Job Announcements Late June

Request for Proposal to obtain competitive proposals from qualified consultants for a manager to provide technical services to the Chatfield Watershed Authority. The Chatfield Watershed spans parts of Jefferson, Douglas, and El Paso Counties. Consultant shall provide the Authority with technical services to assist with implementation of Regulation 73 compliance requirements, including but not limited to, data management, data analysis and regulatory services. Consultant shall advance the Authority’s stated objectives to “prudently plan, provide for, manage, and operate programs, facilities, and structures to address water quality and water quality improvements related to and affecting the Chatfield Watershed.” Download the RFP.

Colorado Parks and Wildlife is seeking a Communications and Media Intern. The team seeks a multi-faceted intern to allow CPW to be more proactive with more regularly scheduled programs and updates, giving specialists the ability to be more reactive as pressing needs arise. Additionally, this team member will have the opportunity to assist with monitoring and understanding of media coverage, editing website content, responding to media calls, and participate in field work. The application is due on June 21st, 2019. For more information, head HERE.

City of Denver’s Parks and Recreation Department has openings for part-time Urban Trails Utility Workers who will perform maintenance operations on off-street urban trails, parkways and paths, and nearby areas including Denver’s prized riparian and natural areas.  These positions are critical to ensure the safety and beauty of Denver's off-street urban trails system which widely used by bicyclists, walkers, and joggers for recreation as well as commuting and transportation.  These are seasonal positions with starting pay at $15.38. Apply now HERE.

Tax Credit Connection, Inc, is seeking a Vice President of Conservation in the Berthoud, Colorado office. They are looking for an attorney to help them manage the landowner (seller) side of their business. Their company brokers conservation easement, environmental remediation and historic preservation tax credits that are used against Colorado income tax. Applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Find more information HERE.

The Southwest Conservation Corps, in collaboration with the Dolores River Restoration Partnership (DRRP), is advertising for two invasive species Strike Team Crew Members in Durango, CO.  The DRRP is in year 10 of a large scale effort to treat invasive plant species along 175 miles of the river corridor, with strike teams playing an essential role in helping sites reach restoration success. The primary tasks of this crew are to treat noxious weeds, maintain and participate in re-vegetation activities such as seeding and planting, and perform general restoration activities as needed by the partnership. For more information, click HERE.

Eagle River Watershed Council is seeking a Education & Outreach Coordinator. The coordinator will work collaboratively with staff and board on their mission-driven programs with particular emphasis on education and outreach activities. This includes serving as a resource to the community on topics pertaining to water quality, quantity, recreation, access, riparian health, wildlife and more. Their education and outreach opportunities attract diverse people, make complex topics understandable and inspire action, enthusiasm and involvement in local watershed issues. Find more information HERE.

Coalitions & Collaboratives, Inc. (COCO) is seeking a Professional Water Resources Engineer for a wide range of projects, such as wetland and stream restoration; aquatic species passage projects; forest road and trail closures, reroutes, or development; post-fire/flood emergency response; water quality BMP projects; etc. The location is Lake George, CO, though the individual may telecommute a significant portion of the time. See the full job description HERE.

Work for nature this summer. USDA has various positions available. Browse Colorado summer job openings HERE.

The City of Aurora’s Open Space and Natural Resource division is hiring two Seasonal Naturalist positions. Join their team of enthusiastic, adventurous and educated natural resource professionals for a fun spring, summer, and fall season in their over 8,000 acres of open space and in their three award-winning nature centers. For more information and to apply, click HERE.

The city of Aurora’s Open Space and Natural Resource division is hiring one Go Wild Summer Program Assistant. Go WILD Summer Program Assistant works with the Go WILD Program Coordinator to provide logistic and administrative requirements in order to carry out the programs for this grant funded effort. Programs will be offered for groups of up to 50 students and their guardians, in open space and nature based outdoor recreation / education guided programs. For more information and to apply, click HERE.

Trainings & Workshops Late June

JUNE 18th, 11:00 - 12:30 p.m. MST: Understanding how the Money is Supposed to Flow—Water Infrastructure Funding and Finance 101. In the first of a four-part webinar series, Stacey Isaac Berahzer will provide an overview of  where water, wastewater, and stormwater utilities are positioned in the local government framework (e.g. local government departments, authorities, etc.) , and how this positioning affects their financial flexibility. Register HERE.

