Funding Opportunities For Late May

DeWeese Reservoir SWA looking west toward the Sangre de Cristo Range, Michael Seraphin, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, 7/4/2000

The National Water Quality Initiative will work in priority watersheds to help farmers, ranchers and forest landowners improve water quality and aquatic habitats in impaired streams. NRCS will help producers implement conservation and management practices through a systems approach to control and trap nutrient and manure runoff. Qualified producers will receive assistance for installing conservation practices such as cover crops, filter strips and terraces. More Details here.

National Park Service Rivers, Trails and Conservation Assistance Program – 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. Due June 30. Visit the website to find your nearest contact, learn more about the program in general, and view the application.

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Conservation Innovation Grants (CIG) is a voluntary program intended to stimulate the development and adoption of innovative conservation approaches and technologies while leveraging Federal investment in environmental enhancement and protection, in conjunction with agricultural production. Under CIG, Environmental Quality Incentives Program funds are used to award competitive grants to non-Federal governmental or nongovernmental organizations, Tribes, or individuals.

The Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) provided through the Natural Resource Conservation Service is a voluntary conservation program that helps agricultural producers in a manner that promotes agricultural production and environmental quality as compatible goals. Through EQIP, agricultural producers receive financial and technical assistance to implement structural and management conservation practices that optimize environmental benefits on working agricultural land. EQIP applications are accepted on a continuous basis, however, NRCS establishes application "cut-off" or submission deadline dates for evaluation, ranking and approval of eligible applications. EQIP is open to all eligible agricultural producers and submitted applications may be considered or evaluated in multiple funding pool opportunities. To learn more CLICK HERE.

Colorado Water Conservation Board Water Efficiency Grant Program. The Water Efficiency Grant Program provides financial assistance to communities, water providers and eligible agencies for water conservation-related activities and projects. Eligible entities as well as state and local governments and agencies can receive funding to develop water conservation and drought plans, implement water conservation goals outlined in a water conservation plan and educate the public about water conservation.
Types of Water Efficiency Grants available - Click on the Program below for more information about how to apply:

• Water Conservation Planning Grants: For water providers seeking to develop or update their water conservation plans.
• Water Conservation Implementation Grants: For water providers implementing water conservation plan goals and programs identified in locally adopted and CWCB-approved water conservation plans.
• Drought Mitigation Planning Grants: For water providers or state and local governmental entities developing drought mitigation and response plans.
• Water Resource Conservation Public Education and Outreach Grants: For agencies seeking to promote the benefits of water resource conservation through public education and outreach.

Colorado Water Conservation Board - The Water Supply Reserve Account Program provides grants and loans to assist Colorado water users in addressing their critical water supply issues and interests. The funds help eligible entities complete water activities, which may include competitive grants for technical assistance regarding permitting, feasibility studies and environmental compliance, studies or analysis of structural, nonstructural consumptive, and nonconsumptive water needs, projects or activities, and  structural and nonstructural water projects or activities. For more details click HERE.

Fish and Wildlife Service Tribal Wildlife Grants (TWG) Program announced funding available for Native American tribal governments (Federally recognized). This is a competitive funding opportunity for Federally recognized Tribal governments to develop and implement programs for the benefit of wildlife and their habitat, including species of Native American cultural or traditional importance and species that are not hunted or fished. Closing Date for Applications is September 1st, 2017.  For more information go to FWS.gov.

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

Trainings for Late May

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

MAY 17th, 2017: Nutrient Credit Trading Webcast. Nutrient Trading is a concept that has been around for a number of years, but infrequently applied. Some states have established nutrient trading or offset programs, with most current trades involving wastewater treatment plants and limited involvement from the stormwater sector. Such programs offer both risks and opportunities for meeting water quality management plan goals and total maximum daily load (TMDL) nutrient reduction targets. This webcast will be with a team of water quality trading professionals who are active nationally developing nutrient trading guidance, tools, and programs, as well as facilitating and tracking water quality trades. In the webcast, they will look at the necessary elements of a nutrient trading program, tools and resources for structuring a nutrient trading program, high profile nutrient trading projects, and how MS4s permits are beginning to incorporate nutrient trades. Click HERE to register.

