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River, Trails, and Conservation Assistance Colorado News
National Park Service Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance program (RTCA) empowers communities nationwide to protect their special places. Read about the 2012 projects in Colorado here.

CWCB Proposed Instream Flow Appropriations
At its January 23-24, 2012 regular meeting, the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) declared its intent to appropriate instream flow water rights for the 4 streams listed on the attached instream flow appropriation list. Copies of the Instream Flow Recommendation Summary Reports and Appendices submitted into the Official CWCB Record are available for review during regular business hours (8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.) at the CWCB's office, located at 1313 Sherman Street, Room 721, Denver, Colorado, 80203. This information is also available on the CWCB website here.

H20 Jo Survey
Colorado’s water ambassadors H2O Jo and Flo are broadly used and recognized around Colorado as water quality messengers. A hybrid logo has been created to graphically connect the H2O Jo and Flo and Colorado Year of Water logos. We would like to gather your feedback on potential and actual use. Please visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/T2FPCQ5 and take the short survey.

Water 2012
Colorado Water 2012 is being spearheaded by CFWE with the help of over 200 volunteers to bring awareness and educational water activities to Colorado through a yearlong celebratory campaign. Committees are working on school and university activities, a virtual book club, traveling informational displays, web-based tools, watershed activities, and a traveling speaker’s series. There are many upcoming events and volunteer opportunities. To check them out and learn more about Water 2012 please visit www.Water2012.org.

New Events

Feb 23: Tamarisk Leaf Beetle Presentation
Join Dr. Dan Bean, Director of the Colorado Department of Agriculture Palisade Insectary, and Season Martin, Restoration Coordinator with Tamarisk Coalition, for an informative presentation on tamarisk biological control.  Potential implications for the Colorado River Basin and other western rivers will be explored as will recent mapping efforts of the tamarisk leaf beetle. Free and open to the public at Colorado Mesa University Saccomanno Lecture Hall on February 23rd, 2012; 7-9 pm. For more information, call 970-256-7400.

March 9: Climate & Colorado’s Water Future
Take an exclusive tour of the National Ice Core Laboratory in Lakewood and learn from expert climate scientists such as Nolan Doesken and Todd Hinkley. Participants will also receive interactive water and climate teaching tools to use in your own classrooms or programs. Space is limited! Register online at www.cfwe.org

March 21: Biocriteria in the Real World: Intermediate Level
This webinar will provide an understanding of bioassessement, biocritiera, and the possible power of those tools in protecting and restoring your watershed. Bioassessements are an evaluation of the biological condition of a waterbody using biological surveys and other direct measurements of macroinvertebrates, fish, etc. 10am MST. The webinar is free, but you must RSVP here.

April 22: Live-Life-Smiling Mile High Mile
The Live-Life-Smiling Mile High Mile is Denver's premier one mile road race.  With a dramatic finish running through the player's tunnel and onto the field at Sports Authority Field at Mile High, this event is fun for all ages.  The Greenway Foundation’s Live-Life-Smiling Mile High Mile serves to provide a unique experience that encourages people of all ages and from all levels of fitness to get active, get outside, and have fun. The runners are supporting The Greenway Foundation’s SPREE (South Platte River Environmental Education) program by participating in this event. Early registration is open until Feb 24!

April 25-26: Arkansas River Basin Water Forum
Save the date for the 2012 Arkansas River Basin Water Forum taking place at the Climax-Molybdenum Leadership Center at Colorado Mountain College in Leadville, CO!  See the attached reminder and check out the website (www.arbwf.org) for details on lodging and registration. Registration ($45) may done online at our website or by mail-in.  Exhibitors are also welcome at the same registration rate.

Upcoming Events

Ongoing: State of the Rockies Monthly Speakers
All State of the Rockies events are free and open to the public, who are encouraged to join the ongoing discussion of the issues that affect our beautiful yet fragile region. Click here for more information.

Feb 15-17: 2012 Tamarisk Symposium
 considered the preeminent conference on the tamarisk and related riparian restoration issues and will bring together nearly 250 land and resource managers, researchers, public and private sectors and others from throughout the West. More info here. Early registration ends Jan 17!

Feb 22: CWCB's Annual Instream Flow Workshop
The workshop will be held at the Denver REI Flagship Store.  Please let Rob Viehl (rob.viehl@state.co.us, 303-866-3441, ext. 3237)  know if you plan to attend, and contact Rob if you have questions about the workshop. 