JUNE 19th, 2019 at 11:00 a.m. MT: Know Your Flow Webinar with Colorado WaterWise. Aurora Water created the Know Your Flow program in 2017 to address the information gap in customers’ understanding of how efficiently they’re using water. Through monthly email updates, Aurora Water compares customers’ water use to benchmarks adjusted for the unique characteristics of their household and property. This self-comparison approach helps customers see the invisible waste in their water use and provides a direct communication between Aurora Water’s Conservation staff and inefficient users. For more information and registration, click HERE.

JUNE 20th, 2019: Restoration Workshop in Fort Collins, CO. Join RiversEdge West, the Cross-Watershed Network, and Bird Conservancy of the Rockies for a restoration workshop focues on Colorado Front Range flood-affected communities. In addition to presentations, there will be time incorporated for both topic discussion and networking. Registration is $15 and includes lunch. Register HERE.

JUNE 20th, 2019, 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: Trenching & Shoring Safety Certification. This training will be taught by Kris Graham from United Rentals. Throughout the class, attendees will learn the ins and outs of trench shoring and the importance of safety.  Following the lunch break attendees will receive competent person training. At the end of the workshop attendees will receive a certification in trenching and shoring safety. For more information, click HERE.

JUNE 20th, 2019: Climate Change, Mitigation, & Colorado Water Webinar 12:00 p.m.-1:00 p.m. Colorado's warming future brings with it projected impacts to water supplies with possible changes in precipitation, retimed runoff flows, more extreme precipitation and drought events, water quality impacts and more. Water providers and users are taking measures to adapt—but is the water sector doing enough to curb the effects of climate change? Nonmembers fee: $15 Members fee: $10. For more information and registration, click HERE.

JUNE 27th, 2019 from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.: Water University—Utility Management Certification in Grand Junction, CO. This training will cover the financial, technical, and managerial aspects of management for small systems.  Upon completion of the class, students will take a managerial certification exam consisting of 102 questions covering the learned material.  Once the required score is achieved, graduates will be presented with a certificate and receive a Utility Management Certification plaque. For more information, head HERE.

JULY 11th-12th, 2019: Paleontology Rafting Field Experience in Grand Junction, CO. Join the Colorado Canyons Association and Museums of Western Colorado to search for fossils in the previously unexplored depths of the Colorado River’s Ruby-Horsethief Canyons in McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area. You'll join a crew of expert paleontologists and spend two days hiking side canyons looking for fossils, learning about the geological and paleontological history of the region. Participants will enjoy a night at Colorado Canyons Association’s private Catalpa Camp with expertly prepared meals featuring local ingredients and wine. Hiking and some light paddling involved. Learn more and register HERE or call 970-263-7902.

JULY 13th, 2019: A Night at the Park in Alderfer Three Sisters Open Space Park, Evergreen CO. Former Denver Bronco and author Reggie Rivers will emcee the evening, Dakota Blonde will bring their special brand of music and Fresh Tracks Catering will provide their delicious dinner! And of course, fabulous auction items add to the merriment! Find more information HERE.

Metropolitan State University of Denver is offering a Water Studies Online Certificate to provide training and skills relevant to careers in water studies, conservation, agriculture, construction, engineering, and law. 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. Register soon—open enrollment closes July 15th. Find out more HERE.

Qualified MS4 Stormwater Compliance Professional (MS4-SCP). Topics covered in this training include: review of MS4 permit requirements, best management practices (BMPs) for MS4s, compliance with six minimum control measures, identifying common illicit discharges to the MS4, construction inspection techniques for MS4 inspectors, green infrastructure and LID techniques, and stormwater permit compliance assistance. Click location and date below for more information.

AUGUST 24th, 2019: Raft the River from 3:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. in Fruita, CO. During Raft the River, you’ll enjoy and informative, fun float down the Colorado river complete with dinner, drinks, live music, and prizes. Seats are limited to the first 50 people. $85 to attend, $72 for RiversEdge West members. All proceeds will support river restoration and education in the Grand Valley. Learn more HERE or register HERE.

