FEBRUARY 19th, 2022 | Rain Barrels: Conserving Water in the Garden. Rain barrels are the perfect way to take the next step in rainwater harvesting at your home. In this class, Jessica Thrasher, Education and Outreach Manager for Colorado State University's Colorado Stormwater Center will provide an introduction to rainwater harvesting and step-by-step instructions on how to install your own rain barrel. You will even have an opportunity to win a rain barrel for your home! The cost for in person is $10 and $5 for virtual participation. It will be held at Gardens on Spring Creek 2145 Centre Ave, Fort Collins, CO 80526, or Virtual. Learn more here.
FEBRUARY 24th, 2022 - 12-1 PM | Water Quality: Regulation, Planning, and Funding. This Brought to you in partnership by Colorado Association of Conservation Districts (CACD), Colorado Ag Water Alliance (CAWA), Colorado Watershed Assembly (CWA), and Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS).
“What Is Regulation 85 and What’s at Stake for Ag Water Users?” - Greg Peterson, Colorado Ag Water Alliance
“Watershed Planning and The Nine Element Watershed Plan'' - Casey Davenhill, Colorado Watershed Assembly
“PL-566 Funding: How it can Address Infrastructure and Water Quality Concerns'' - John Andrews, NRCS, State Conservation Engineer.
Registration is free! Click here to register.
March 3rd-4th, 2022| Stormwater Control Measure Design/ Design Review Certification. The Colorado Stormwater Center provides a two-day workshop on stormwater control measures (SCM) design and design review. Properly functioning SCMs begin with the design process which can also have a significant impact on inspection and maintenance. In this 2-day training workshop, we teach participants how to design and review designs of SCMs. The workshop includes 12 hours of presentations/discussion in a classroom setting, a 2-hour field trip and a 2-hour written exam (optional). Participants that successfully pass the written exam receive certification from Colorado State University Extension and are recognized on our website. Register and learn more here.
MARCH 7-9th, 2022 | Asset Management for Water Utilities. This introductory course to asset management takes the participants on a visually engaging journey through the broad landscape of asset management concepts. A series of interactive exercises will demonstrate how the concepts are applied into practice in a way that will help Water and Wastewater Utilities design strategies to realize value from their assets. Click here for more information and to register.
April 5th-6th, 2022 | Stormwater Control Measure Inspection and Maintenance Certification. The Colorado Stormwater Center provides a 1.5 day workshop on stormwater control measures (SCM) inspection and maintenance. All SCMs require regular maintenance to remain operating as designed. In this 1.5 day training workshop, we teach participants how to recognize SCM maintenance needs and how to perform maintenance correctly. The workshop includes 8 hours of presentations/discussion in a classroom setting, a 2-hour field trip and a 2-hour written exam (optional). Participants that successfully pass the written exam receive certification from Colorado State University Extension and are recognized on our website. Click here to register.
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.
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!
“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.
