Announcements Late August

On Wednesday, August 22nd, 2018 there will be an Open Tent Meeting (facilitated listening session) from 9:00 am to 11:30 am in Vail at the Hotel Talisa. The invitation is to all Colorado entities working on watershed protection, forest health, and wildfire issues. Forest wildfires pose a continuing threat to Colorado's environment, economy, and water supply. The time has come to take a very serious look at current forest management practices and work to expand programs for watershed protection/forest health. Five entities with considerable advocacy experience are exploring the creation of an alliance to increase the level of advocacy for watershed protection and forest health. They are: Club 20, Colorado Ag Water Alliance, Colorado Water Congress, Colorado Timber Industry Association and The Nature Conservancy. They are at the conceptual stage and have not yet finalized a mission statement or work plan and seek your input as to how they might act to reinforce your mission. Your involvement is critical as they develop a detailed work plan for presentation by mid-October. If created, the alliance would not act as an umbrella group representing, controlling, or coordinating the work of local watershed entities. Further details will be announced soon. If you need immediate information, please contact Doug Kemper at doug@cowatercongress.org.

The next Water Availability Task Force meeting will be on Wednesday, August 22, 2018 from 9:30a-11:15am at the Colorado Parks & Wildlife Headquarters, 6060 Broadway, Denver in the Osprey 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 by COB on August 21.

Metropolitan State University of Denver is offering a new Water Studies Online Certificate, mainly in response to the reality of declining water resources. From lifelong learners who want to know more about water preservation to those working in green and sustainable professions, this unique certificate provides introductory level training and skills relevant to a wide range of fields in the nonprofit, corporate, and public sectors, including water industries, conservation, agriculture, construction, engineering, and law. For more information, click HERE. Courses open September 4th. 

LAST CALL: Submit your abstracts to the Colorado WaterWise Annual Symposium! For the second year in a row, we will have a Pecha Kucha session - the art of short presentations. If you are interested in doing a 5 minute presentation to highlight a project, research or your wild ideas related to water efficiency in the Pecha Kucha style please complete this form. If you are chosen as a Pecha Kucha presenter, you will receive half off your registration. Submission deadline is September 8th! Draft Agenda for the Symposium is available here.  Check back here for updates.

The Arkansas Basin Roundtable has a vacancy for a voting member:  At-Large Environmental Representative. Candidates must be nominated by an organization rather than by self-nomination.  Please send a letter with name, contact information, and a brief description of your nominee that includes their qualifications and why you think they would be a good fit for this position.  A longer letter is acceptable, but please include a one-paragraph description that can be used prior to the voting process. Nominations will be accepted through September 15th, and the new representative will be selected at the October roundtable meeting. More details can be found at http://www.arkansasbasin.com/.

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.

Funding Opportunities Late August

Water Quality Improvement Fund Grant - the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment is now accepting applications for 2019 Water Quality Improvement Fund grants. The Water Quality Improvement Fund provides money for water quality improvement projects using civil penalties from water quality violations, this includes storm water management training and best practices training to prevent or reduce the pollution of state waters. More information can be found HERE. Applications are due August 17th, 2018 (1400 MST). 

Water & Waste Disposal Loan & Grant Program. This program provides funding for clean and reliable drinking water systems, sanitary sewage disposal, sanitary solid waste disposal, and storm water drainage to households and businesses in eligible rural areas. Full details, including requirements and registration, can be found HERE. 

NOT-FOR-PROFIT ACID MINE DRAINAGE WATERSHED COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT PROGRAMS (WCAP) - Department of the Interior, Office of Surface Mining, Funding Opportunity S18AS00003, 2018. Funding is available to assist local 501(c)(3) status organizations and groups that undertake local acid mine drainage (AMD) reclamation projects to improve the water quality of AMD-affected streams. The priorities and technical focus for this announcement are to restore streams affected by AMD to a level that will support a diverse biological community and provide recreational opportunities for the public. WCAP is designed to be partnered with other funding sources to assist groups such as small watershed organizations to complete local AMD reclamation projects. Estimated total program funding is $1.5M, and about 25 awards are anticipated. The closing date for applications is August 31, 2018. http://www.grants.gov/web/grants/view-opportunity.html?oppId=300194

Great Outdoors Colorado has posted the application for Local Parks and Outdoor Recreation grant, along with other mini grants. For all the information regarding applications and submissions, click HERE. Deadline to apply is November 2nd.

EPA Wetland Program Development Grants—Application Close Date Varies by Region –Wetland Program Development Grants (WPDGs) provide eligible applicants an opportunity to conduct projects that promote the protection, management, and restoration of wetlands. States, tribes, local governments, inter-state associations, and inter-tribal consortia are eligible to apply for the Regional WPDG Request for Proposals. More information available HERE.

