- CHLT March Spotlight
- Carolyn Hackman Education Fund Scholarship
- Community News
- Upcoming Events
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Meet Grand County Open Lands, Rivers, and Trails Advisory Committee Administrator:
Anna Drexler-Dreis
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1. How/why did you get involved in land and water conservation?
My love affair with water started during my childhood when I spent all my free time running the shores of Lake Michigan. In my early adulthood I became involved with exploring the oceans through SCUBA diving. After moving to Grand County in 2011, my love for wild open spaces, rafting whitewater, and relaxing by Grand County's many flowing streams only grew.
For my master's project I worked with Grand County Learning By Doing on a stream and riparian restoration project on the Fraser River in Tabernash. Over 150 volunteers showed up over 3 days to help restore a 2-mile stretch of my beloved home waters! From there, I started my consulting business where I work with stakeholders to better manage and conserve our land and water resources.
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2. What is your relationship with CHLT?
I worked at CHLT for five years before starting my own consulting business. Now, I work closely with CHLT as the Administrator for Grand County's Open Lands, Rivers, and Trails Advisory Committee (OLRTAC). OLRTAC works with CHLT as they are a frequent applicant for funds for land conservation projects. Once a project is funded, I work with CHLT as the land conservation project progresses. CHLT has received $1.4M of OLRT funds throughout the years and I've worked with them on each project.
3. For those that don't know, what is OLRT?
In 2016, Grand County voters passed Ballot Initiative 1A, the Open Lands, Rivers, and Trails (OLRT) Measure with 60% of voters voting yes. This created the OLRT Fund that can be used to (1) Acquire lands that conserve and protect water for agriculture, ranching, outdoor recreation, and that conserve agricultural lands, natural areas, scenic open lands, wildlife habitat, wetlands, and river access, (2) Acquire water rights and water storage rights, and (3) Pay for maintenance costs on hiking and biking trails. Since 2016, Grand County has awarded $3.3 million to assist with 10 open lands and river projects and $990k to assist with 44 trail maintenance projects. Check out OLRT's 2021 annual report here.
4. How/why did you come to work with OLRT?
My speciality is working with diverse stakeholders to protect our land and water resources. OLRTAC is made up of nine representatives that have equitable representation from the agricultural, land conservation, outdoor recreation, water, business, and economic development communities. Helping the OLRTAC with their funding recommendations to the Grand County BOCC is a natural fit for me.
5. What is something you'd like to accomplish while at OLRT?
To date the OLRT Fund has helped conserve almost 3,000 acres in Grand County and protect almost 5 miles of rivers. I'd love to double or even triple those numbers and we continue to conserve land and water that has a public benefit.
6. What is your single best argument why folks should support CHLT and land conservation in general?
We must protect wild open spaces for future generations. My favorite memories all include time spent in open spaces, and I'm so thankful someone before me had the foresight to protect these lands. In my opinion, my favorite author Terry Tempest Williams said it best, "The eyes of the future are looking back at us and they are praying for us to see beyond our own time. They are kneeling with hands clasped that we might act with restraint, that we might leave room for the life that is destined to come."
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Carolyn Hackman Education Fund Scholarship
Are you a Grand County student interested in: land conservation, land management, forestry, agriculture, soil science, hydrology, ecology, wildlife biology, environmental engineering, environmental law, landscape architecture, or another related field?
Apply for the Carolyn Hackman Scholarship at Colorado Headwaters Land Trust!
Carolyn Hackman wished to provide financial assistance to Grand County students who are looking to increase their knowledge of land conservation and management, and who wish to carry such knowledge and appreciation into their adult years.
CHLT awards two $1,000 scholarships to graduating Grand County seniors, from either MPHS or WGHS, to help with their pursuit of their environmental passions. Please use your school's standard application packet (and deadline: MPHS 3/22/2022) to apply; but also include a one-page essay detailing your interest in environmental science, land management, or a related field, and how you might apply that major or field of study to future work! Contact us here.
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The Windy Gap Reservoir was placed on the mainstem of the Upper Colorado River in 1984. Aquatic habitat degradation below the reservoir was documented in the Nehring Study just after the turn of the 21st century. The study found that 38 percent of the macroinvertebrate species have disappeared including the giant stonefly along with 100 percent of the sculpin population. This degradation is attributed mostly to fine sedimentation and higher temperatures in the river caused by the dam and reservoir. Taking the Stream Channel of the Colorado River around the existing dam will result in positive changes to the river’s health and the entire ecosystem. For several years, Trout Unlimited has been working in support of this project. Read more about the Windy Gap Connectivity Channel and submit your public comments by March 10 here.
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Curious about Grand County Learning By Doing? Learn more about this Western Slope/Eastern Slope Colorado Water Partnership here.
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Our friends at The Nature Conservancy are accepting applications for a Western Water Policy Specialist to support The Nature Conservancy’s conservation goals through collaborating and coordinating with TNC’s government relations and conservation teams within the western Divisions, State Business Units and Strategic Programs, in particular the Colorado River Program. Interested candidates can learn more about the position here.
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The Intermountain West Climate Dashboard provides situational awareness of climate, drought, and water resources for Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming. Check out the latest trends from CU Boulder's Western Water Assessment team here.
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Family Day
March 5 (Saturday)
at Headwaters River Journey
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Explore and learn on an adventure through Headwaters River Journey's exciting and interactive museum about Colorado’s rivers, environment, and wildlife. 9am - 5pm
$5 Admission for Adults | Kids Free thanks to generous grants from Colorado Headwaters Land Trust through the Carolyn Hackman Education Fund and the Colorado River Headwaters Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Learn more here.
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Family Day
April 2 (Saturday)
at Headwaters River Journey
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Explore and learn on an adventure through Headwaters River Journey's exciting and interactive museum about Colorado’s rivers, environment, and wildlife. 9am - 5pm
$5 Admission for Adults | Kids Free thanks to generous grants from Colorado Headwaters Land Trust through the Carolyn Hackman Education Fund and the Colorado River Headwaters Chapter of Trout Unlimited. Learn more here.
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CHLT would like to thank the Fraser River Valley Lions Club for their 2021 grant to promote our events and education materials. Learn more here.
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Let's Get Social!
Here are a few of our posts from the last month. Find more on our pages.
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Feb 28: "If we surrendered to the earth's intelligence we could rise up rooted, like trees."
- Ranier Maria Rilke
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Feb 14: "There is only one happiness in this life, to love and be loved."
- George Sand
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Feb 10: "Clouds come floating into my life, no longer to carry rain or usher storm, but to add color to my sunset sky."
- Rabindranath Tagore
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Recordings of all of CHLT's educational and informative panel discussions are available to view on our YouTube channel! View CHLT's virtual talks here.
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Consider an alternative way of protecting the land we love - at no cost to you. Support CHLT through AmazonSmile! Sign up for AmazonSmile and select "Colorado Headwaters Land Trust" as your favorite charity. You shop. Amazon gives. Learn more about AmazonSmile.
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Shop Our Conservation Partners! |
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Support local land conservation by shopping at CHLT's Conservation Partners. These partners believe in the mission of the Land Trust and know that open space enriches our quality of life, protects landscapes, and brings visitors and residents to Grand County.
Protecting open space is an investment in our environment, our culture and our economy.
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Are you interested in becoming a Conservation Partner with no cost to your business? Click here for more information!
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Thank you for supporting Colorado Headwaters Land Trust.
YOUR help today allows us to protect the lands we love for generations to come!
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P.O. Box 1938, Granby, CO 80446 • (970) 887-1177
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