Funding Opportunities for Late April

Mount Evans Summit Lake, Mount Evans is reflected in the cool waters of Summit Lake, Division of Wildlife, David Hannigan, 8/5/2013

Mount Evans Summit Lake, Mount Evans is reflected in the cool waters of Summit Lake, Division of Wildlife, David Hannigan, 8/5/2013

The American Forest Foundation (AFF) invites submission of proposals for a renewable 2-year Network Partner Program grant to implement outreach and engagement projects targeting non-industrial private forest landowners in defined sub-watersheds in Colorado, Utah, or New Mexico. These projects will prioritize outreach to now-unengaged landowner populations at a scale commensurate with the conservation challenge, adopt social marketing best practices, and reflect strategies that provide interested landowners with a range of services over time, including but not limited to technical and/or financial assistance, that empower those landowners to restore fire resiliency to their property and in so doing demonstrably safeguard water quality. Proposal deadline May 19, 2017. For questions or submissions, contact, Tom Fry, Western Conservation Director at the American Forest Foundation, at tfry@forestfoundation.org

USDA Regional Conservation Partnership Program – Pre-applications due April 21, 2017. Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) will award up to $252 million dollars to locally driven, public-private partnerships that improve the nation’s water quality, combat drought, enhance soil health, support wildlife habitat and protect agricultural viability. Applicants must match or exceed the federal award with private or local funds. The NRCS national office will host multiple webinars about the pre-application and full project application processes. More details HERE.

Patagonia Environmental Grant - Due April 30, 2017. This grant, presented by Patagonia, supports small, grassroots, activist organizations with provocative direct-action agendas, working on multi-pronged campaigns to preserve and protect our environment. Efforts should be quantifiable, with specific goals, objectives and action plans, and should include measures for evaluating success. Click here for more details.

National Science Foundation CBET Request for Proposals - Due May 1, 2017. The Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems invites proposals in Public Participation in Engineering Research, focusing on the use of citizen science and crowdsourcing, to enhance community engagement with water quality engineering research. The anticipated award size will be up to $100,000, with an anticipated duration of one year, pending availability of funds. Click here for more details.

National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program Due June 30. The Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program (RTCA) helps to connect communities to parks and natural areas by assisting local leaders in protecting special places and creating close-to-home opportunities for the public to enjoy the outdoors. The program works with local partners to develop and carry out a locally led process that encourages developing a common vision, creative planning, and collaborative action from all the participants. In the National Park Service's Intermountain Region, the program is supporting 41 projects in 2017, including neighborhood parks and trails, regional conservation efforts, river and water trail planning, and much more.  Visit the website to find your nearest contact, learn more about the program in general, and view the application.

Tamarisk Coalition has a list of riparian restoration funding opportunities maintained by the Tamarisk Coalition.  For list click restoration funding opportunities

Trainings for Late April

Fish stocking by boat, Division of Wildlife, Jason Fearheiley, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 10/28/2009

Fish stocking by boat, Division of Wildlife, Jason Fearheiley, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 10/28/2009

APRIL 18th, 2017: Alliance for Water Efficiency's latest installment of their Innovations in Efficiency webinar series, "Accessing the Power off the Cloud to Drive Outdoor Water Savings". This FREE webinar will provide an introduction to recent advancements to irrigation control technologies. Find out how to leverage the power of the cloud to make outdoor water use more efficient. Click HERE to register for this webinar.

MAY 8th-12th, 2017: The Pikes Peak Workforce Center is proud to partner with The Granstmanship Center to locally host their nationally-recognized Grantsmanship Training Program. This is the only time The Granstmanship Center offers any training in Colorado in 2017. For more information about the program click HERE.

The Center for Watershed Protection's 2017 Webcast Series is open. Register and join them via Adobe Connect for the following sessions: 

May 17th, 2017, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm EST, Webcast 2: Nutrient Trading Register for this webcast!

June 21st, 2017, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm EST, Webcast 3:  Making Urban Trees Count - Register for this webcast

September 13th, 2017, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm EST, Webcast 4: Stream Restoration: Where are we now? - Register for this webcast!

