For every farmer/rancher under the age of 25, five are 75+ years old

According to U.S. Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Kathleen Merrigan, an epidemic is plaguing America.  If census statistics are correct, than America’s farmers and ranchers will have no one to take over their livelihoods.  As this article points out, we are in the “Golden Age” of agriculture; global demand is at record highs while global supplies are at record lows.  For possible answers to this crisis and further discussion, click here.

 

Healthy children, healthy future

According to the National Environmental Education Foundation, being outside can benefit a child in more ways than one.  It can reduce stress levels and even temporarily reduce signs of ADHD.  For more on how the outdoors can improve children’s lives, click here.

Beer is for drinking, water is for…conserving!

Why is it that Colorado has some of the West’s best brew? Because beer is nearly 90% water, its only fair to assume that Colorado’s renowned breweries have been successful thanks in part to free-flowing and clean water.  To investigate the relationship between urban growth, the health of Colorado’s rivers, and the passion for craft beers, the Beer Not Water Initiative was created.  For more, and to check out what some local breweries are doing to conserve water, click here.

 

CCT staff has compiled the state’s most comprehensive picture of the effects that inevitable population growth will have on our land and water.

For an overview, see our executive summary here.
For the full report, click here. 

To hear more, and for the global context, come to the Q for Conservation on June 21!

 

Colorado Water Trust, The Nature Conservancy, and Colorado Water Conservation Board looked to for answers concerning State drought

The CWT, The Nature Conservancy, and CWCB are being looked to for management options that will leave more water in Colorado rivers.  While the Colorado Water Trust and Nature Conservancy are paying water users to use less or no water, the Colorado Water Conservation Board is working through State courts to establish new minimum flows which will ensure protection for fish, wildlife, and an riparian vegetation.  To read more in the Denver Post, click here.

After drafting farm bill, Sen. Bennet gets key provisions

Colorado Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry, has responded to those Coloradans who have long claimed that a new Farm Bill is needed that will save taxpayer dollars and add efficiency, support and certainty for producers, small business entrepreneurs, land managers, and community food organizations.  Most importantly, the new Farm Bill is set to strengthen the federal crop insurance program. To learn more about this critical bill, read more in InsuranceNewsNet.

Smithfield’s sustainable push

Smithfield, the world’s largest producer and processor of pork, is opening up about their thoughts on how to feed the world, be an environmentally conscious company, and treat their animals humanly.  To watch their newest video, click here.

 

 

Learn what are farmers and ranchers saying about how food is brought to your table.

In some respects, agriculture has become a dirty word.  After moving to the other side of the plate and listening to what farmers and ranchers have to say about their livelihood (and your food), a different picture is painted.  For more, check out this interesting dialogue between farmers and ranchers and the U.S. Farmers and Ranchers Alliance.

EPA awards Denver with 350 K for commitment to urban waterways.

The Environmental Protection Agency has announced that it will award the City of Denver $350,000 for projects to restore and improve the state of the South Platte River.  Denver is one of seven U.S. cities that the EPA acknowledged in this award.  Read more in the Denver Post here.

Colorado officials fight to control roads in National Forests

Before President Obama and his administration decide next month between the state rule and the legally buttressed national rule concerning roads in National Forests, the State of Colorado is making a final push to have control over such measures.  While some conservationists assert that the state rule will cater to special interests, State officials argue that state control will allow Colorado to protect wildlife, communities surrounding pine-beetle infested growth, and create jobs through mining and ski resort expansion.  For more, read here.

 

 

The Colorado Conservation Trust is pleased to announce this initiative by our friends at the Colorado Water Trust (CWT)!   As forecasts for this summer indicate lower than normal streamflows, we commend them for their proactive approach.  Great work, CWT!

COLORADO WATER TRUST EMPLOYS NEW, UNIQUE TACTICS IN DROUGHT RESPONSE

Colorado Water Trust seeks willing water users interested in pilot water leasing program

Across the state, many Colorado water-users are preparing for drought conditions this year.  According to the Natural Resources Conservation Service, streamflow forecasts indicate flows are likely to be below average to well below average in all basins across the state due to low snowpack combined with a dry spring and warmer than usual March temperatures.  This is creating concerns for Colorado’s water users and the state’s rivers, on which waterfowl, wildlife, fish, bugs, and plants depend.

This year, the Colorado Water Trust (CWT) intends to utilize Colorado’s short-term leasing statute for the very first time to put water back in the state’s rivers while compensating water users at fair market value for choosing to participate in the program.  Under the pilot program, CWT will be leasing water from willing water users to place into the State’s Instream Flow Program.  An instream flow water right is treated in Colorado’s water allocation system just like any other water right, but is decreed for nonconsumptive, in-channel use in order to preserve the natural environment to a reasonable degree.