MAY 24th, 2017: Free Webinar - Planning, Designing, and Funding Small Scale Green Infrastructure Stormwater Management Projects in parks and other public spaces.  A panel of national experts with experience and knowledge of smaller scale GI projects will discuss how to design, install and maintain green stormwater management installations in parks and public spaces. This webinar is part of the Great Urban Parks Campaign, an initiative of the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA) and the American Planning Association (APA).  Registrants for this webinar are also invited to view previous and upcoming webinars in this series. This webinar is free, but registration is required.  Register HERE.

JUNE 1st, 2017: 2017 Climate and Colorado's Water Future Workshop with the Colorado Foundation for Water Education from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm at 4001 Discovery Drive, MacAllister Building Suite S101, Sustainability, Energy and Environment Complex, Boulder, CO 80303. Curious about how Colorado's climate impacts the management our water? In Colorado we always hear about snow pack, river levels, and weather changing on a daily basis - but how does it all connect and what does the future of our water resources look like with a variable climate? This workshop will explore the potential impacts of climate change on Colorado's water future and explore how we can meet our demands for water - agricultural, household and business use, plus environmental and recreational benefits - and still deliver two thirds of our water downstream to satisfy interstate agreements. Register now to reserve your spot in this workshop before it sells out.

JUNE 19th-23rd, 2017: Western State Colorado University is pleased to host the Summer Teacher Institute, Monday – Friday, 8:00 am - 6:00 pm. 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.

JUNE 21st - 23rd, 2017: Save the Date - Western State Colorado University 42nd Annual Colorado Water Workshop - Water in the West: Rural and Urban Issue. Details to Come HERE!

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

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 2017,  Colorado 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.

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.  

SEPTEMBER 26th-27th, 2017: Setting Watershed-Scale Priorities in Riparian Restoration workshop  in Grand Junction, Colorado. This workshop is being organized by Center for Colorado River Studies at Utah State University and hosted by the Hutchins Water Center. Decades of restoration efforts in the Colorado River basin have had varying success. We will review restoration strategies and techniques being pursued in the Colorado River basin, and obtain participant feedback on restoration goals, strategies, and techniques. We will introduce decision-support tools useful to implement analytical prioritization strategies in order to refine prioritization tools that help workshop participants increase their effectiveness. Click here to register.

Job Announcements for Late May

Crystal River State Fishing Unit - Spawn Sheds and Techs, Division of Wildlife, Kathleen Tadvick, 12/10/2003

The Colorado River District, based in Glenwood Springs, Colorado, is seeking candidates for the General Manager position. The General Manager serves as the chief executive and management official of the organization reporting directly to the District’s 15 member Board of Directors. The General Manager is responsible for all business operations (administrative, financial, technical and external affairs) and manages a team of professionals. The Manager must be able to work and negotiate with other stakeholders throughout Colorado and other Colorado River basin state. To apply go to website.

The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Resource Stewardship Program is hiring a summer Biologist/GIS Technician. This position will primarily involve preparing, coordinating, and conducting wildlife and vegetation field work including noxious weed and vegetation mapping, breeding bird surveys and raptor nest identification, and restoration/revegetation projects. Coordination of Citizen Science bird programs will be a major emphasis. The Technician will write reports on field inventories of natural resources, create maps using GIS, conduct biological research, and conduct meetings with volunteers and contractors in the office and in the field. The Technician will assist with other program administrative tasks such as modifying program databases and organizing/filing electronic and paper files. To apply, please visit the CPW website. 

Arapahoe County Government is seeking a Client Relations Specialist in their Open Spaces Department who is responsible for coordinating and administering rentals and events that occur at the Fairgrounds Event Center and Park and other Heritage facilities such as Arapahoe County's treasure the 17 Mile House. To apply click HERE. 