October 18th, 2017, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm EST, Webcast 5: Bringing Better Site Design into The 21st Century - Register for this webcast!  

November 15th, 2017, 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm EST, Webcast 6: Modeling for Water Quality - Register for this webcast

MAY - JULY 2017Colorado Foundation for Water Education (CFWE) Water Fluency Training. Register for CFWE's professional development course to boost your water knowledge. Participants learn through site visits; in-person classroom discussions; and online materials, presented with Colorado State University's online water course. Learn more about the course, review the agenda, and register here.

JUNE 5th- AUGUST 5th, 2017: Pitkin County Open Space and Trails is advertising for an agriculture and easement monitor/stewardship intern to assist with stewardship of their agricultural leases and easements. As per Pitkin County policy, only students that obtain college/high school credit for the internship will be allowed to participate. The ideal applicant will have an interest in private land conservation or recreation easements and/or public land leasing and will be pursuing a degree in an environmental management, parks and protected area management, natural resources, conservation, or a related field program. The internship will be 40hrs/week at $13.00/hour with an approximate start date of June 5th and approximate end date of August 5th dependent on the intern's schedule. For a full intern description and application visit the Pitkin County hiring website at; https://www.appone.com/MainInfoReq.asp?R_ID=1523061       

JUNE 19th-23rd, 2017: Western State Colorado University is pleased to host the Summer Teacher Institute, Monday – Friday, 8:00am-6:00pm. Learn how to incorporate rivers into your curriculum, creating relevant context and connections for your students. This five-day, field-based course includes water management, river ecology, fisheries, and geography of the Colorado River Basin. Rivers are the basis of our Colorado livelihoods and are critical to the future of their students and communities. Our natural affinity to water makes rivers and watersheds a useful and familiar context for cross-disciplinary teaching and learning. Field experiences include a Morrow Point Reservoir boat tour, Roaring Judy Fish Hatchery tour, Gunnison River ecology field day, and a visit to Coldharbour Institute. The second part of the week incorporates participation in the Colorado Water Workshop Conference engaging with water resource professionals from across Colorado. Participants must register for the Colorado Water Workshop to earn 3 ENVS credits.(All meals are included beginning Wednesday at noon; 3 credit course fee of $375; additional $40 course fee plus additional fee of $150 (50% discount) for Colorado Water Workshop. Total cost is $565.) Register Here

AUGUST 2nd - 4th, 2017: The Park Planning and Maintenance Academy (PPMA) is a new school for park and recreation professionals, reinvented, with greater sessions focused on trends and cutting edge park maintenance practices in addition to the fundamentals of park planning. Training will be at the Radisson Hotel, Denver Southeast, 3155 S. Vaughn Way, Aurora, CO 80014. PPMA IS LIMITED TO 50 PEOPLE. REGISTER TODAY, swprti.org/PPMA.  

Job Anouncements for Late April

Rainbow trout from Blue River, Bill Velarde with a rainbow trout caught fly fishing on the Blue River near Kremmling, CO in September 2008, Brandon Velarde, Colorado Division of Wildlife

Rainbow trout from Blue River, Bill Velarde with a rainbow trout caught fly fishing on the Blue River near Kremmling, CO in September 2008, Brandon Velarde, Colorado Division of Wildlife

The City of Steamboat Springs is looking for a Seasonal Engineering and Stormwater Inspector. This individual performs review and inspection of land disturbing activities and drainage-related facilities and provides enforcement of City regulations as they relate to stormwater management. This position assists the City's Water Resources Manager in various stormwater and water quality related projects. For More information about this job opportunity, click HERE

The Town of Eagle is hiring a seasonal Open Space Trails Technician for the upcoming 2017 Summer Season, 16 weeks starting approximately May 15 – August 31, 2017. Schedule: typically M-F, 8:00 am to 5:00 pm with occasional evening and weekend hours. The position involves building and maintaining hiking and mountain biking trails in and around Eagle. Other duties include posting trail signs and performing general maintenance on open space lands. For Additional information about this job opportunity CLICK HERE.