“We intend to put this statute to work to make a difference both to water users facing what could be an uncertain summer if conditions don’t improve and to the state’s rivers,” says Amy Beatie, Esq., executive director of CWT.  The Colorado short-term leasing statute, created through widespread, bi-partisan support in 2003, allows water users to bypass the long “change of use” process in water court and temporarily loan their water to streams within a matter of weeks through a state administrative approval process.

“We’re putting out a ‘Request for Water’ to give water users the opportunity to both protect Colorado’s natural heritage and generate revenue this year–lease your water for instream flow use and grow a crop of fish habitat,” says Beatie.

CWT will work with water right owners and the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) on a voluntary basis; CWT will facilitate and pay for pilot program leases under the state statute.  The law provides several protections for those who choose to lease their water.  It also protects other water users from injury when short-term leases are implemented.

“We are very excited about working with CWT and water users to use this tool to benefit the State’s streams and give water users another option in a potentially difficult year,” says Linda Bassi, who administers the CWCB’s Instream Flow Program.  CWT has been coordinating with the CWCB to build the infrastructure necessary to implement these expedited short-term leases.

Eric Wilkinson, general manager for Northern Water, commented, “This is a great pro-active effort to address the challenges brought about by reduced stream flows in this low run-off year.  Colorado Water Trust should be commended for working within the state’s water rights system and applicable statutes to address these challenges.”  At this point in time, CWT is already working on a lease with Winter Park Ranch Water and Sanitation District, and several other parties are interested in working with CWT to lease their water this year.

Colorado Water Trust is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and restoring streamflows in Colorado through market-based, voluntary mechanisms.  Details about CWT’s “Request for Water” are available at www.coloradowatertrust.org/request-for-water

 

Colorado River to experience second driest year since 2000

After an unusual dry and warm March, drainage basins of the Colorado River are experiencing conditions that are usually seen in May.  Conditions are so threatening that the Bureau of Reclamation has forecasted that Lake Mead, Las Vegas’ chief water resource, could drop as much as 17 feet this summer.  Read more in the Denver Post here.

Hickenlooper on growth: “We’re going to need some more dams”

As population grows in States which depend on the Colorado River, so to does the demand for its water.  Although Denver has reduced its consumption by nearly 20% since 2002, Front Range growth is on the horizon.  Two potentially new pipelines, running from The Colorado’s northern watershed basin in southwestern Wyoming, could divert as much as 100,000 acre-feet of water to the Front Range. Read more in the Denver Post here.

Mining of rare earth metals could see resurgence as prices rise

Colorado’s geologic wealth is no secret, for the Centennial State has had its land dug up for profit well before statehood.  Because of a somewhat recent rise in price in rare earth metals such as tellurium, indium, neodymium, germanium, and titanium, Colorado could soon become a hotspot for subsurface exploration.  Idaho, Wyoming, and Alaska are currently being explored for such rare earth metals.  Read more in the Denver Post here.

“Right to Hunt, Fish, and Trap” to be on Idaho’s Ballot in November

After passing the Idaho State Senate 31-3,  Idaho voters will decide in November whether to allow hunting, fishing, and trapping as the preferred means of managing wildlife.  The Bill also calls for “traditional methods” of hunting, fishing, and trapping to be preserved as Idaho’s heritage.  For complete details, read more here.

 

 

Colorado Conservation Trust (CCT) is pleased to announce the election of Ford Frick and Paul Phillips to the organization’s Board of Directors. The announcement was made by Linda D. Campbell, the organization’s Chairwoman.

“Colorado Conservation Trust’s role over the past twelve years in conserving thousands of acres of critical private land in Colorado has been possible, in large measure, by the dedication and insight of its accomplished Directors. Ford and Paul are both prominent and accomplished Coloradoans who significantly reinforce the exceptional quality of the organization’s Director leadership. Their respective expertise in economics and law will be tremendous assets for helping CCT continue conserving and protecting exceptional Colorado landscapes” said Campbell.

Ford Frick

As Director of Real Estate, Resorts and Tourism Practices for the economics firm BBC Research, Mr. Frick specializes in public and private resort and recreation development economics. His views on the future of tourism and resorts have been quoted in Forbes, The New York Times, The Denver Post, The Sporting News, and The Wall Street Journal.