Feb 22: EPA Webinar on Tool for Comparing Impaired Waters Restorability
’s Watershed Academy for a free webinar titled “Recovery Potential Screening: A Tool for Comparing Impaired Waters "Restorability” on February 22, 2012 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EST.  This webinar will help states, watershed groups and others become acquainted with a new website and methodology for analyzing and comparing restorability differences among watersheds.  The webinar will highlight the new recovery potential website, www.epa.gov/recoverypotential. To register for this webinar, please visitwww.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts

Feb 23-24: DARCA Conference
The 10th Annual Convention of the Ditch and Reservoir Company Alliance (DARCA):"Are Your Water Rights in Jeopardy?" will be held at the DoubleTree Hotel in Colorado Springs. A wide variety of speakers will discuss their views on timely subjects facing ditch and reservoir companies. For information regarding convention registration as well as sponsorship or exhibitor opportunities please visit the DARCA website or contact John McKenzie at (970) 412-1960 or john.mckenzie@darca.org.

Feb 29: Beauty and Bugs in Urban Streams
'guest artist Joe McGrane. Dr. Boris Kondratieff will explain how aquatic insects reveal the health and resulting beauty of the streams. This free and innovative series provides ways to save money, protect the environment and gain a better appreciation for our local resources. For more inforamtion, click here.

Feb 29: Retrofit This- A Guide to Retrofitting the World?
This webcast is hosted by the Center for Watershed Protection. This webcast – part I of a two-part retrofit webcast mini-series -- will broaden your perspective about retrofitting. The webcast will introduce a stormwater retrofitting practice hierarchy and describe how to find, prioritize, and build the most effective retrofits. 10am -noon MST. Cost: $149. Click here to learn more.

March and April, Various Dates: Forestry Webinar Series
Colorado State University Extension is hosting a Forest Webinar Series. Join us to learn more about windbreaks, tree care, forest health, wildlife, and much more! Webinars take place from 12-1pm MST on March 1,7, 14 and April 11 and 18. Click here for more information

Mar 1: Statewide Roundtable Summit
Statewide Roundtable Summit, scheduled for March 1st, 2012 from 8 am to 5 pm at the Omni Interlocken Resort, 500 Interlocken Boulevard, Broomfield, CO. In addition, the IBCC is meeting during the afternoon of February 29th and a welcome reception will follow. Conference attendees are encouraged to attend both events.Registration Closes February 23. Hotel room block closes on Thursday, February 9.  You can check out the draft agenda here.

Mar 1-2: Rocky Mountain Land Institute 21st Annual Land Use Conference
RMLI’s 21st Annual Land Use Conference presents an opportunity to explore approaches to development that not only make Western communities vibrant economic centers, but also strengthen their connections to the land. Register here.

Mar 6-8: High Altitude Revegetation Workshop
The High Altitude Revegetation Workshop to be held March 6-8, 2012, at the Lory Student Center on the Colorado State University Campus, Fort Collins, Colorado. This conference is a continuation of the Workshop series that began in 1974. For over thirty-five years, interested people from the environmental restoration industry, academia and regulatory agencies have gathered every other year to learn about new techniques, products and methods for solving revegetation and restoration problems. Click here for more information.

Mar 13: AWE Irrigation webinar
webinardesigned to educate water conservation and irrigation professionals on the need for more efficient irrigation and on proven technologies and practices.

March 14: Xeriscape from the Ground Up, .
The City of Fort Collins is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Residential Environmental Program Series. From 7-9pm, learn fresh ideas to convert an area of your yard into a beautiful, water-saving landscape.  This free and innovative series provides ways to save money, protect the environment and gain a better appreciation for our local resources.  For more information, visit fcgov.com/reps.

April 4: Xeriscape by Design
The City of Fort Collins is celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Residential Environmental Program Series.  From 7-9pm, learn how to prepare a design for year-round enjoyment with structure and delightful plants.  This free and innovative series provides ways to save money, protect the environment and gain a better appreciation for our local resources.  For more information, visit fcgov.com/reps.

April 24-26: National River Management Symposium
Registration is now open for the 2012 National River Management Symposium, sponsored by the River Management Society and RiverLink. From intimate creeks to the infinite sea, conservation professionals can explore the Tar Heel state, national river issues and take back valuable lessons that may be applied to your own river. Click here for more information!

Apr 30-May 4: National Water Quality Monitoring Council's 8th National Monitoring Conference
Join the NWQMC for their annual conference Water: One Resource - Shared Effort - Common Future taking place in Portland, OR from April 30-May 4. This conference will focus on the many facets of water quality and quantity monitoring for improved understanding, protection,and restoration of our natural resources and communities. Click here for more information.