Online Courses Available Through Colorado Rural Water Association. Industry studies have shown employee-training budgets for most water and wastewater utilities are tighter than ever. Web-based operator certification and license renewal training provides employers and their employees the flexibility of taking training courses at their own pace without the hassle and cost of attending live classes. Check them out HERE.

Conferences & Events Late June

JUNE 18th-20th, 2019: The 4th Rocky Mountain Stream Restoration Conference will provide an opportunity for professionals to share ideas and lessons learned in stream restoration assessment, planning, design, construction, and evaluation, as well as other topical stream issues. The conference will explore stream restoration challenges and solutions, with a focus on the Intermountain West. For the agenda click HERE.

JUNE 20th, 2019: CSU Weed Network Tour. This is a free event that highlights cutting edge research conducted at CSU in collaboration with City and County Open Space managers along the front range, focusing on non-crop weed management and restoration of areas degraded by invasive plant species. The event is free including transportation and meals. For any questions, please contact Rachel Seedorf (rseedorf@colostate.edu) or Shannon Clark (Shannon.Clark@colostate.edu). Register HERE.

JUNE 20th-21st, 2019: Gunnison River Festival. The Gunnison River Festival (GRF) strives to educate water users throughout the watershed about the Gunnison River and put on a wide variety of events from concerts to whitewater races that appeal to all. The GRF begins on Thursday, June 20 with a Pearl Jam tribute band at the Ibar Ranch, a film festival on Friday, June 21. Due to this amazing water year, the main festival event with whitewater races, educational booths, food, and more originally scheduled for Saturday, June 22 has been rescheduled to Saturday August 24, 2019. The Pearl Jam concert and Film Festival at the Ibar are still occurring on their originally scheduled dates (June 20 and 21). Come visit both weekends! Visit the website HERE for more information.

JUNE 22nd, 2019 | 12:00 p.m.- 9:00 p.m.: Citizens for the River at Confluence Park. Citizens for the River is Denver’s premier, FREE, urban river festival, which features a river rodeo parade, stand up paddle board demos, a variety of riverside recreational activities, a kids zone, live music, beer, food vendors, water sport vendors, and more! This year, the party will feature live music throughout the event day on the east side of Confluence Park, capped off by a national headliner concert to end the day! For more information, click HERE.

JUNE 24th-26th, 2019: Great Plains Low Impact Development (LID) Research & Innovation Symposium, hosted by Colorado Stormwater Center at Colorado State University. This 3-day symposium is organized to provide stormwater practitioners in the great plains region the tools and information necessary to successfully use low impact development (LID).  Many conferences on this topic are geared toward the West and East coast implementation of LID, but this conference focuses on how to use LID in the middle of the country including all of challenges and barriers. Registration is closed. If you are looking to join the symposium as a sponsor or exhibitor, there are several sponsorship packages still available! For more information, check out the website HERE.

JUNE 25th, 2019: Party on the Poudre. Colorado Water Trust’ fundraiser on the banks of the Cache la Poudre River has been rescheduled! Local resident, Craig Harrison, is generously opening up his barn at H Lazy T Bar Ranch to invite you to a Party on the Poudre! Join them for an evening of drinks, appetizers, and discussions about Colorado’s water challenges as well as solutions to protect our rivers and the communities around them. Colorado Water Trust's innovative thinking is coming to the Fort Collins area, as they build a coalition of partners to help put water back in stressed reaches of the Cache la Poudre River. They believe that our water challenges in Colorado are fixable by working within the current system and all Coloradans are needed to get engaged. For more information and registration, click HERE.

JUNE 29th, 2019: The Front Range Chapter of Wild Ones and the Highlands Garden Center are co-hosting a FREE special event. The presenter Beth Hanson is a Park Interpreter and Naturalist at the Carson Nature Center in South Platte Park, Littleton. Beth will be giving a talk on which native plants have proven themselves in our challenging Colorado landscapes, including plants suited for hot and dry areas, full shade, and poor soils. There is a native plant that would love to grow in your garden! The event is on Saturday, June 29th from 10:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. at the Highlands Garden Center: 8080 South Holly Street, Centennial, CO 80122. This is a FREE event, but please RSVP via email to: FrontRangeWildOnes@gmail.com.

