CALL FOR PAPERS NOW OPEN! 2021 Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference. Submit abstracts HERE by May 5th, 2021. Submissions should include: 1) Presentation title (15 words max) 2) Short overview of your presentation, including how it connects to this year’s conference theme and sub-themes (100 words max) 3) Format: Indicate if you prefer 30-minute oral presentation, 60-90 minute panel, or a poster presentation.
Summit County Open Space & Trails is thrilled to announce that they are receiving proposals for a new Summit County Open Space and Trails Master Plan. Proposals will be received through May 6, 2021 at 5:00pm MST. The RFP can be reviewed HERE.
The Town of Breckenridge is seeking proposals to prepare an Open Space & Trails Master Plan. The Plan will summarize the existing program, consider current and future challenges, define a vision for the next ten years of land protection and management, and outline a suite of tools and decision-making strategies for the community. Bid must be received by May 7th to be considered. Click HERE for more information.
As part of the monitoring of the on-going impact of the East Troublesome Fire, the National Weather Service is seeking volunteer Storm Spotters to help them predict flooding and debris run-off in burn areas and to warn those who will be impacted. If you are interested please click HERE and find the April 20 training listed as "Mountains/Foothills".
Today, bears share space with a rapidly growing human population. Black bears are curious, intelligent, and very resourceful; they will explore all possible food sources. If they find food near homes, campgrounds, vehicles, or communities, they’ll come back for more. So please, learn to protect bears by being "Bear Aware", and share this information with your friends, neighbors, and community. We’re here to help! Click HERE to learn more.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife has a draft version of the Eldorado Canyon State Park (ECSP) Management Plan and is making that public in an effort to obtain public feedback on it. Access the draft plan HERE.
The United States Department of Agriculture is investing $28 million in six new Wetland Reserve Enhancement Partnership (WREP) projects and four ongoing ones, which enable conservation partners and producers to work together to return critical wetland functions to agricultural landscapes. Read more.
This summer, SJMA is offering several 5-day outdoor summer camps where kids will explore and learn about the natural world while making new friends and having a ton of fun. Click HERE to view the full calendar.
As part of the Denver One Water planning effort, a survey was recently conducted to better understand community perspectives regarding the management of our citywide water resources. Nearly 800 people completed the survey this winter! See the results HERE.
A new film released Wednesday by Colorado Parks and Wildlife showcases the ‘Shadows of the Forest’ in Colorado’s high-elevation wilderness - the Canada lynx. The film was published on CPW’s YouTube, Facebook and Instagram channels. It tells the story of lynx in Colorado and how the big-footed felines are representatives of wild values and the natural world. The film was produced by Sean Ender of Peak to Creek films.
Colorado Parks and Wildlife is partnering with the Colorado Youth Corps Association (CYCA) to hire 33 weeks of conservation service corps to repair trails impacted by wildfire damage and increased visitation in areas that are open to motorized recreation. Click HERE to read more.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Region 8, announced it entered into seven Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) Administrative Orders on Consent (AOCs) with its tribal partners between December 1, 2020 – February 12, 2021. Tribally owned or operated drinking water systems agreed to these AOCs to address violations of the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations to ensure public health protection in Indian country. Read the full press release HERE.
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
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.
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.