May 4-7: River Rally 2012
Registration for River Rally 2012 is now open! This year, River Network and Waterkeeper Alliance have joined forces to convene the largest gathering ever of clean water advocates. At River Rally, you will learn the best strategies for restoration. You will test and help improve the newest tools and technologies for protection. You will discuss critical information from the field, both from the U.S. and internationally. And—you will connect with the people you need to achieve your goals. Click here for more information!

June 10-15: River Conservation and Fly Fishing Youth Camp
Colorado Trout Unlimited is now accepting applications for the seventh annual River Conservation and Fly Fishing Youth Camp, June 10-15, 2012 at the High Lonesome Ranch near DeBeque, CO. Applications must be received by April 15, 2012. The camp is designed to educate 14 to 18 year old students on the importance of coldwater conservation and provide hands-on fly fishing instruction. Approximately 20 students are selected each year, based on their qualifications and a written essay on why they would like to attend the camp. Find more information here and find the flyer here.

Funding Opportunities List:
The Colorado Watershed Assembly has compiled a list of governmental and non-governmental funding sources for restoration projects and organizational capacity building. The list can be found on our website. 

DUE SOON!

Local Sustainability Matching Fund
Application Deadline: March 5, 2012
The purpose of the Local Sustainability Matching Fund is twofold: to catalyze partnerships between local government sustainability directors and local, place-based foundations, including community foundations, and to advance important community-based sustainability initiatives. The Fund will provide partnership investments between $25,000 and $75,000, with a 1:1 match required by one or more local foundation. The Network anticipates that the Fund will support up to ten partnership projects in the first year in two rounds in the spring and fall of 2012. More information can be found at www.fundersnetwork.org.

Upcoming Deadlines

Scholarship Opportunity for IBCC and Basin Roundtable Members
The Public Education, Participation and Outreach (PEPO) workgroup of the IBCC has made funding available to all Basin Roundtables to offset costs of water education opportunities. The goal of this funding is to provide basin roundtable members with financial assistance to learn about water issues in other basins and statewide, thus transferring information between basins. For more information on the available scholarships, please click here.

For a comprehensive list of trainings visit the Assembly's website.    

New Trainings

Feb 21: Developing Your Case for Support, a Giftworks Free Webinar
Whether your organization is embarking on a capital campaign, preparing grant proposals or developing your annual fund materials, the Case for Support is the first critical element in your fundraising program. In this webinar we will discuss the importance of the case and how it is used, list the key elements in a case for support, and learn how to evaluate case statements. Please register here for this webinar here.

March 8: Volunteer Risk Management Seminar
Do you use volunteers in leading, guiding, or assisting with your programs? In this interactive session, we will discuss legal and risk management issues that are important to understand if you work with volunteers. Join Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado in Golden, CO for a seminar on March 8 from 8am to noon. Cost is $50. Click here for more information.

Upcoming Trainings

Feb 15: 401 Water Quality Certification Webinar
Join Merritt Frey, River Network’s Rivers and Habitat Program Director, on Wednesday, February 15 at 10am MST for a webinar on a fundamental tool of the Clean Water Act: water quality standards. This will be a 101-level training, suitable for river and watershed organizations, land trusts, tribal governments and wildlife or lands groups interested in better understanding the power of one of the Clean Water Act's core programs.Click here for more information.

Feb 16 and 23: Water Center at Colorado Mesa University's Water Course
The public is invited to this evening seminar series on how water is managed in our region. Feb 16 will focus on "Water Supply and Planning" and Feb 23 will be about "Water Quality". Cost is $45 for the whole series of $20/session. Click here for more information.

Feb 18: Wildland Restoration Volunteers Project Leader Training
If leadership, teamwork, project planning and getting "behind the scenes" with restoration sound like they're up your alley, you’re a great candidate to become a Project Leader! Consider taking our training to become a Project Leader or Assistant Project Leader for the 2012 season. Fee: $50 or $25 for current members and volunteers. Scholarships are available. Register here.

Various Dates in March: Crew Leader Training for Ecological Restoration
Crew leadership is a great way to multiply the value of your stewardship efforts on public lands, build your professional leadership skills, and help other volunteers have a rewarding and fun experience! The three trainings occur on Mar 17-18, Mar 31-1, and July 7 and July 14. Click here to register.