The Boulder County Parks and Open Space Department is seeking qualified candidates for two term Engineering positions for watershed and flood recovery projects:

  • Engineer II to provide construction management and engineering for flood recovery projects along the St. Vrain Creek. This is a full-time, fully benefited, term position within BCPOS and is currently funded through May of 2018.
  • Water Engineer III/ Senior Planner to provide technical assistance and overall engineering management for all remaining watershed and flood recovery projects being administered by BCPOS. The position will provide planning and technical consultation to internal staff and external stakeholders on grant application development; project planning; design and implementation & project review. This is a full-time, benefited, term position within the Parks and Open Space Department to support resilient flood recovery, and is currently funded through December 2017 and anticipated to be extended mid-2019. For more information about these two jobs visit HERE.

The City of Boulder, CO Parks and Recreation Department is hiring a full time Maintenance Person III - Natural Lands. This position maintains the health, safety and aesthetics of natural areas throughout the Parks and Recreation system. This person performs a variety of skilled and semi-skilled tasks in the areas of natural lands maintenance, Integrated Pest Management (IPM), wildlife management and equipment operation, and performs related duties as required. For more information, Click HERE.   

The City of Aurora is seeking a Parks Maintenance Technician to perform skilled tree work primarily with rope and saddle on city-owned trees under the guidance of the Forestry Crew Leader. For more Information about this job opportunity, CLICK HERE.

The City of Aurora is seeking to fill various Seasonal Parks Worker positions for the Forestry Division to perform manual labor as a helper on a crew. The Seasonal Parks Worker assists with routine maintenance of city-owned trees and may operate automotive, grounds, and/or maintenance equipment. To apply click HERE.  

The National Park Service's Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program (RTCA) is seeking a Community Assistance in Conservation and Outdoor Recreation person who will work with local leaders to build partnerships and engage their communities in outdoor recreation and natural resource conservation projects. Application materials and guidelines are available on their website and are due June 30. They encourage potential applicants to contact their nearest RTCA staff member to discuss their interest by May 30.

 

 

 

Conferences & Events for Late April

Herding geese to shore, volunteers wait for directions before getting in their kayaks to herd geese to the shore, Division of Wildlife

Herding geese to shore, volunteers wait for directions before getting in their kayaks to herd geese to the shore, Division of Wildlife

The One World One Water Center is participating in a variety of events in the next few months including:

  • APRIL 21st, 2017: Undergraduate Research Conference - Undergraduate students will have a chance to present scholarly projects/research, impress graduate school admissions committees and potential employers, and make connections with other MSU Denver student researchers and faculty
  • MAY 17th, 2017: Denver Metro Water Festival - ‌In partnership with Denver Water and Suburban Providers of Denver Water, the OWOW Center hosts the Denver Metro Water Festival every May. This event invites 6th grade classes to attend a variety of fun and educational water presentations. 

Volunteers Needed 

For the complete list of events and more details, please visit their Events Page

APRIL 19th - 21st, 2017: The Colorado Wildland Fire Conference will take place at the Pueblo Convention Center in Pueblo, CO. This year’s conference will expand on the Fire Adapted Communities concept, providing the framework for moving from awareness to action, messaging to mitigation, and words to work. This conference is a great opportunity to share your knowledge and expertise about reducing communities’ vulnerability to wildfire, www.wildfire-colorado.com

APRIL 22nd, 2017: The Greenway Foundation will be hosting the Publication Printers Family RiverSweep. Join them at 9:00 am at City of Cuernavaca Park, volunteer for an hour, and then participate in fun activities with their SPREE Staff until 12:00 pm. This is a free event, but prior registration is required. Click HERE to learn more about the event.

APRIL 25th, 2017: Water 2.0 will be having a Digitally Connecting the Water Industry Conference. The Water 2.0 Conference: Digitally Connecting the Water Industry will focus on the use of data analytics, software, cyber security for water utilities and industrial water users. Participants will include water and energy industry authorities, utilities professionals and representatives from the EPA. $250 registration Click here to register online.