Colorado Youth Corps Association is seeking a new Associate Director. This is an opportunity to join a statewide nonprofit that serves a vibrant, impactful community of 9 accredited conservation corps performing diverse conservation projects!  They also hold the largest AmeriCorps grant in Colorado so any relevant experience or credentials are highly-valued. Application deadline is Sunday, June 11, 2017 and preferred start date prior to July 14, 2017. Electronic Submission Only. For more information contact Nancy Weil, Office Manager, at nweil@cyca.org:

Ken-Caryl Ranch Metropolitan District is seeking a Dakota Lodge Front Desk Staff – Rentals and Meetings. Dakota Lodge is a rentable facility that hosts parties, weddings, community groups, meetings, events, and registered classes. The Visitor Center at Dakota Lodge provides the community with wildlife brochures, KCR Open Space maps and bracelets, rentals for Dakota Lodge and Bradford Fire Pit, and registrations for KCR programs. to apply click HERE.

The Sand Creek Regional Greenway Partnership (SCRGP) is hiring a new Executive Director. The Sand Creek Regional Greenway Partnership is a 501 (c)3 not-for-profit organization that improves, preserves, and promotes the natural, recreational and cultural resources of the Sand Creek Regional Greenway corridor, including priority trail connections and linking communities throughout the watershed. The SCRGP partners with Aurora, Denver, and Commerce City for the Greenway that runs for 14 miles along Sand Creek. For a job description click HERE.   

The Town of Lyons is seeking Seasonal Maintenance Workers with their Parks Department. A temporary seasonal four to five month position up to 720 hours under the direct supervision of the Departmental Lead assigned to the Director of Parks and Public Works. Will operate maintenance equipment, power tools and hand tools as assigned, may work alone or as a crew. To apply click HERE. 

Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado (VOC) is seeking qualified candidates for the position of San Luis Valley Volunteer and Partnership Coordinator. The position will be an employee of VOC, based on the Rio Grande National Forest in Monte Vista, CO. This position supports VOC’s efforts to continue building public land stewardship capacity through partnerships and volunteers, providing partnership management and volunteer coordination for public lands within the San Luis Valley. To review job details and apply visit their website at http://www.voc.org/join-our-team.    

Jeffco Open Space is hiring a Research & Grants Coordinator to be part of their Planning Team.The Coordinator will research and identify local, state, federal, private and non-profit grant funding opportunities in support of Jefferson County Open Space (JCOS) priority projects and programs in line with the JCOS mission, vision and Master Plan goals. They will prepare grant applications and coordinate with staff on all supporting aspects including budget, timeline, schedule, maps, photos, etc. for funding opportunities while conducting grant administration in accordance with required policies and procedures of the County and funders. This position will also administer research programs and conduct general research, as required, in support of all teams within JCOS, including the preparation of reports and presentation of research to various groups as necessary. Click HERE to apply.

Environmental Learning for Kids is seeking an Urban Ranger Program Assistant. Urban Rangers employment program is a partnership between Environmental Learning for Kids, the National Park Service, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and Denver Parks and Recreation. The Urban Ranger Program Assistant will assist the Urban Rangers in gaining valuable experience in teaching science-based curriculum, conduct fishing clinics, assist with prep of educational programs, be exposed to many areas of partnering organizations and will participate fully in ELK’s summer programming. This is a 30-39 hour a week position, Tuesday-Saturday work week, June 2nd through July 29th 2017, with an option to work into August. To apply click HERE.    

South Platte Park in Littleton is currently hiring a seasonal Resource Technician, who would be responsible for helping keep the Park in excellent condition ecologically and aesthetically, and in a safe manner.  This is a seasonal position and may work up to 40 hours per week; day, evening, weekend and/or holiday hours may be required. This position starts immediately. For more information click HERE to apply.

Leave No Trace is hiring for a Traveling Teams Manager position. They seek a full time manager who will focus on leveraging the most strategic, mission- critical work from the Leave No Trace Center award winning Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer program. The Subaru/Leave No Trace Traveling Trainer program has been the Center’s most outward facing for nearly 20 years, putting teams of educators on the road to bring Leave No Trace training and workshops to schools, agencies, events, and more. The Traveling Team Manager is responsible for overseeing that program, managing a staff of 8 remote, full-time employees, and working with stakeholders across the country. See more here: Leave No Trace

Navarro Research & Engineering, Inc. is recruiting for an Environmental Scientist in Grand Junction, CO. Navarro is a premier contractor providing high-quality technical services to DOE, NASA, and DOD. Navarro’s success is based on their customer service focus, responsiveness and innovation. For more information click HERE.