JUNE 29th, 2019: 12th Annual Ridgway RiverFest. The Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership is excited to bring another family-friendly, lively community festival to you at Rollans Park in Ridgway. With no admission fee for festival goers, this event would not be possible without donations from sponsors. UWP is now seeking sponsorships from $100 to $2,500. To find out more, please go to their RiverFest Sponsor Resources webpage, or email Tanya at ridgwayriverfest@gmail.com.

AUGUST 4th, 2019: Friends of the Lower Blue River Annual Gathering. Join  the entire There will be great prizes in the auction  And this year, we will have a BBQ lunch provided by the Rocky Mountain BBQ Association Grand Reserve Champion Backdraft BBQ. Because the Annual Meeting is FoLBR’s main fundraiser for the year, all members to pay $25/person for what promises to be a great lunch with drinks and all the fixin’s. For more information, head HERE.

AUGUST 6th-7th, 2019: Denver Watershed Tour. Join Denver’s Public Works and Denver Water on a two-day tour of Denver’s watershed to explore how water moves from source to faucet and storm drain. The Denver Watershed Tour is designed for classroom and informal educators to learn more about how water gets to and moves through our communities. Throughout the tour, participants will engage in interdisciplinary activities to bring back to the classroom. For more information click HERE.

AUGUST 24th, 2019: Gunnison River Festival. The Gunnison River Festival (GRF) strives to educate water users throughout the watershed about the Gunnison River and put on a wide variety of events from concerts to whitewater races that appeal to all. Due to this amazing water year, the main festival event with whitewater races, educational booths, food, and more was rescheduled to Saturday, August 24th, 2019. Visit the website HERE for more information.

AUGUST 24th, 2019: RiversEdge West hosts Raft the River. Join them and local river experts for their 5th Annual Raft the River fundraiser, a one-day float trip and dinner along the Colorado River in Fruita, Colorado from 3:00 p.m. -7:30 p.m. They'll be floating from Rimrock Adventures to the Loma Boat Ramp. Registration ends August 15th! For more information, click HERE.

SEPTEMBER 17th-19th, 2019: San Luis Valley Rural Philanthropy Days. RPD conferences include many opportunities to increase your understanding of nonprofit best practices, collaborate with other community leaders, and connect with Front Range and local funders. The funder roundtables are a signature of the RPD program and provide a unique opportunity to meet with grant-makers in a rural setting. The goal of RPD is to bring increased access to resources to support sustainable rural nonprofits, increase the engagement of funders in rural communities, and encourage effective collaboration on a regional scale. For more information head HERE.

OCTOBER 8th - 10th, 2019: 2019 Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference "The Human Element" at the Westin Riverfront Resort, Avon, CO. The 2019 conference will explore the influence of The Human Element on water and watersheds in Colorado and the West. Our growing human presence and resulting impacts on watersheds is undeniable. At the same time, our human experiences and social/emotional connections to watersheds are integral components to be considered in the work to preserve, protect and restore our watersheds. Together we will delve into our impacts and connections. We will look for ways our influence can be fostered and mitigated to avoid loving our home to death. For more information visit our SCW CONFERENCE webpage. Early Bird registration begins July 1st!

OCTOBER 30th, 2019 from 8:15 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.: 11th Annual Water Conservation Symposium hosted by Colorado WaterWise at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science. The event will cover water, climate, drought, and planning for the future. For more information and registration, click HERE.

Funding Opportunities Late June

Colorado Dept. of Public Health and the Environment (CDPHE), the Water Quality Control Division (WQCD), offers 2020 funding from the Drinking Water Revolving Fund and Water Pollution Control Revolving Fund. The eligibility survey process opened on May 1st, 2019, with a submittal deadline of June 30th, 2019. Surveys will be completed and submitted through the Colorado Environmental Online Services (CEOS) system.

The PeopleForBikes Community Grant Program provides funding for projects that build momentum for bicycling in communities across the U.S. Applications are accepted from nonprofit organizations, city or county agencies or departments, and from state or federal agencies working locally. Letters of interest are due July 26th, 2019. Grant guidelines can be found HERE, and the online application can be found HERE.

