A Rio Grande Cutthroat Trout. Division of Wildlife. U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. Photo taken: 3/29/2004.

Now Accepting Applications for Assistance Supporting Community-Led Conservation and Recreation Projects. Have an idea for a park, trail, or conservation project in your community? The National Park Service works with local leaders to build partnerships, develop plans, and expand community support for outdoor recreation and conservation projects. Can they help your community? Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance (RTCA) staff can work with you to organize and carry out a planning process that engages partners and the broader community in crafting a well-defined project vision, goals, and actionable strategies for getting things done on the ground. Their assistance is free, but they require a strong commitment from the project partners to lead the effort. They do not provide grants or direct financial support. Applications are due by June 30, 2018 for assistance beginning the following fiscal year (October 1 through September 30). Please review the application process and guidelines on their website. Additional information on the services they provide and how to apply is covered in this recorded webinar.

Pros and cons: Understanding the trade-offs of alternative water supplies. More water utilities than ever are looking at diversifying their water supply portfolios using “alternative supply strategies,” such as onsite reuse, wastewater reuse, seawater/brackish groundwater desalination, and conservation to meet future demands. But what is there to better understand and hopefully anticipate before implementing a given approach? We need your input! The Water Research Foundation is conducting a study to help utilities identify the trade-offs (benefits and risks) of incorporating alternative water supplies into their water supply portfolios for greater reliability. Please take this brief, confidential survey by June 17.

Keeping A Unique Water Tradition Alive In Southern Colorado’s Acequias. For many people, spring is a time for deep cleaning, a time to take stock of and prepare for the year ahead. That’s also the case on farms in southern Colorado and northern New Mexico, where farmers spend their weekends banding together to clean out the irrigation ditches that bring snowmelt to their fields. The clean up, known as the limpieza, is part of an irrigation tradition unique to this region for centuries. If you irrigate here, Quintana says, you or one of your family members is expected to be here shoveling out muck, removing trash and tree limbs. The limpieza is an annual obligation. Read the whole story HERE.

Introducing The Colorado Footprint, a monthly column that follows stories about Colorado’s environment and the solutions-based projects, people, and ideas bettering the Centennial State. OutThere Colorado is driven by our deep respect for our environment, and our passionate commitment to sustainable tourism and conservation. We believe in the right for everyone – from all backgrounds and cultures – to enjoy our natural world, and we believe that we must all do so responsibly. This column aims to highlight those engaged in the vital work of protecting and preserving Colorado’s environment. Follow this LINK to read more.

On Air: Connecting the Drops: The inextricable link among forests, fires, and water. Wildfires are a reality for those living in the West, but the impact on the landscape lingers long after the smoke is gone. In Colorado, our public lands serve as source watersheds for the vast majority of the state—80 percent of Coloradans drink water that flows out of national forest land alone. Forest, fire and water are now inextricably linked. Listen to the story on Connecting the Drops, a statewide series on water. Listen HERE.

MEETING NOTICE: Colorado Water Quality Forum 10-year water quality roadmap Workgroup involvement opportunity. The mission of the workgroup is to achieve solutions to Colorado water quality issues through communication and understanding, balancing use, and protection of the resource.

Water Quality Members and Participants: The 10-year water quality roadmap is their plan to develop or revise water quality standards from 2017 to 2027. They'll hold quarterly workgroup meetings to discuss progress and encourage participation. Learn more about all the topics involved on the roadmap webpage, ROAD WEBPAGE.

Meeting 1: Completed
Meeting two: Wednesday, Aug. 22, 2018 (1-4 p.m.)
Meeting three: Wednesday, Nov. 28, 2018 (1-4 p.m.)
Meeting four: Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2019 (1-4 p.m.)

Anyone can participate! If you would like to receive future emails about the workgroup, use this online sign-up form to join the mailing list so they can stay in touch.