Conferences and Events for Late May

July 2004 White River Ladies Cast & Blast near Meeker. Participants learn how to flyfish. Loyse Hinkle, Colorado Parks and Wildlife

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. To register click HERE. 

MAY-JULY, 2017: Water Fluency Professional Development Course in Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction, CO. This course is organized by the CO Foundation for Water Education with support from the Hutchins Water Center and others. The next Water Fluency course is scheduled to run May through July 2017 on the West Slope with classes in the corridor between Glenwood Springs and Grand Junction. Click HERE for more information.

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 3rd, 2017: 17th Annual Float Fest with the Conservation Center. Boat captains and conservation experts will take floaters down the river on a fun-filled adventure to help raise funds for their watershed work. This year’s float starts at the Paonia River Park and ends at the Delta County Fairgrounds in Hotchkiss. All floaters will be shuttled back to the Paonia River Park for an afternoon of celebration. The festival is free to the community with live music, a silent auction, games, vendors, and more. Lunch can be purchased by all festival-goers for $10 from Delicious Orchards. Dress to impress because they are celebrating their 40th anniversary as superheroes! The float requires registration but the festival is FREE to the community. Tickets sell out quickly for the float, so register today!

JUNE 3rd, 2017: Western Slope Conservation Center has anMake a splash at WSCC's 17th Annual Float Fest and invite you to joinfor a full day of river fun with our 17th Annual Float Fest at Paonia River Park. Bring a friend or the whole family for the morning float and afternoon festival to celebrate our Western Slope water! Games, food, drinks, auction, and more.Registration deadline - May 20th. For more information click HERE.

JUNE 3rd-4th, 2017: 2017 Colorado Native Plant Society (CoNPS) Western Slope Festival. Join fellow plant enthusiasts in Gunnison on the first weekend of June to learn about Western Slope native plant conservation issues and see them in person during several guided hikes. Their keynote presenter is Tyler Johnson, Regional Botanist for the US Forest Service. Visit the CoNPS Bookstore at breaks. Hikes will begin at 2:30 pm and will focus on the plant communities in the Gunnison area. That evening an optional BBQ gathering will be held at a nearby park pavilion. On Sunday morning another round of hikes - some repeated from Saturday and some new - will be available to choose from. Registration is at: western-slope-festival. 

JUNE 8th-9th, 2017: 38th Annual Martz Summer Conference - Fighting Back on the Colorado River: Carving Out Progress on Multiple Fronts. This conference will be held at the University of Colorado School of Law Wolf Law Building, Wittemyer Courtroom. In this public event, they review recent and emerging innovations and evaluate their likely impact on the river system. Information, event agenda, and registration available here, Martz Summer Conference.

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.

JUNE 24th, 2017: 10th Annual Celebration of the Uncompahgre River. This year has been  planned for another great festival with some special additions to commemorate its 10th year. More details will be shared over the next six weeks. Join for a full day of fun, and consider competing individually or with a team of friends in the hardshell kayak, inflatables, standup paddle board or Junk of the Unc races. You can sign up to volunteer for three hours Contact Tanya at 303-819-7784 or ridgwayriverfest@gmail.com.

AUGUST 20th, 2017: Colorado Headwaters Land Trust Annual Event. Join them at the B Lazy 2 Ranch in Fraser, Colorado from 2:30 pm - 5:30 pm for a fun family-friendly celebration and fundraiser. Yard games will be available for kids and adults! Dinner will be a Buffet by Stone Creek Catering (vegetarian and gluten free options, includes 2 drinks) followed by a cash bar. Paddle Raiser. Live Auction. Silent Auction. Dinner. Games. And More! Register HERE. 