Watershed Group Development and Watershed Restoration Planning: In 2012, Reclamation began providing funding for watershed group development, watershed restoration planning, and watershed management project design (Phase I). A watershed group is a self-sustaining, non-regulatory, consensus-based group that is composed of a diverse array of stakeholders, which may include, but is not limited to, private property owners, non-profit organizations, Federal, state, or local agencies, and tribes. As part of Phase I activities, applicants may use funding to develop bylaws, a mission statement, complete stakeholder outreach, develop a watershed restoration plan, and watershed management project design. For more information, click HERE. 

Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Water Quality Planning Design and Engineering Grants. These grants provide money to small communities to help cover costs associated with the State Revolving Fund pre-application requirements. Grants require a 20 percent match from the applicant. Planning grant applicants must complete the prequalification form and attend a pre-application meeting. Design and engineering grant applicants will be considered by project needs assessment submissions by approved disadvantaged communities. For more information CLICK HERE.

Colorado's Water Plan Grant Opportunities: The purpose of the Water Plan Grant funding is to make progress on the critical actions identified in the Colorado’s Water Plan (CWP) and its Measurable Objectives. All applications will be assessed based on funds available for a particular CWP Measurable Objective category. The Board will select projects, programs and activities to fund from applications that have the best opportunity to make progress on the CWP’s Measurable Objectives or critical actions. The CWCB staff reserves the right to negotiate with successful applicants to modify the scope and budget of their project to better meet the CWP objectives in light of fund availability. CWCB staff will evaluate applications and recommend projects to the CWCB Board for final approval at its regularly scheduled Board meetings. Learn more HERE.

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. Natural Resource Conservation Service 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.

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.

The Colorado Water Conservation Board Water Supply Reserve Account (WSRA) 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 information 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 programs below for more information about each and how to apply:

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

Conferences & Events Late August

AUGUST 22nd, 2018: Colorado Water Congress Open Tent Meeting. Forest wildfires pose a continuing threat to Colorado's environment, economy, and water supply. The time has come to take a very serious look at current forest management practices and work to expand programs for watershed protection/forest health. The need is urgent. The longer we remain in the status quo, the greater the risk. Further details will be announced soon, If you need immediate information, please contact Doug Kemper at doug@cowatercongress.org. 

AUGUST 22nd-24th, 2018: Colorado Water Congress 2018 Summer Conference and Membership Meeting takes place annually for two and a half days. The 2018 conference will be in Vail at the Hotel Talisa. The high-energy Summer Conference is packed with great topical content. It's a don't miss event for those who wish to stay informed about water issues in Colorado while engaging in numerous professional development activities. This conference includes expert presentations on issues including land use planning, growth, and climate. There are opportunities to earn CLE credits. For ore information and registration visit Colorado Water Congress.

AUGUST 24th-26th, 2018: 2018 Gore Festival. The Gore Canyon Festival is the premiere whitewater event in Colorado. Focused around the Class V downriver race through its namesake Gore Canyon, the Gore Canyon Festival has brought the world's elite whitewater athletes, families, anglers and river enthusiasts together for an awesome end of season event celebrating the upper Colorado River. For all the details, including registration, click HERE. 

AUGUST 28th - 30th, 2018: Mountain Studies Institute (MSI) 2nd annual Silverton Innovation Expo.This year, the Expo Committee has invited mining executives, venture capital, and agency personnel.While other conferences or expos may be larger, this event is intentionally invites pioneers, early adopters, and those on the leading edge of technology and innovation to a targeted conversation to advance innovation in remediation. This year's themes include: Valuing Water as an Asset, Changing the Equation: Water and Wastes into Products and Advancing Technology, Characterization & Models. Register HERE.

SEPTEMBER 6th, 2018: From Planning to Implementation Webinar: A Look at Steamboat Springs' New Stream Management Plan. Join Water Education Colorado from 2:00-3:00 p.m. on September 6 learn how science and local priorities led to recommendations in Steamboat Springs' new stream management plan, what a completed plan means for existing flow agreements, and how implementation might look going forward. While the webinar will focus on Steamboat's work, lessons learned from their process will be applicable across the state. Register and learn more HERE. 

SEPTEMBER 7th, 2018: Western Colorado Community Forestry Conference will be held in Durango, Colorado, at the Durango Public Library. Conference agenda can be found HERE. Registration can be done HERE. 

SEPTEMBER 10th-12th, 2018:  2018 Colorado Open Space Alliance (COSA) conference. Do you have open space, natural resource management, or conservation expertise that you’d like to share?  They are seeking presentations for the conference, which is themed “Ripple by Ripple, Water is the Driving Force in Nature.”  Read more about this HERE.

