Tree Seedlings and Perennials:
Don’t Miss Out
The Middle Park Conservation District still has tree seedlings and perennials for sale. However, you MUST act soon to get them this spring. Much of the Nursery’s inventory is already “sold out”, but the District reserved several of the most popular species prior to the sell out. Thus, you can still get them from the District.
We will have to return our reserved stock by March 1 st though, if we don’t sell it to our customers prior to then. So, email me at middleparkcd@gmail.com to place your order as soon as possible. The Spring Order Form and Species Suitability Chart are below.
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GCWC Meeting: January 18th
The Grand County Wildfire Council will be holding its first quarterly meeting of the year on January 18th at 11:30am in Granby. The Grand County Wildfire Council works to promote wildfire prevention, preparedness, mitigation, and survival through education and action. Thanks to a five-year $80,000 BLM Community Assistance grant the Council received in 2017, the organization has several new projects planned for the coming years. The Council is always looking to increase member engagement, so please attend the upcoming meeting if you have any interest in wildfire prevention and preparedness in Grand County.
Thursday, January 18th
11:30 am
Granby Fire Department
60500 Hwy 40, Granby
Lunch will be provided!!!!
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USDA Wildlife Services & Stockgrowers Meeting: January 19th
The USDA Wildlife Services and Middle Park Stockgrowers will be holding a meeting on Friday, January 19th, to discuss a possible contract in Grand and Jackson counties. The contract would result in the hiring of a full-time technician to help landowners mitigate wildlife damage. It could include predator management, beaver problems, raccoons, Canada geese, and other wildlife. As a result of this meeting we hope get a feeling for the level of support from all Stockgrowers in the County, so please spread the word and plan to attend if possible. Please note that this meeting is not a substitute for the Annual Stockgrowers meeting to be held March 9th.
Friday, January 19th
1pm
CSU Extension Hall
210 11th Street, Kremmling
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Middle Park Stockgrowers Annual Meeting:
March 9th
The Annual Middle Park Stockgrowers Meeting will be held on Friday, March 9th at 1pm at the CSU Extension Hall. The meeting will include a short business meeting as well as agency/organization updates. All members and/or interested parties are encouraged to attend.
Friday, March 9th
1pm
CSU Extension Hall
210 11th Street, Kremmling
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Scholarships for Graduating Seniors
Middle Park Conservation District and Middle Park Stockgrowers Association will both be offering scholarships to graduating seniors this year. The Conservation District's scholarship will be worth $500. The Stockgrowers' scholarship will be worth $1000.
MPCD Application
Stockgrowers Application
Both applications are due by February 15th.
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Middle Park Stockgrowers & Conservation District
Annual Dinner: March 10th
The Annual MPSG/MPCD Dinner has been scheduled for Saturday, March 10th, at Snow Mountain Ranch YMCA of the Rockies, between Granby and Tabernash. In addition to a short presentation by the Conservation District,
we are excited to have a guest speaker this year who will be speaking about ranch profitability. His name is Dr. Zeb Gray.
Saturday, March 10th
5pm @ Snow Mountain Ranch (YMCA)
Cost: $33 per person
RSVP by February 16th
Dinner will feature a buffet of Slow Cooked Roast Beef, Kahlua Pork, Garlic Red Mashed Potatoes, Oven Roasted Vegetables, Rolls, Salad, and Dessert. Water, Coffee, Lemonade, and Soft Drinks are also included.
There will be NO alcohol at this year’s event.
2018 Dinner Registration Form
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Connection Between Soil & the Weather
This article is courtesy of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
You can read the whole article HERE.
Did you know that NASA works on more than just space studies? I had no idea, but I just found out that NASA has a soil moisture mission called Soil Moisture Active Passive (SMAP).
"SMAP launched Jan. 31, 2015, to help scientists understand the links between Earth's water, energy and carbon cycles; reduce uncertainties in Earth system modeling; and enhance our ability to monitor and predict natural hazards like floods and droughts. SMAP data have additional practical applications, including improved weather forecasting and crop yield predictions."
SMAP has been in operation for a few years now, and the data reveal some interesting connections. Researchers discovered that "about one-seventh of the amount of rain that falls is still present in the topmost layer of soils three days later." This suggests some kind of soil memory. The researchers also believe that "the top two inches of topsoil plays a crucial role in everything from agriculture, weather, climate and even the spread of disease. This thin layer is a key part of the global water cycle over the continents and is also a key factor in the global energy and carbon cycles."