Alliance for Community Trees Open Request for Projects. The Arbor Day Foundation is actively seeking proposals to fund planting projects around the country. Funding is limited to $15,000 per project, and budget information is required in the application. Applications should also focus on the issues the planting project will address, such as: urban heat island effect, natural disaster restoration, low- and moderate-income neighborhoods, water quality, air pollution, etc. No deadline, but earlier is better. More information on this funding opportunity can be found HERE.

The National Forest Foundation is pleased to announce the that it is currently soliciting proposals for its Matching Awards Program (MAP). MAP is a national, competitive grant program that provides federal funds for on-the-ground projects benefiting America's National Forests and Grasslands. The program supports action-oriented projects that enhance outdoor experiences, forest and ecosystem health, and engage local communities in caring for their public lands. For more information, click HERE.

Get Your 2019 Project Funded. Are you planning, designing, or implementing on-the-ground restoration projects that will restore river flows and/or recharge ground water? Would you like the opportunity to share your projects with businesses who may be interested in providing support for your projects? If the answer is “Yes!” be sure to check out the Business for Water Stewardship Project Bank, a new opportunity for paid members of River Network to use a national platform to attract funding.

US Department of Agriculture Rural Development 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. 

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 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. Look for the next opportunity in August 2019. 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.

What type of Water Supply Reserve Fund Grants are available?

Basin Account: Funds water activities from a basin roundtable. The CWCB evaluates applications for the Basin Account to ensure the Threshold Criteria are met.

Statewide Account: Funds water activities from a basin roundtable on a competitive basis. The CWCB evaluates applications for the Statewide Account to ensure each application meets the Threshold Criteria in addition to being evaluated using the Evaluation Criteria.

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 the list, click HERE.

Announcements Late June

2019 Request for Water Process. In January, the Colorado Water Conservation Board and Colorado Water Trust opened up the second year of their Request for Water Process. The Request for Water Process streamlines and enhances an existing CWCB program that provides benefits to water right owners for using their water rights to help keep rivers and watersheds healthy. The Request for Water Process website has the details and resources to answer your questions HERE. Contact the Water Trust at (720) 570-2897 or send an email to RFW@ColoradoWaterTrust.org with specific questions. The deadline for submitting preliminary water right offers is June 30th, 2019.

Colorado is officially drought free this month, but the state’s reservoirs are still struggling to recover, with statewide storage registering just 90 percent of average, well below the 111 percent mark it registered last year on April 30. To read Water Education Colorado’s full article, click HERE.

Regulation 84 stakeholder meeting notes and an updated draft Reg. 84 proposal from the Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE), Water Quality Control Division (WQCD) are posted HERE.

The May 2019 Drought Update, a summary of the drought information presented at the May 14 Water Availability Task Force Meeting is posted on the CWCB website.  All of the presentations from the meeting can also be found on the CWCB website.

The Colorado River just got a boost that’s likely to prevent its depleted reservoirs from bottoming out, at least for the next several years. For the full AZ Central article and a video about this update, head HERE.

Help Middle Colorado Watershed Council’s project with a 5 minute survey! The Integrated Water Management Plan (IWMP) is an on-going project-identifying plan that needs your support! Do you recreate on the river at all? Fish? Swim? Boat? Riverside picnic? Take their river users survey to begin to help quantify just how much waterways are used for recreation and enjoyment. Want to learn more about the IWMP? Visit this quick Post Independent column HERE.

Center for Health & Environmental Justice is exploring the possibility of working on a national campaign around water contamination. Several bills related to clean water have been introduced last year. These relate to testing school pipes, testing and repairing pipes within HUD housing, and testing and repairing older pipes in cities and towns that need new infrastructures. They are monitoring water related legislation that will be reintroduced this year. CHEJ would like to understand better where and what water concerns people in the network have in terms of drinking water, infrastructure and contaminated water sources. Please LET THEM KNOW whether or not there is a water related issue in your community, even if you are not working on it at this time.

Call for Abstracts and Symposia Riparian Restoration Conference | Abstracts due October 31, 2019. RiversEdge West invites you to share your work or session proposals with the riparian restoration community at the 18th Annual Riparian Restoration Conference (RRC)—one of the leading riparian restoration conferences in the West—to be held February 4-6, 2020 in Grand Junction, CO. View the call for abstracts flyer HERE.