“CCT is the link that makes all of Colorado’s local land trusts more successful,” said Mr. Frick. “I’m attracted to the mission of being the quiet catalyst, the financier, the collaborator, or the “whatever is necessary” that makes a local deal go from struggling to successful. The basic economic efficiency and the high value added of CCT’s contribution is very appealing.”

Paul Phillips

Also joining the Board of Directors is Mr. Phillips, a partner at Holland and Hart, LLC. Mr. Phillips brings more than 25 years of experience in environmental law and litigation and has been named the top Natural Resources/Environmental lawyer in the Denver Business Journal’s “Best of the Bar” survey. He is an active supporter of the non-profit community, currently serving on the boards of Trust for Land Restoration, Colorado Plateau Archeological Association, and Colorado Legal Aid Foundation.

“That great writer of the West, Wallace Stegner, talks about America’s open spaces as a place of spiritual refreshment, a ‘geography of hope’ that shaped our character as a nation and still provides an endless source of renewal. That rings true to me. I feel most alive and happy heading into the out-of-doors with a backpack or fishing rod,”  said Mr. Phillips. “Stegner also says that something will have gone out of us as a people if we ever let the remaining open spaces be destroyed. That’s why CCT is so important. CCT has the noble goal of ensuring that those open spaces will be preserved for us and generations to come.”

Colorado Conservation Trust is also pleased to welcome Jordan Vana and Bethany Gravell to its staff. “Bethany and Jordan are accomplished and well respected conservation and nonprofit leaders. Their respective experience levels will greatly add to our capacity to serve the Colorado land conservation community,” said Brian Ross, Colorado Conservation Trust Executive Director. “We are very fortunate to welcome these two talented individuals to our team.”

Bethany Gravell

Gravell brings nine years of complementary experience in fundraising, non-profit management and political consulting to the position of Development Director. She will be responsible for securing funding for Colorado Conservation Trust’s core programs which have provided over $19 million to support land conservation programs and local land trusts over the past 12 years. Prior to joining Colorado Conservation Trust, Ms. Gravell was Executive Director of Rocky Mountain Wild, a conservation organization dedicated to protecting wildlife and conserving wildlife habitat. Gravell also held the position of Account Executive for the consulting firm CRL Associates Inc. where she helped secure voter approval for a $60 million bond to restore and expand the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. Gravell also managed the successful campaign of Denver City Councilwoman Peggy Lehmann in 2003.

Jordan Vana

Vana brings seven years of expertise in land conservation to his new role as CCT’s Program Director, where he will be responsible for ensuring that CCT’s innovative programs maintain Colorado’s extraordinary landscapes. Prior to joining Colorado Conservation Trust, Mr. Vana served as Director of Conservation for the Wyoming Land Trust, where he worked with landowners to conserve and steward more than 30,000 acres of working ranchland, wildlife habitat and open space around the Cowboy State. Before the Wyoming Land Trust, Jordan worked as an attorney in Billings, Montana, where his practice focused on real estate, commercial transactions and estate planning.

 

Please save the date for our sixth annual Q for Conservation, to be held June 21, 2012 at the National Western Stock Show. National Geographic writer Robert Kunzig will discuss population trends, resource management, and what they mean for the future of Colorado. More details coming soon!

This article in the Stanford Social Innovation Review is a perfect companion piece to our soon-to-be-published report on our Community Engagement pilot program. Watch for the Executive Summary and Full Report to be published soon!

http://www.ssireview.org/blog/entry/space_the_social_change_frontier

Recently, dozens of academics and economists sent President Obama a letter encouraging him to continue to protect public lands in the western United States. The letter states that protected public lands, especially in the West, are helpful in growing the economy, not only through the recreational activities that take place on the lands, but also in attracting new companies and employees to a region. Ray Rasker of Headwater Economics, who organized the letter and its signers, states, “If you have a community that is surrounded by spectacular landscapes, wilderness areas and parks, companies can move to those areas. One of the things we’re seeing is that’s how they are recruiting really talented employees.”
The letter includes the signatures of three Nobel laureates and recommends that the president continue to protect public lands and even establish new wilderness areas, national parks and monuments- claiming that a high quality of life has become a strength in the West and significantly encourages economic growth.
While some law makers and free-market organizations, such as the Cascade Policy Institute, encourage selling public lands to help solve the federal budget issues, Colorado College professor Walt Hecox strongly advocates otherwise. According to Hecox, “It’d be like having a discussion about selling off the Washington Monument because it doesn’t make money.”

Read more here: http://www.durangoherald.com/article/20111205/NEWS01/712059948/0/API/Economists-to-Obama:-Public-lands-can-be-major-job-creators