APRIL 26th - 27th, 2017:  Arkansas River Basin Water Forum in Colorado Springs. For 22 years, the Arkansas River Basin Water Forum has served as a conduit for information about water issues and education. Through the Forum a broader understanding of water issues has evolved along with the opportunity to find common ground. For more information go to  ARBWF.org 

APRIL 27th, 2017:  Annual Rocky Mountain Green Conference hosted by USGBC Colorado. This conference unites hundreds of industry leaders, experts and professionals to inspire, connect and advance sustainable building within the region. Attendees can earn up to 11 GBCI CE Hours and 8 AIA Learning Units, which will feature an opening reception and keynote, offsite building tours, educational programming, breakout sessions, keynote speakers and exhibitor floor. For additional information and to register visit their WEBSITE.

APRIL 28th, 2017: The Confluence of Science, Policy, and Change. Join American Water Resources Association - Colorado Chapter for their 2017 Symposium and Spring Networking Event to be held at 8:00 am - 5:00 pm at Mt. Vernon Country Club Golden, CO. The 2017 AWRA-CO Symposium brings together water sector professionals and organizations to discuss critical matters related to water resources and Colorado. Attendees will gain insights into emerging challenges and opportunities, policy advancements, progress in science, and stories from the field including best practices from experts across the water resources community. For more information about this symposium CLICK HERE.

MAY 3rd, 2017: Future of the Thompson: A Watershed Moment, 9:30 am - 3:00 pm at the Northern Colorado Water Conservancy District, 220 Water Ave, Berthoud, CO 80513. The purpose of this event is to explore major watershed challenges and opportunities over the next 20 years, as seen by the various sectors who benefit from a healthy watershed, and assess whether there is interest in investing in a collaborative watershed management plan or effort for the Thompson River drainage area. For more information and registration click HERE

MAY 11th-12th, 2017: Partners in the Outdoors Conference. This conference brings together an assembly of stakeholders engaged in the future of Colorado's outdoors and recreational opportunities. The conference's purpose is to provide a platform to promote stakeholder initiatives that link a coalition of organizations, agencies, schools and communities together. This is an opportunity for land trusts and their supporters to connect with Federal and State Agencies, as well and funders interested in public access and recreational issues. Visit the PITO website to view more details, the conference agenda, and to register to attend, exhibit, or sponsor.

MAY 17th, 2017: Denver Metro Water Festival, Denver, CO. This half-day event for sixth grade students in the Denver Water service area is designed to complement their science unit on water by offering engaging, hands-on water-related lessons and activities that expose students to the many ways water plays a role in our lives and the world around us. This annual festival offers an opportunity for individuals and organizations throughout the state to participate through presentations, volunteerism and sponsorships. For more information, click here.  

MAY 20th, 2017: First Annual Public Lands Day with Friends of the Yampa in collaboration with the Little Snake Field Office of the BLM in Craig. This event will rehabilitate, mark, and name all the riverside campgrounds in the Little Yampa Canyon. They will be relying on the support of their volunteers to help them identify each site, take inventory, and get an assessment on invasive weeds in the area. They are also are planning a few visits with volunteers and one of these visits will be in coordination with the first annual Public Lands Day on May 20th.  Anyone who has watercraft and are willing to help with the fun & dirty work of identifying and cleaning up (and eventually restoring) these sites, please contact them at projects@friendsoftheyampa.com  

MAY 23rd-26th, 2017:  The 7th Annual San Juan Mining and Reclamation Conference will be held at the  Ouray Community Center, 320 6TH Ave, Ouray, CO 81427. The primary goals of this annual conference are to educate the public and other stakeholders on the science and policy of mining, mine lands remediation, and water quality as it relates to non-point source pollution, improving mining practices, and addressing water quality impairments through workshops, field tours, and presentations. Each year the conference is hosted in a different San Juan community to highlight the host area’s mining heritage and successes in conducing mine remediation and water quality improvement projects. REGISTRATION: $40 for gerenal conference registration. $25 for limited underground field tour. To register click HERE.