"Among the study’s other findings, the team found that SMAP data identify regions where soil moisture memory has the potential to influence weather and affect and amplify droughts and floods. When moisture evaporates from wet soil, it cools the soil in the process, but when the soil gets too dry, that cooling diminishes. This, in turn, can lead to hotter weather and heat waves that extend and deepen drought conditions. Such effects had been speculated, but hadn’t been directly studied until now."
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FOLBR sets 2018 Calendar of Events
Friends of the Lower Blue River (FOLBR) is a Summit County nonprofit "dedicated to sustaining and protecting the traditional agricultural character, promoting the safety of the residents, livestock and wildlife, and maintaining the environmental integrity of the Lower Blue River Valley through education, collaboration and community involvement."
FOLBR works on variety of Summit County initiatives that relate to the mission of the organization. A list of their 2018 events is included below. If you are interested in joining FOLBR or attending any of their functions, contact 847-636-8000, FriendsofTheLowerBlueRiver@gmail.com, or Folbr.org
January 15th: Board Meeting
March 19th: Board Meeting
May 21st: Board Meeting
June 18th: Board Meeting
July 16th: Board Meeting
July 29th: Annual Gathering 11-2pm
September 17th: Board Meeting
October 15th: Strategic Planning Meeting
(all board meetings are from 4-6pm)
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Let it Snow
Every year, from January through April, during the last week of the month, NRCS and its partner organizations head into the back country to measure the depth of the snowpack. When combined with the automated Snotel readings, these data tell us how our snowpack compares to normal. Normal is considered the 30-yr average from 1981-2010.
Though the manual snow course surveys will not begin for a couple more weeks, the automated Snotel sites are always up and running. It is no surprise that our snowpack is below normal this year. In fact, as of January 1st, our snowpack for the Upper Colorado River Basin is 68% of normal. The Blue River Basin is 87% of normal. You can see all of the data for yourself by checking out the links below. The National Weather Service also has neat maps and resources you can view.
Mark will continue to publish monthly snow reports in the local papers starting in February, so keep an eye out for his reports. To see past reports, check out our Snow Report page.
MPCD Snow Report Page
NRCS Basinwide Snowpack Summary (January 1)
National Weather Service Colorado Snowpack
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Proposed MPCD Bylaws Change
The Board of Supervisors for the Middle Park Conservation District wishes to make the following change to the Middle Park Conservation District Bylaws due to a lack of actionable business that justifies monthly board meetings.
Current Bylaws Wording:
Section 8. Meetings of the Board and Quorum.
“Regular meetings of the Board shall be held once a month at a location chosen at the District’s first regular meeting of each calendar year.”
Proposed Bylaws Wording:
Section 8. Meetings of the Board and Quorum.
“Regular meetings of the Board shall be held at least 4 times a year at a location chosen at the District’s first regular meeting of each calendar year.”
If you agree with the proposed Bylaws change and are willing to sign a petition, please click the button below to enter your info.
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Wolves in Colorado
The debate about wolves in Colorado goes way back. Though wildlife officials acknowledge the presence of wolves in Colorado, tensions between pro-wolf environmentalists and anti-wolf ranchers and hunters continue.
The Trappers Lake Sierra Club recently held a a meeting on wolves in Steamboat Springs. The Club may have expected a few opposers to attend, but they probably were not prepared for the overwhelming number of ranchers and hunters that showed up to vocally express their opposition to reintroduction.
The reintroduction of wolves, especially in agricultural areas, is troublesome and costly. "The 2016 Wyoming Wolf Recovery report listed 243 confirmed wolf-kills plus 27 injured livestock that survived. As a result, wildlife managers killed 113 wolves that were confirmed to be attacking livestock. The state of Wyoming paid $315,062 in compensation to cattle and sheep producers for their livestock losses."
The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission has formally spoken out AGAINST the reintroduction of wolves, yet environmentalists continue to push for the reintroduction.
Wolf reintroduction is somewhat of a catch 22. If wolves are intentionally introduced under a 10J introduction, they can be managed if they cause trouble for livestock or humans. However, if wolves naturally migrate into Colorado, they are considered an endangered species and come under federal protection laws. Killing an endangered species can result in criminal charges with hefty fines and jail time.
Check out the articles below for more insight on wolf reintroduction.
