Trainings & Workshops Late July

July 17th, 2024 | PFAS 'Ask Me Anything' With all the facets of concern around per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), including the recently finalized National Primary Drinking Water Regulation setting maximum contaminant levels (MCLs) for PFAS, questions abound for public and private stakeholders. This live event will give you the chance to get those questions answered by three of the top experts in the field, providing a multitude of perspectives — from engineering and treatment to water quality and utility operations to legal and regulatory issues. Join host Kevin Westerling along with Kyle Thompson of Carollo Engineers, Lauren Weinrich of American Water, and Ken Sansone of SL Environmental Law Group, for a live "Ask Me Anything" session on PFAS. Register now with your questions, and tune in July 17 at 9am MST for updates on the latest PFAS developments, guidance on funding and compliance, and the answers you're seeking for hard-to-solve PFAS problems. Register HERE.

July 17th, 2024 (8-week course) | Water Sustainability in the Western U.S. CSU course, hosted by CSU Global. This CSU Fort Collins course is open to students, working professionals, and anyone interested in learning about this pivotal resource that has defined this region's past and is poised to determine and impact its future. No prerequisites needed. 8-week course, 100% online.

July 17th, 2024 | Education classes at the River Stop - How fire affects watersheds and ecosystems. Classes for kids to learn about the watershed, plants, wildfire and more. Register HERE. River Stop, 200 Lion’s Park Circle, Rifle, Wednesday from 1 pm – 2 pm.

July 23rd, 2024 | Drought Resiliency Program Tours - Boulder County Learn about CAWA's Drought Resiliency projects and 2025 funding opportunities. Register HERE to tour the Grama Grass & Livestock's Bale Grazing Project from 12:30 - 1:30pm. To tour the Isabelle Farm's Rotational Grazing & Soil Health project from 3 - 4 pm, register HERE

July 23, 2024 | State Revolving Fund Regional Workshop. Akron workshop to be held at the Akron Senior & Community Center, from 9:00 a.m.- 4:15 p.m. They will cover topics including: SRF basics (including details about Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding in the SRF program), Funding options for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, Planning, asset management, available technical assistance, Current and upcoming regulations regarding lead and emerging contaminants. Please RSVP to the Akron workshop by Wednesday, July 17. Lunch will be provided.

July 30th, 2024 | Collaborative Forest Landscape Restoration Program - Virtual session from 11:30am - 1pm. Learn about the relationship between the USDA Forest Service and federally recognized Tribes; Hear examples of how the Tribal Forest Protection Act (TFPA) and 638 Contracting Authority are being used in landscape-scale forest restoration; engage with CFLRP practitioners and partners working under the TFPA and/or using 638 Contracting Authority. Register HERE.

July 30th, 2024 | AI for Nature: From Science to Impact - The Aspen Global Change Institute (AGCI) proudly presents this Walter Orr Roberts Memorial Public Lecture, presented by Dr. Tanya Berger-Wolf (Ohio State University). The talk will introduce a new field of science, imageomics, and present a vision and examples of AI as a trustworthy partner both in science and biodiversity conservation, discussing opportunities and challenges. RSVP HERE

July 31st, 2024 | Education classes at the River Stop - Plants and Techniques Used for Stream Restoration. Classes for kids to learn about the watershed, plants, wildfire and more. Register HERE. River Stop, 200 Lion’s Park Circle, Rifle, Wednesday from 1 pm – 2 pm.

July 31st, 2024 | Join the Mesa Conservation District and RiversEdge West for a free restoration workshop from 5:30-7:30 pm at the Mesa County Central Library! This collaborative event will highlight the importance of ecological practices in our community, focusing on the benefits of riparian zones and wetlands for wildlife and vegetation diversity. Learn how native vegetation can improve wildlife corridors, enhance soil health, and restore natural land functions. Discover effective methods for removing invasive non-native species and the value that restoration brings to both wildlife and people. RSVP HERE

August 7th, 2024 | State Rotating Fund Changes Q&A Session at 2pm - will provide detailed information regarding the change, answer questions, and discuss any applicant concerns. The State Revolving Fund (SRF) plans to improve project prioritization procedures in 2025. The goal of this change is to equitably allow eligible systems the chance to apply for SRF funding. This change is necessary due to increased demand for the program and cuts to the SRF base funding from the EPA. Click HERE to join the session. 

