Conferences & Events Late May

MAY 21st, 2022 | Spring Extravaganza and Tent Sale | SJMA. Now that the San Juan National Forest Headquarters is once again open in Durango, you're invited to the Spring Extravaganza and Tent Sale on Colorado Public Lands Day! Swing by the event where our VIS Specialists have planned special gear sales, advice on trip planning, and a chance to browse our bookstore discounts. You can also meet local author and SJMA Forest Ambassador, MK Thompson, and get an autographed copy of The Art of Misadventure.

MAY 23rd-25th, 2022 | Western Water Future Games | Western Colorado University. This is three intensive days of brainstorming and collaborating over evolving water issues in serious need of new thinking and new ideas. After 20 years of a mega drought that shows no sign of abating and an increasing human population, we believe that the old models need to be re-examined and re-tooled. For more information or to be put on the mailing list, contact: Western Water Futures Games Director Jeff Sellen at jsellen@western.edu.

MAY 26th, 2022 | Fly Fishing Film Tour. The 16th Annual Fly Fishing Film Tour includes a selection of films that are sure to get you fired up! From Costa Rica to Australia to Louisiana and beyond, catch the action and amazing stories of anglers from across the globe. CTU will be selling general and special raffle tickets at the door; all drawings will take place during intermission! Don't miss out on your chance to win products from YETI and more. A day of float fishing on the Roaring Fork or Lower Colorado with Golden Fly Shop will be featured as a special raffle prizes!

JUNE 15th-17th | Annual River Basin Tour. Each year, these fun and informative multi-day tours draw attendees statewide. Water Education Colorado takes lawmakers, water managers, attorneys, engineers and members of the public on a tour of a different river basin in Colorado to learn about the history, water-management practices and challenges of the area. Participants can also take part in extra-curricular activities, such as rafting or fly-fishing, dine at area ranches or open-space parks, and network among peers. Find more information here.

JUNE 25th, 2022 | Ridgway River Festival | Uncompahgre Watershed. Ridgway River Festival (RiverFest) is a family-friendly celebration of the Uncompahgre River and our community with all-age river races, live music, local food and drink, kids’ activities, watershed educational and cultural programs.  The highlight of the day is the infamous “Junk of the Unc” race in which boaters maneuver their craft,  constructed from scrap materials not intended for river travel, through whitewater rapids and others’ junk, trying to keep it all intact for the 0.5 mile finish line. 

JUNE 25th, 2022 | A Night In The Park | Mountain Area Land Trust. Join MALT at "A Night in the Park" on as they celebrate the 30th year of land and water conservation! "A Night in the Park" is MALT's signature gala and the must-attend event of the summer! Former Denver Bronco Reggie Rivers will be back with his amazing energy and enthusiasm to emcee our evening and other special guests will be honored as part of the celebration. Read more and purchase your tickets here.

JULY 11th-29th, 2022 | Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) Colloquium | The Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes (CW3E). The Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes (CW3E) would like to announce the Forecast Informed Reservoir Operations (FIRO) Colloquium, which will be held 11-29 July 2022 at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in La Jolla, California. Scholarships for travel expenses are available. The application deadline is February 1st 2022. Read more and apply here.

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

Job Announcements Late May

Grand Valley Water Users Association (GVWUA) in Grand Junction, CO is seeking applicants for the position of Irrigation District Manager. The Manager reports to an 11-member board, implements the board’s directives and policies, and manages the administrative and operational functions of the Association. Requirements include knowledge of irrigation system operation and excellent skills in management, budgeting and customer relations. Salary range begins at $95,000.Please apply before May 25, 2022 at indeed.com where a detailed job description is posted.

The South Platte Basin Roundtable is seeking a Recorder. This position is responsible for administrative duties including maintaining the member list and calendar, distributing agendas and meeting materials for the monthly meetings. There will be one in-person meeting a month. This flexible, part-time position will be paid a flat rate of $400 a month. This is a great opportunity to be involved in the vital Colorado Water Plan and Roundtable process. Please contact and submit your letter of interest and qualifications to Sean Chambers at Sean.Chambers@greeleygov.com. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.

The West Region Wildfire Council is currently reviewing applications to fill our Partnership & Collaboration Director position. The partnership & collaboration director will provide leadership and/or assistance for initiatives that create and enhance connections between and amongst stakeholders, promote coordination and collaboration and advance an increase to the pace and scale of prioritized outcomes as they relate to wildfire and watershed resilience. This position will expand WRWC’s capacity to convene, facilitate and foster collaborative communication and coordination services for numerous partners and stakeholders. The full position description, benefits and instructions for how to apply can be found here. 

The Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership seeks a contract/consultant position to support the development and implementation of the TRCP’s new Rio Grande Program. The contract position is responsible for the strategic and tactical leadership and issue-based advocacy to influence public policy in New Mexico and Colorado. To apply for this position, email a cover letter and resume to careers@trcp.org with the subject line “Rio Grande Project Coordinator.” The position will remain open until filled. Find more details here.

The Alliance Center is seeking an Operations and Finance Manager and a Facility Manager. Click here for more information about both of these positions.

Cottonwood Institute is looking for inspiring and passionate field instructors to lead outdoor programs in the spring of 2022 and additional programs throughout the year. CI partners with local schools and youth organizations to connect students to the outdoors through low impact camping and service-learning projects. Most programs operate in base camp settings throughout the Front Range, however, several programs involve backpacking into backcountry areas throughout Colorado. Please read the CAP class section of our website to get a sense for our flagship program. As a field instructor, you will be working with our CAP instructors to take their classes on field days and overnights as part of their courses’ culminating experience. The full job description can be found here.

Florida Consolidated Ditch Company is seeking an Operations Manager. As Operations Manager, you would communicate with shareholders, maintain the ditch, manage personnel, and work with contractors, equipment operators, and government officials. It’s full-time during the summer irrigation season with the ability to work part-time in the offseason. Read the full job posting here.

Mountain Studies Institute is currently hiring for three positions: Accountant/Bookkeeper, Finance and Operations Director, and Development and Engagement Director. Visit this link for additional information!

San Juan Mountain Association is now hiring for a new position on the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre, and Gunnison National Forests as a Community Outreach Specialist. The Norwood Community Outreach Specialist will be based out of the Norwood Ranger Station to develop and deliver interpretive and educational programming and organize volunteer events to contribute to public lands stewardship in the region. This part-time seasonal position is great for an individual passionate about promoting conservation and stewardship on public lands. Click here for more information and to apply.

San Juan Mountain Association is hiring a lead instructor for our popular environmental education day camp. The camp instructor will work with the SJMA education team to deliver outdoor education programming at SJMA’s Nature Center and on public lands throughout Southwest Colorado. SJMA instructors have a passion for getting youth outdoors, cultivating a deep understanding of natural processes, and encouraging public lands stewardship. Click here for more information and to apply.

The Colorado State University Department of Forest and Rangeland Stewardship (FRS) in the Warner College of Natural Resources at Colorado State University (CSU) is seeking applications for an Assistant Professor specializing in forest ecology with experience and/or strong interest in urban environments. This is a 9-month, full-time tenure track faculty position. More information on the position and how to apply can be found in the attached position description. Click here to read the full description.

ERO Resources Corporation is currently seeking a full-time staff biologist to join our natural resources group in Denver, Colorado.  This position will work in collaboration with our natural resources group to support new and existing natural resource projects based out of our Denver office.  The ideal candidate for this position will apply their ecological knowledge to evaluate a variety of project sites for natural resource concerns, provide guidance to clients on those resources, and prepare and review ecological reports and permit applications. Click here for more information.

Trainings & Workshops Late May

JUNE 8th & 9th, 2022 | Forest to Faucets Teacher Workshop. Mountain Studies Institute, in partnership with San Juan Mountains Association, the Water Information Program, and Fort Lewis College conduct the Forests to Faucets: My Water Comes from the San Juan Mountains teacher training workshop each year. Teachers attend a two-day workshop where they learn watershed science, and the model lessons found within the My Water guide.

June 23rd-24th, 2022 | Long Term Capital and Financial Planning for Municipal/Public Water and Wastewater Utilities. This course will address the benefits of effective long-term financial planning, the factors that drive capital expenditure needs (e.g. new customer growth, regulatory compliance, etc), and the common funding sources (both internal and external sources) available for capital projects. In addition, since the utilization of debt has become increasingly prevalent in the public utility industry, it is imperative for managers and directors to become informed and knowledgeable of the process and requirements for issuing bonds.

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 Late May

Cleanup grants assist in the remediation of abandoned properties that contain environmental hazards. They are available to:

  • Not-for-profit entities

  • Non-Federal Governmental entities

  • Watershed or other community organizations

  • OR get formal support from one of the above

Applications are officially open for submission and will close on May 31. Selections will be made on a competitive basis and announced in the summer of 2022.