SEPTEMBER 18th, 2018: Recovery to Resilience Flood Tour. Join Water Education Colorado for a 5th anniversary, full-day tour of the 2013 flood-affected zone along the Front Range (to begin and end in Loveland). Participants will learn about the initial actions that were taken to protect lives and property as well as the subsequent projects that were undertaken to recover and build resilience. Read the draft agenda and register HERE. 

SEPTEMBER 27th-OCTOBER 7th, 2018: 5th Annual Creek Week Cleanup - Seeking Creek Crews. Be a part of the largest cleanup in the state of Colorado! Creek Week volunteers clean up litter along the creeks, trails, parks and open spaces from Palmer Lake to Pueblo during this 9-day event happening 9/27-10/7 this year. Individuals and groups (families, clubs, schools, churches, neighborhoods, etc.) are invited to form a Creek Crew. Get outdoors, get active, and create some good for your community and those living downstream! Last year, over the course of nine days, 2,592 citizens formed 81 groups and collected nearly three THOUSAND bags of litter and debris, weighing in at over 30 TONS.

OCTOBER 9th - 11th, 2018: 13th Annual Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference. The Color of Water: Exploring the Spectrum, Westin Riverfront Resort, Avon, CO. Don't miss the premier watershed conference in Colorado. Expanding cooperation and collaboration throughout Colorado in natural resource conservation, protection and enhancement by informing participants about new issues and innovative projects and through invaluable networking. For information and registration go to SCW Conference 2018.

OCTOBER 24th-25th, 2018: 29th Annual South Platte Forum at the Embassy Suites in Loveland, CO. The conference will feature an exciting lineup of speakers and topics, and a great opportunity to network. Find the list of speakers and their bios HERE, and all general and pertinent information and links HERE. 

OCTOBER 30th, 2018: 10th Annual Water Conservation Symposium at the Denver Botanic Gardens. Join them for the 10th Annual Colorado WaterWise Water Conservation Symposium in Denver, Colorado! They have a great program that will appeal to many audiences. Register now as space is limited. To register, visit their website HERE.

NOVEMBER 7th-8th, 2018: 8th Annual Upper Colorado River Basin Water Forum will be held at CMU University Center in Grand Junction, CO. For more, click HERE. CALL FOR ABSTRACTS will expire June 30th. Click HERE for details for abstracts

FEBRUARY 11th – 14th, 2019: Colorado Rural Water Association Annual Conference and Exhibition. SAVE THE DATE! This event will be held at the Crowne Plaza DIA Convention Center, 1550 East 40th Avenue, Denver, CO. For more information click HERE.

Trainings & Workshops Late August

Colorado Rural Water Association is hosting a Operator Training and Certification Review - September 6th-7th, 2018. This two-day training is designed to assist and prepare individuals taking their Certification Exams by providing educational information. The course also serves as a refresher course for certified operators. More information, including fees, schedule, and location, click HERE. 

Shadowcliff and the International Society for Sustainability Professionals is putting on Beyond Sustainability: A Workshop for Professonals - September 23rd - 27th, 2018. If your day to day work involves a focus on sustainability then this workshop is right for you. Come and experience new tools to elevate your work, the power of sharing a common experience with colleagues, an experienced and engaging faculty, and the reinvigorating connection to the very heart of why you do the work you do. For more information, including schedules and registration, click HERE. 

The Center for Watershed Protection presents Watershed and Stormwater Webcast Series:

  • Stormwater and Green Infrastructure for Combined Sewer Systems- September 12, 2018, 1-2:30 PM EST
  • Innovations in Stream Restoration Design and Construction- October 10, 2018, 1-2:30 PM ES
  • It Ain’t Easy Getting Green: Incentivizing Watershed Programs- November 14, 2018, 1-2:30 PM EST

Find pricing information and registration HERE.

Water Education Colorado presents Rethinking the Big Picture: Building Relationships into Program Design and Evaluation - October 9th ,2018.  This workshop will benefit anyone who delivers projects or programs. The lessons learned can be applied at various scales - from short-term projects to organizational program management. Additionally, these skills are useful for various sectors, including municipalities, nonprofits, watershed coalitions, consultants and businesses. For all the details, including registration, click HERE. 

American Stormwater Institute is putting on the Denver Qualified Stormwater Inspector Training - October 29th-30th, 2018. In this two-day course they will cover all the topics to ensure that you meet the regulatory requirement to conduct Stormwater Inspections. They will review the requirements of your state MS4, Construction, and Industrial General Permits; they will discuss what it takes for you to be in compliance with the permits; they will discuss inspection techniques that will help you better evaluate whether or not other permittees are in compliance with their permits – and how that influences your permit compliance. All the details and registration can be found HERE. 