JUNE 1st-2nd, 2017: Gravel Mine to Green Space: A Workshop on Community-Directed Approaches to Mining Reclamation and River Restoration in Paonia, Colorado. At this workshop, attendees will tour the river park, learn about the technical aspects of restoration, social impacts of the park, discuss WSCC’s successes and lessons learned, explore creative funding techniques, network with fellow practitioners and community leaders from mining regions, and leave with an overall sense of what it means to undergo a community-directed reclamation project. Stay for their 17th annual Float Fest on June 3rd and tour the improvements along the North Fork of the Gunnison River. For more details, click HERE

JUNE 10th, 2017: 10th Annual National Get Outdoors Day. Join outdoor agencies at the north shore of Sloan’s Lake, Denver, Colorado from 10:00 am – 3:00 pm. This event is free for kids and their families. Their goal is to foster and facilitate an educational experience and to encourage participants of all skill levels to interact with the outdoors. They'll be hosting fishing classes for youth, paddling activities, live music, climbing, bike riding, and much more. Each year, the event draws roughly 5,000 families excited to learn more about the outdoors and healthy living. In 2008, the United States Forest Service and American Recreation Coalition partnered together to launch a day to celebrate the outdoors and health. As a result, National Get Outdoors Day was born and continues to be held in more than 120 cities throughout the country. The Denver event is recognized as the flagship event. For more information, visit: www.getoutdoorscolorado.org

Mountain Park Environmental Center (MPEC) Summer Camps provide children with days filled with Nature fun and life-long memories. They have several new camps planned for this summer. Transportation from Pueblo is included in MPEC camps, and they have a scholarship program that can help those who need financial assistance. Camp descriptions, prices, and other details can be found BY CLICKING HERE, including applying for a scholarship and registering. Please do not wait to register, as many camps fill up.

JUNE 12th - 16th, 2017: Cubs Camp (Entering K-1st Grade)

JUNE 19th - 23rd, 2017: Nature Explorers (Entering 2nd-3rd Grade)

JUNE 20th - 22nd, 2017: Mission Wolf (Entering 6th-8th Grade)

June 26th - 30th, 2017: Intrepid Adventurers (Entering 4th-5th Grade)

JUNE 27th - 29th, 2017: NEW Water and Rock Camp (Entering 6th-8th Grade)

Colorado Agriculture in the Classroom presents Food, Fiber & More. This is a five day course designed for teachers who have little or no agriculture background. You can receive 3 continuing credits from CSU. Institute cost: $250 (scholarships available to pre-registered educators). Sign up today to reserve space and to apply for a scholarship for 2017 Food, Fiber &  More AITC Summer Institute. Register at www.growingyourfuture.com

You can choose to attend:

  • JUNE 12th-16th - RIFLE, CO
  • JUNE 19th-23rd - FORT COLLINS, CO 
  • JUNE 26th-30th - DENVER, CO

JUNE 13th - 15th, 2017: Changing Lands, Changing Hands Conference at the DoubleTree Stapleton North, Denver, CO. Land access, agricultural land tenure and farm succession are priority challenges for US agriculture. USDA and groups across the country are addressing these issues with research, policies, programming and professional development. In cooperation with USDA, Land For Good will host this national conference. More information and registration can be found at landforgood.org.

JUNE 14th, 2017: Colorado Water Trust's 9th Annual River Bank Fundraiser from 5:30 pm - 8:30 pm at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Join them for a beautiful evening in support of Colorado's rivers. Activities will include a silent auction with river trips, stay-cation packages, outdoor gear, and many other exciting items to bid on along with a presentation of The David Getches Flowing Waters Award. Click HERE for more details.

OCTOBER 10th - 12th, 2017: Save the Date - 2017 Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference at the Westin Riverfront Resort, Avon, CO. This highly popular event expands cooperation and collaboration throughout our state for natural resource conservation, protection, and enhancement by informing citizen groups, agencies, consultants, and legislators about current issues and through networking opportunities. In 2017, the conference will focus on “Coming Together – the Confluence of Science and Society.”