AUGUST 26th, 2017: Join Tamarisk Coalition and local river experts for Raft the River, a fun, educational float trip and dinner along the Colorado River in Fruita, Colorado from 1pm~6:30pm.  This year will have a new floatingstretch of river compared to previous years; from Rimrock Adventures to the Loma Boat Ramp. This one-day float trip, guided by Rimrock Adventures, will provide you with a “behind the scenes” look at the work being done to rejuvenate the treasured riparian (riverside) area in the Grand Valley.  Register HERE.

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.”

Announcements for Late May

Scenic river view on a snowy day in 11-Mile State Park, Division of Wildlife, David Hannigan, 2/10/2010

The Colorado River District is holding State of the River Meetings. Each spring, during snowmelt runoff, the River District organizes informational “State of the River” meetings across parts of the Western Slope of Colorado to help educate the public and water users. Meeting speakers offer up-to-date information on snowpack figures, water supply forecasts and anticipated stream flows and upcoming conditions. To see the list of 2017 State of the River Public Meetings, visit their website.

The amount of water in the Upper Colorado Basinwide snowpack peaked early, started to melt and then bumped back up, before dropping steeply again. Similar stories unfolded in the sub-basins, with the Upper Green and Duchesne groups showing the most impressive peaks and the Yampa/ White group the only one to post lower than average numbers. To see how the total accumulations by month add up in Colorado's basins, choose the stacked bar option on this page.  

 SAVE THE DATE for our next Watershed Wildfire Protection Group meeting on Friday, July 7th, 2017 from 9:00 am -5:00 pm MDT at the Colorado Parks & Wildlife Administration Building; Bighorn Room @ 6060 Broadway in Denver. A tentative agenda for the meeting will be available by mid-June. Please also feel free to contact them in the meantime with any concerns, ideas, questions, or suggested agenda items for upcoming meetings, etc. Richard M. Edwards, CF at (970) 491-8036 or Rich.Edwards@colostate.edu

The Hermit's Peak Water Alliance will be holding the 5th annual Gallinas River Clean Up on Saturday, June 3rd. Sign-up is free while you have fun walking and running and helping clean the river. Trash bags and gloves will be provided and snacks and coffee will be provided. Running tips and warm ups at 8:30 am, fun run at 9:00 am, and river clean up at 9:30 am to 12:00 pm.  For more information contact Katie at 426-7505.

Adopt-A-Park Cleanup: Calling for a few volunteers on Sat., June 3, 2017 @ 8:30 a.m. to Noon @ Rollans Park, Ridgway. Join UWP to clean up Rollans Park. Everyone of all ages (as long as parents accompany children) is welcome to help pick up trash and fallen branches, and get the park into shape for its summer visitors. Snacks and drinking water are provided– you bring some work gloves and sunscreen. To register and for more information, go to the Park Cleanup web page.

In 2017, MSI will continue an Animas River water quality monitoring program at Rotary Park in Durango, CO, that began in 2015 during the Gold King Mine release. The monitoring program is part of a partnership between MSI and the City of Durango to provide the public with an independent assessment of Animas River water quality during the May to August timeframe when river recreation is at its peak. Thier goal is to get water quality results to the public as quickly as possible. They plan to expedite laboratory analysis and communicate results to the public through MSI’s website and social media,” said Scott Roberts, MSI aquatic ecologist. Latest results can be found at www.mountainstudies.org/AnimasRiver.

How is the health and ecology of the Cache la Poudre River, today? The City of Fort Collins’ State of the Poudre River project seeks to answer this question scientifically. Everyone is invited to learn more about the health of the Cache la Poudre River at an open house and through two new publications, the Poudre River Report Card, and the State of the River Report, plus a new online mapping tool to explore river health spatially. The new publications will first be available at an Open House, Thursday, May 25, 4-7 pm at Fort Collins Museum of Discovery, Classrooms, 408 Mason Court, Fort Collins. Participants can talk to project managers, understand the findings, and celebrate the project completion.The River Health Report Card is a summary of the in-depth State of the River Report. The online mapping tool allows users to explore river health results by specific locations. A healthy Poudre River corridor provides many important social, environmental, and economic benefits to the community.