Job Announcements Late August

Colorado Open Lands is hiring a Land Stewardship Assistant. This is a full-time, temporary position that is 4 months in duration. The Assistant will support the Land Stewardship staff with organizing, filing and documenting monitoring visits, conducting monitoring visits of their own, and performing stewardship activities as needed. Full job description can be found HERE. 

City of Boulder is hiring a Water Quality Compliance Coordinator who coordinates the administration of water quality monitoring and aspects of stormwater quality compliance related to the city's Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Permit and other city and state regulations under the Water Quality and Environmental Services (WQES) Group. Administers the program for illicit discharge response and recordkeeping to comply with MS4 permit requirements and supports the enforcement of city code related to stormwater discharges and water quality protection. Coordinates implementation of the groundwater permitting process. Serves as state liaison for spill reporting requirements. Coordinates and conducts special studies to further support regulatory requirements under the Utilities Division. Conducts stormwater quality BMP inspections and related documentation and enforcement follow-up. For more information, click HERE. Deadline to apply is August 18th, 2018. 

Jefferson County Colorado is seeking a Parks Services Specialist who, under general supervision, performs a variety of skilled to semi-skilled work in the janitorial, maintenance, repair, & restoration of Open Space parks and their associated facilities, infrastructures and buildings to facilitate the upkeep and development of park amenities and improvements. Full job posting can be found HERE. Deadline to apply is August 19th, 2018. 

Boulder County is looking for a Resident Park Ranger to join their dynamic and innovative team of resource protection professionals as the Resident Park Ranger at Hall Ranch. The resident ranger's duties include planning, implementing, coordinating, and evaluating a variety of resource protection functions on parks, open spaces, and agricultural lands including law enforcement, public safety, emergency response, and visitor education and outreach. Additionally, this position serves as the on-site park caretaker and completes a variety of maintenance operations. For the full job posting, click HERE. Deadline to apply is August 19th, 2018. 

Ken-Caryl Ranch Metropolitan District is seeking an Assistant Forestry Technician to provide experienced tree care in the form of planting, removing, pruning, assessing and analyzing diseases of all trees and shrubs within the Metropolitan District’s parks and greenbelts. Full job description can be found HERE.

Department of Parks and Recreation for the City of Denver is hiring a Fishing Program Coordinator. The Fishing Program Coordinator will be responsible for ensuring that the Denver's Fishing is Fun program is properly organized and successfully implemented. This is a great opportunity to gain hands-on experience working for one of the largest park programs in the region and truly making a positive impact in the community. They are looking for an individual to work part-time through the remainder of the season (through approximately November of 2018). For more information, visit their website HERE.

Eagle River Watershed Council is seeking a Community Outreach VISTA to become a part of their team. The VISTA will help to expand their community outreach efforts particularly in the Latino and underserved communities, build organizational capacity, and help develop a new water quality education program county-wide. All applications must be submitted through the AmeriCorps website. To create a login visit https://my.americorps.gov/mp/recruit/registration.do. More information about the AmeriCorps VISTA application process is HERE. 

Continental Divide Trail Coalition is looking for a Project Leader (to be filled immediately). This full-time, seasonal position (July - October) requires leadership experience in constructing and managing non-motorized trails through collaborative partnerships, proven success in program coordination and a background in volunteer management. Requires a minimum of two years of experience in sustainable trail construction techniques and crew leadership/volunteer management. For more information, click HERE. To apply: Please email a Cover Letter and Resume to Morgan Anderson at manderson@continentaldividetrail.org with Subject: CDT Project Leader Application. 

The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe Environmental Programs Department is hiring a Water Quality Specialist to conduct field, lab. and office work to restore, maintain and protect the chemical, biological and physical integrity of the Tribes surface and groundwater resources. Contact Colin Larrick, Water Quality Program Manager, clarrick@utemountain.org for additional information and how to apply.

Friends of the Lower Blue River is hiring an Executive Director who will oversee the logistics, serve as point person, represent the FOLBR in the community, and manage membership functions so that the FOLBR maintains a high and positive profile in the community, the FOLBR BOD functions efficiently and effectively, and the FOLBR Mission is consistently honored and met. For more information, visit the description page HERE. 

The City of Boulder is seeking a Natural Lands Technician. Under limited supervision, maintains the health, safety and aesthetics of natural areas throughout the Parks and Recreation system.  Performs natural resource related maintenance and operations on City of Boulder Parks and Recreation natural lands including staff collaboration, project completion and program assistance.  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. To see the entire job description, click HERE and look for the Maintenance Person III Natural Lands job title.