Last year's bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act included $400 million over five years for WaterSMART grants. The U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (USBR) is now making $160 million available for WaterSMART grants and will release additional funding opportunities in the coming months. Projects eligible for these grants must conserve and use water more efficiently, increase the production of renewable energy, mitigate conflict risk in areas at a high risk of future water conflict, or accomplish other benefits that contribute to sustainability in the Western United States. Applications are due July 28, 2022. Click here to learn more and to view eligibility requirements.

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 Late May

The spring issue of high country angler is here. Check out the featured articles in the new edition of High Country Angler e-zine!  The Spring issue includes a double-dose of Landon Mayer on responsible fishing during the spawning season and visiting Wyoming's Powder River, an update on TU's efforts to secure Good Sam legislation to promote abandoned mine cleanups, fly selection tips from biologist Peter Stitcher, and more!

Dust in the Wind

One of the driest Aprils on record in the state of Colorado has left the southwest portion of the state with an alarmingly low snowpack. Dry, warm weather combined with many layers of dust, starting with the Presidents Day storm, are melting the snowpack very quickly. These dust layers arrive on west winds from the desert and are generally deposited at the beginning of a windy storm cycle.

Snowpacks melt from the top down - as the snow melts, the layers of dust concentrate at the top of the snowpack. White snow, absent of dust, reflects much of the suns energy in a process known as albedo. The albedo effect slows melting and preserves snowpack into the spring and summer. When darker dust particles are introduced into the snowpack they absorb solar radiation and melt the snow at a much higher rate, inducing an earlier, quicker runoff.

The greater Southwest basin currently has a snowpack with snow water equivalent (SWE) that is just 39% of the median-to-date. The San Miguel basin is doing a little bit better but still only has 69% of normal snowpack. The NRCS is forecasting streamflow at Placerville from May-July to be just 56% of median volume.

May 6, 2022 (Denver, CO) - PBS12 is excited to announce the broadcast premiere of Farm to Faucet, a documentary produced and directed by Christi Bode Skeie. The value of water holds many definitions throughout Colorado’s urban and rural communities; it is a chasm that reveals itself well beyond its physical availability. Growing towns and cities look to move this critical resource away from farms and ranches - a practice that is changing entire ecosystems. Farm to Faucet is an honest look at our society’s willingness to adapt in an ever-changing climate space, which will ultimately shape the future of the West. “I wanted to be able to offer some solutions. These ideas are coming from people who live and breathe these issues - whether they are a farmer or a water provider that is trying to figure out how to secure water supply for their town for the next 50 years.” Christi Bode Skeie is the Owner & Executive Producer of Moxiecran Media, a multimedia production company specializing in environmental education and documentary film. “We’re excited to premiere Farm to Faucet here in Colorado,” said Kristen Blessman, President & General Manager. “We’re all keenly aware of the water crisis in the West and we’re glad to play an impactful role in helping our community better understand the issue.” Funding for the film was provided by Colorado Office of Film, Television & Media, The Water Desk, Rio Grande Water Conservation District and First Southwest Community Fund, along with project support from the Salazar Rio Grande del Norte Center at Adams State University. Watch the televised premiere on PBS12.1 or via livestream  (www.pbs12.org/livestream/). For those outside PBS12’s station broadcast coverage area, search by zip code at https://www.pbs12.org/connect/find-our-channels/. Additional broadcast and screening dates to be announced.

Interested in more simple ways to conserve and protect Colorado water? Check out the 22 Ways to Care for Colorado Water in 2022 and take the pledge to save 22 gallons of water or more! Water connects us all, upstream and downstream, past, present and future. It’s up to all of us to conserve and protect it. There are easy actions you can take to keep our water clean and save 22 gallons or more every day. That adds up to over 8,000 gallons of savings per year. If every Coloradan does their part, we can save close to 48 billion gallons.

Rattlesnakes have a lot of misconceptions or folklore surrounding them because they are often perceived as mysterious and are generally misunderstood. Colorado Parks and Wildlife species conservation coordinator Tina Jackson has spent the last 20 years learning about snakes, and she shared her knowledge of rattlesnakes in the latest Colorado Outdoors podcast, episode No. 28, released Wednesday. Click here to listen to the podcast episode on rattlesnake

Last year, the Babbitt Center and the Lincoln Institute’s Center for Geospatial Solutions released a peer-reviewed map of the Colorado River Basin that showcases the area’s geography and hydrography. Mountains to Sea: The History and Future of the Colorado River addresses inconsistencies found among other widely used maps of the region. Hard copies of the map are still available. Learn more.