 

     

     

     

    Anouncements for Late April

    This is Miramonte Reservoir in the shadow of Lone Cone Mountain. It's part of Dan Noble State Wildlife Area, Mark Caddy, Colorado Division of Wildlife, 9/8/2003

    This is Miramonte Reservoir in the shadow of Lone Cone Mountain. It's part of Dan Noble State Wildlife Area, Mark Caddy, Colorado Division of Wildlife, 9/8/2003

    Groundwork Denver  invites you to join them in reducing the amount of trash along Clear Creek on April 22nd as a way to celebrate this year's Earth Day! The event will begin with a welcoming from the Adams County Parks and Open Space Director, Nathan Mosley. Volunteers will then grab some trash bags and hit the creek! The event sponsor, Grand Centenario Tequila will host an after party where complimentary food and drinks will be served to those over the age of 21, as a thank-you to volunteers who made our world a little better. This Clean-up event will be held at the Carl Park Community Center, 5401 Meade St. Denver 9:30 am - 12:30 pm. You can learn more or sign-up for this volunteer opportunity by emailing makalah@groundworkcolorado.org

    The Roaring Fork Conservancy 19th Annual Fryingpan Cleanup on Earth Day will be held on Saturday, April 22nd at 8:30 am. This Earth Day, start your day off with a free breakfast and then help clean up one of the most beautiful stretches of river in the country. Volunteers of all ages are welcome to clean up a 1-mile section of the river. Breakfast and registration starts at 8:30 am. Additional information, including how to dress and what to bring, can be found HERE.

    New grant funding has made it possible for Larimer County to extend its stream monitoring systems to help in the event of future flooding. Grant funding from flood reimbursements will allow the county to extend its systems in the Cache la Poudre, Little Thompson. The county commissioners on Tuesday also approved a new policy for emerald ash borer mitigation that would "allow county staff to provide a proactive and coordinated approach to mitigating the impacts of emerald ash borer tree infestation within county maintained rights of way, parks and open spaces".

    The Yampa River Leafy Spurge Project (YRLSP) was created in 2015 by a diverse group of people representing agencies, organizations and individuals in Moffat and Routt Counties who are concerned about leafy spurge infestation along the Yampa River corridor. The infestation, which was once concentrated in a 15-mile region of the Yampa River riparian areas in western Routt County and eastern Moffat County, has now spread along the Yampa River as far as Dinosaur National Monument. It is being observed in Little Yampa Canyon as well as along irrigation ditches and tributaries of the Yampa River. The YRLSP goal is to combat the leafy spurge infestation in the Yampa River Watershed, and volunteers are needed for this work. For more information, please visit yampariverleafyspurgeproject.com.  

     The "Colorado River Waterkeeper Network" has just been launched and wants your help with networking. The objective of the Network is to develop and support more individual Waterkeepers in the Colorado River basin so that every stretch of the river and its tributaries are eventually protected by a local Waterkeeper organization which is an authentic grassroots and front-line voice willing to do whatever it takes to protect clean and healthy rivers and waterways. For more information about the Colorado River Waterkeeper Network click HERE.

    The Water Availability Task Force meeting will be on Tuesday, April 18th, 2017 from 1:00p-3:00pm at the Colorado Parks & Wildlife Headquarters, 6060 Broadway, Denver in the Red Fox Room. An agenda will be posted at the CWCB website. In the event you are unable to attend the meeting in person, please email Ben Wade at ben.wade@state.co.us for call in & web conference information.

    The National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program (RTCA) works with local leaders to build partnerships and engage their communities in outdoor recreation and natural resource conservation projects. Tune in Wednesday, April 26 at 10 am MDT/11 am CDT to learn who and what is eligible for NPS assistance, how the RTCA program can support your vision, the ins and outs of the application process, and what makes a competitive application. For more information about click HERE.