Habitat Program (CWHP) 2022 Request for Proposals (RFP). The CWHP is a statewide program that supports CPW’s mission by offering funding opportunities to private or public landowners who wish to protect wildlife habitat on their property, and/or provide wildlife-related recreational access to the public. The CWHP is an incentive-based program that funds conservation easements, public access easements, and fee title purchases to accomplish strategic wildlife conservation and public access goals. Funding for the 2022 cycle is approximately $11 million and is made possible by revenue generated from the sale of the Habitat Stamp, hunting and fishing licenses, and through CPW’s partnership with Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO). 2022 funding preferences include working farms and ranches and properties adjacent to wildlife crossings. Application materials will be available on Monday, June 13, 2022 here. All proposals must be received by 5 p.m. on Thursday, October 13, 2022.

The Colorado River District Community Funding Partnership is opening a special funding round to support grant-writing, feasibility, design, preliminary environmental review, benefits analysis, and engineering to support federal funding applications made available through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. Grant deliverables must include a timely application to a federal funding opportunity to be submitted by December 31, 2023, and in no cases later than December 31, 2024. Priority will be given to applications targeting a 2023 federal funding round. Examples of targeted federal funding opportunities include the Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) WaterSMART programs, Small Storage Program, Aging Infrastructure Account, and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) watershed programs. The Colorado River District will consider supporting up to 85% of funding needs for this limited funding opportunity. Deadline: Application must be submitted by August 1st, 2022. Funding decisions will be made by September 15th (requests >$50k will be reviewed at the October 18-19 Board Meeting.)

The Colorado River District’s Community Funding Partnership was created in 2021 to fund multi-purpose water projects on the Western Slope in five project categories: productive agriculture, infrastructure, healthy rivers, watershed health and water quality, and conservation and efficiency. Funding for the program was approved by Western Colorado voters as part of ballot question 7A in November 2020. These funds provide a catalyst for projects that are priorities for residents in the District to receive matching funds from state, federal and private sources. Click here for more information and to apply.

The Colorado Strategic Wildfire Action Program (COSWAP) was created after the devastating 2020 fire season by the Colorado legislature through the bi-partisan supported SB21-258 in the summer of 2021. COSWAP is designed to quickly move $17.5 million state stimulus dollars to start on-the-ground work on fuels reduction projects and increase Colorado's capacity to conduct critical forest restoration and wildfire mitigation work that will increase community resilience and protect life, property and infrastructure. Learn more about these opportunities here.

HUD: Authority to Accept Unsolicited Proposals for Research Partnerships Notice. HUD’s Office of Policy Development and Research (PD&R) has the authority to accept unsolicited research proposals that address current research priorities. HUD is making up to $2 million available for Lead and Healthy Homes Research Partnerships and approximately $1 million available for Research Partnerships for other topics. HUD is interested in increasing participation of Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) of higher education and Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) in all program areas. To learn more, click here.

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.

Announcements Early August

Rocky Mountain Adaptation: Adapting to Climate Change the Colorado Way. In episode 166 of America Adapts, Doug Parsons hosts adaptation experts from Colorado. We learn how extreme storm events have been a major driver in adaptation planning in the state. Discover the most pressing climate impacts facing Colorado

Special Report: Colorado, New Mexico struggle to save the blistered Rio Grande, with lessons for other drought-strapped rivers

Comment on the Colorado Water Plan Update by September 30th. The Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) released a draft of the 2023 Colorado Water Plan for a 90-day public comment period, ending September 30th. The public can read and make comments here.

Earth-Inspired Book Reviews - If you are hoping to feel inspired and empowered, enjoy immersing in one of these fantastic nature, sustainability and conservation books recommended by Cool Green Science.

RiversEdge West has released their 2021 Annual Report.