Two kids in a raft on Skaguay Reservoir. Division of Wildlife. Michael Seraphin, Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Photo taken: 7/7/2002.
San Juan Mining and Reclamation Conference - Planning for Resiliency will be held in Creede, Colorado, May 2nd-4th. This is a CALL FOR ABSTRACTS! The format of this conference encourages discussions of how the mining and reclamation community can plan for potential disasters and invites bold and frank conversations about topics that have challenged you, may be considered taboo, or can be uncomfortable to share. Topic examples include, but are not limited to: Longevity of mines; Lifetime of watershed groups; Risk assessment, tolerance, and mitigation; Effectively communicating risk; Fiduciary responsibility and abandoned mines (Good Samaritan Law); Scenario planning; Adaptive management; Environmental justice; New regulations and their impact; Planning for natural disasters and severe weather events; Changes in relationships, partners and stakeholders. CALL FOR ABSTRACTS Deadline: Mar. 3, 2018. Click HERE learn more about the conference, and HERE to find full information, instructions, and process for submitting the abstract.
The Society of Wetland Scientists’ 2018 Annual Meeting will be held at the Hilton Denver City Center in Denver, Colorado, May 29th-June 1st. This unique meeting is themed “Wetland Science: Integrating Research, Practice, and Policy – An Exchange of Expertise.” Reserve your spot to network and build professional connections with the highest level of wetland professionals at the 2018 Annual Meeting. Simply complete and return the Exhibitor Agreement to reserve your booth today! Agreements must be received by April 30, 2018. Click HERE for more information.
In Colorado alone, more than a hundred cloud seeding machines are set up in mountainside backyards, fields and meadows. Some older versions of the contraptions look like a large tin can perched on top of a propane tank. New ones are large metal boxes festooned with solar panels, weather sensors and a slim tower. Their goal is the same: to “seed” clouds with particles of silver iodide, a compound that freezing water vapor easily attaches to. That makes ice crystals, which eventually become snowflakes. Read the full story HERE.
Colorado Rural Water Association has released two informative videos on waste-water treatment system. Watch them HERE and HERE.
ColoradoClimate: Weekly Climate, Water and Drought Assessment of the Intermountain West information can be found HERE.
WE NEED YOU TO READ TO A CLASSROOM! Colorado Literacy Project brings Colorado Farmers and Ranchers into the classroom to read a book about agriculture to students. Teachers register their classes with CFA to let us know they want a volunteer to visit and read to their students. During March, April and May students and their teachers can learn about food from the Colorado farmers and ranchers who produce it.
• Start to finish, the Literacy Project takes about 45 minutes.
• Literacy volunteers set up times to visit schools.
• Volunteers read to students in kindergarten through fifth grade.
• Following the reading, volunteers do an activity with students and share their
experiences in agriculture.
Read more and sign up HERE!
Rancher on Crystal River agrees to change diversions to benefit river. After more than a year of back and forth with Pitkin County officials, the nonprofit Colorado Water Trust announced Tuesday a pilot agreement with a Carbondale rancher to increase streamflows in the Crystal River during dry years. The three-year agreement will compensate Bill Fales and Marj Perry, who own the 600-acre Cold Mountain Ranch just west of Carbondale, for retiming their irrigation practices to leave water in the Crystal River when it needs a boost. Read the full story HERE.
Colorado State Forest Service: Water trees during winter drought. "Adequately watering your trees is the best way to ensure optimum health and vigor that will carry through to the growing season," Wood said, according to a press release "Overly dry trees become susceptible to root and branch die-back, and subsequent insect and disease problems." Read more HERE.
Mining water: Aurora Water hopes 'innovative' approach will secure more water, address defunct Colorado gold mine issues. Aurora Water officials are pursuing a $125 million purchase of underground water at the London Mine complex as a new water source to sustain the Colorado Front Range development. It may seem odd, given that discharges from that mine have contaminated the watershed for years, but utility officials have a plan. Read the full story HERE.
On Impaired Rivers, Reclaiming Native Habitat One Mile at a Time. From river rafter to restorer, Conservation Corps leader Mike Wight fights to protect western watersheds from invasive species. Read the story HERE.