Mar 6-9: Certified Interpretive Guide Course
Hone your communication and interpretation skills and confidence.  South Platte Park has hosted this training for the past ten years, with offerings in March and November.  We have had an amazing mix of students from around the metro-region, state, and nation participate in this challenging course.  Tues, Mar 6 – Fri, Mar 9, 8:30 am – 5 pm. Find details and Register here. Discounted lodging available as well.

March 6 and 8: Project Learning Tree Workshop
Attend this workshop and become certified in this award winning environmental education program designed for teachers and other educations and community leaders working with youth from preschool through grade 12. $25 for professionals and $20 for students. RSVP by visiting www.plt.org.

March 8: Urban Forest to Rain Gardens
In this course, taught through the University of Colorado Boulder, we will walk through a few green technologies taking root in cities today, such as green roofs, rain gardens and trees. Click here for time, cost and other information.

May 4: Mobilize your Board to Raise More Money
If your Board isn’t raising all the money it could—indeed, if your Board isn’t raising any money at all—you’re not alone. In this workshop, we’ll discuss the reasons why, and outline strategies to turn things around through stronger leadership. You’ll leave with several practical options for increasing Board involvement and effectiveness. This all day training takes place in Portland, Oregon in conjunction with River Network's River Rally. Find more information here. Cost is $150 for River Network Partners.

May 14-18: 2012 Ranger Excellence School
 The ranger training will be once again hosted at the Larimer County Fairgrounds and Events Center. Training topics for this year will include medical emergency management, character and ethics, self defense, wilderness first aid/wilderness first responder re-certification, wildlife crimes identification and many more.  As we progress with planning, the training schedule and session descriptions will be added to the Ranger Training page off of the Colorado Open Space Alliance website. 
 

Seasonal Open Space Technician, City of Louisville
Under the direction of the Open Space Coordinator this position will be responsible for assisting with vegetation and wildlife management, general open space maintenance, resource mapping, volunteer coordination, education programming and other duties as assigned. Term of employment: April 9 – October 5, 2012. Apply by March 1 at http://www.louisvilleco.gov/SERVICES/EmploymentHumanResources/JobOpportunities/tabid/576/Default.aspx

Seasonal Open Space Wildlife Technician, City of Boulder
City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Department (OSMP) is hiring up to 4 seasonal Wildlife Technician positions for the Spring / Summer / Fall 2012 seasons. The successful candidates will perform wildlife inventory and monitoring of birds (forest and grassland), mammals, and amphibians following OSMP study plans and established protocols and will compile and organize wildlife data using Access, Excel and GIS.Click here for more information. The positions are currently posted and open until filled

Outdoor Recreation Manager, Jefferson County
Position will provide expertise in coordinating overall outdoor recreation management for the Open Space Division including review of current and proposed programs, activities, policy recommendations, administering the Special Activity Permit program and researching of outdoor recreation management trends. Position closes Feb. 23, 2012. Click here for more information.

OSM/VISTA Position, Uncompahgre Watershed Partners
The UWP is looking for a new OSM/VISTA for a one year term. The WHWT website is http://hardrockteam.org/ and the first tab describes becoming a OSM/VISTA volunteer.  It has all the details of the position.  Anyone interested could also contact me to get more information and look at our website;  uncompahgrewatershed.org.  If you are interested in being part of the interview process or reviewing applicants contact me for we would love to have assistance. 

Seasonal Boulder Junior Ranger Program Crew Leaders, City of Boulder Open Space
The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks department is recruiting crew leaders for their summer youth corps program – Junior Rangers. Crew Leaders are passionate outdoor educators who facilitate team development, complete natural resource management projects, and lead stewardship education activities for crew members ages 14-17. Job dates: May 21-August 15, 2012. Apply by February 22, 2012 www.osmp.org

Volunteers, BLM
Join in an upcoming BLM volunteer event on the Dolores River, Saturday, February 25 through Tuesday, February 28. The event will be a willow transplanting event with restoration extrodinaire, Sparky Tabor and company from the GJ-BLM office. The crew is looking for some extra help to reestablish willow stands in areas where there was once nothing but tamarisk!  Click here for more information.

Colorado Environmental Coalition Update

Grant Station Newsletter

The Greenway Foundation Chomper's Chatter

Community Resource Center

The Colorado Watershed Assembly does not take a stand on any water or watershed issue expressed in its newsletter. The Colorado Watershed Assembly advocates for consensus, cooperation, compromise, and collaboration between all stakeholders involved in watershed issues. Our information network is designed and intended to educate and engage citizen stakeholders in watershed issues across the state and not to advocate for a specific issue. If you would like the Colorado Watershed Assembly to distribute watershed news or an event, please send the information to cwa@coloradowater.org.