August 8th, 2024 | GrantCorps Government Grant Reporting - will provide nonprofits with an in-depth overview of nonprofit grant award management quarterly and annual reporting processes and will assist organizations in developing systems to track grant reporting requirements and to collect and report the data to inform these reports. This workshop will be held on Zoom from 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. Register HERE.

September 10th - 12th, 2024 | Northern Colorado Prescribed Fire Train Exchange (NOCO TREX) - Grasslands Prescribed Fire Workshop in Greeley will have two components: 1) Grasslands Prescribed Fire Workshop in Greeley September 10-12th; 2) On-call implementation window for 5 days (M-F) of prescribed fire in Northern CO between Sept 16-Oct 31, 2024. Apply HERE.

September 17th - 19th, 2024 | Qualified Water Efficient Landscaper Training in Aspen, CO is an EPA WaterSense labeled Professional Certification Program for Irrigation System Audits. The course provides landscape professionals with hands-on demonstrations and education on proper plant selection, landscape water use, irrigation system design and maintenance, controller programming and operation, and sustainable landscaping. Learn more HERE.

September 23rd & 24th, 2024 | National Stormwater Center - Colorado CSI MS4 Webinar. Designed for Municipal personnel (MS4), this course will focus on permit regulations and compliance to restore and maintain the waters of the United States.  Permits require certifying officials to select qualified stormwater personnel. Gain an in-depth understanding of stormwater permits, the six minimum control measures, how to conduct inspections, and the authority, demeanor, and discretion of stormwater inspectors to enhance your credentials. 

Webinar Recording: Overview of Prescribed Fire Liability in State Law. Lawyer Sara Clark provides an overview of prescribed fire liability in state law, including definitions of liability and how state laws defining liability interact with certified burn manager programs, tribal sovereignty and cultural burning, and prescribed fire insurance. This webinar is intended for those who are new to the issue of prescribed fire liability or those more experienced who would like an overview of the subject, especially anyone about to engage on similar policy initiatives in their state or jurisdiction.

Online Course: Leave No Trace 101 Course. This is an introduction to Leave No Trace and the actions we can collectively take to protect our planet. In this course we share helpful information with a simple framework of minimum impact practices to apply when spending time outdoors.

Watershed Academy’s new Hazard Mitigation Planning and Water Resource Management Module Ready - The EPA Watershed Academy has released their new Hazard Mitigation Planning and Water Resource Management Module. This module is intended for water quality and hazard mitigation professionals that are interested in integrating water quality issues and/or nature-based solutions into state or local Hazard Mitigation Plans (HMPs) and highlights the benefits of working across water quality and hazard mitigation programs. Modules in this series can be used as training tools to help planners from both worlds explore activities of mutual interest and benefit. Case studies and examples are provided to assist hazard mitigation planners with integrating water resource programs into HMPs and help watershed planners understand the synergies between water resource plans and HMPs. Visit this link to begin the course!

Colorado Water and the American West teaches students about the rich history of water in the Western United States, how native communities used it, and the American approach to water management. The western United States is a region with a long history of water challenges. In the American West, over 40 million people depend on the Colorado River, now listed as one of the most endangered rivers in America. MSU Denver developed the non credit Professional Water Studies courses for people interested in safeguarding this precious resource. Taught by MSU Denver faculty, courses are one month long, fully online, and self-paced to accommodate the schedules of busy professional students.

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 education resource to learn about your watershed including mine reclamation, water monitoring, recreational use, water conservation, drinking water and wastewater treatment and distribution, aquatic life, water scarcity, agricultural use, management, infrastructure, and more. Watch the video series HERE.

The American Stormwater Institute, LLC now offers live and online courses 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 the implementation of the new Non-standard MS4 Permit. Please click HERE to access the material.

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.

GrantCorps provides information, training, and technical support to nonprofits across Colorado in grant development and management so that funding gets to the organizations that need it most. All GrantCorps services are provided at no cost to eligible organizations. We support small, rural, and systemically marginalized communities, as well as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) led organizations so they can more equitably access private and government grant funding. For more information about GrantCorps, click HERE.

Waterloop has released an episode on how communities across the United States face significant challenges in accessing and effectively utilizing federal funding for water initiatives. The solution lies in leveraging these resources to empower grassroots organizations and address local water issues. Check it out HERE