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Staffing Update
A new year is here and so is some new staff in the office. As many of you know, when Mark Volt retired last June, it left the NRCS District Conservationist (DC) position open. Fortunately, the Glenwood Springs Field Office stepped up to fill in until a permanent DC is found. From June until December, Stephen Jaouen filled in as Acting DC. Now, Derrick Wyle is Acting DC. Derrick is the NRCS Soil Conservationist in Glenwood and even served as Acting DC in Steamboat for awhile. Derrick plans to be in the Kremmling office 2 days a week from now until April. For any NRCS-specific questions, please contact Derrick at derrick.wyle@co.usda.gov or 970.404.3441.
The Middle Park Conservation District is also pleased to announce that we have retained Mark Volt at the District Conservation Technician (DCT) for another year. With the exception of a few vacations here and there, Mark intends to work about 16 hours a week (mostly Tuesdays and Wednesdays). Mark will do much of the same technician and engineering work as he always done but with a greater emphasis on NRCS Programs such as EQIP, RCPP, and TCP. Mark’s position as District Conservation Technician (DCT) is funded through a partnership between the Conservation District, NRCS, Colorado State Conservation Board, and Grand County BOCC. If you desire Mark’s assistance, it is best to call the office at 970-724-3456 and leave a message if no one answers.
Finally, due to staffing changes, we have had to reduce our Office Hours. We are not in the office every day, and even on days that we are working, we are often in the field or at meetings elsewhere.
We strong encourage you to call the office at 970-724-3456 prior to coming in to ensure that someone is there. You may also call Katlin anytime on her cell phone (970-531-0127) to discuss District-related business. We thank you very much for your understanding and patience!!!!
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Tips for Wintering Cattle
This article is a summary of one written by the nutritionists at Purina; you can read the entire article HERE
Now that winter is upon us, you might be wondering what you can do to keep your cattle warm. The nutritionists at Purina have some tips for you...
1) Improve your cattle's Body Condition Scores (BCS)
Cattle with a BCS of 5-6 have enough fat to conserve body heat and are likely to have a good diet that will result in a warm winter hair coat.
2) Deliver more Feed
During the dead of winter, a cow's feed intake will increase by 20% due to the cold weather. Be sure to provide more feed to your cows to account for this increased consumption. The increased forage intake will also result in elevated rumen fermentation and more internal heat production (thus keeping your cows warmer).
3) Separate Thin Cows
Separate thin cows to reduce the competitive nature of group feeding. Be sure they have access to plenty of forage, minerals, and protein supplements. If separation is infeasible, provide free choice protein supplements so that they do not have to fight over it at feeding time.
4) Put up Windbreaks
Cattle do not like to be in the wind anymore than people do. Accordingly, put up temporary or permanent windbreaks to shelter them from the wind. Cattle that cannot get relief from the wind will eventually lose body condition and cost you more money to get them back up to condition.
5) Provide Protein and Mineral Supplements
Protein and minerals are essential nutrients vital to a variety of physiological processes. If a cow consumes too few minerals or not enough protein, she will lose condition and bodily functions may be compromised. Additionally, rumen microbes function more efficiently when supplied adequate quantities of essential nutrients.
6) Keep a Clean Environment
A cow's hair coat loses its insulative properties when it gets muddy or dirty. Thus, it is important to maintain clean corrals and pastures if possible. A cow can sustain a lower critical temperature of 5 degrees Fahrenheit when clean and dry, but her temperature tolerance rises to 20 degrees Fahrenheit when wet and muddy. You can maintain cleaner areas by moving hay feeders regularly and/or spreading your hay out.
7) Break Routine
When you know a storm is coming, break your routine of feeding the same amount of feed everyday. Give your cows extra feed at least 24 hours in advance of the storm to give them a head start on metabolic heat production. They will be better prepared to weather the storm.
Reference: Wintering Cattle? Tips to Keep Them Warm
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MPCD Applies for Funds to Assist Landowners
The Middle Park Conservation District has applied for two different grants from the NRCS to assist local landowners with projects focusing on Flood Irrigation and Forest Thinning. The pool of money the District has applied for is called "Targeted Conservation Project", or TCP. The program works like the traditional Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP), but, if approved, the money is set aside for us (and only us) to use.
At the end of 2016, the District applied for High Mountain Flood Irrigation funding through TCP. We were thrilled to learn that our application had been approved because our funding for the annual Irrigation Cost-Share Program had been cut and Middle Park projects never scored high enough in the traditional EQIP ranking to get funded. As a result of the 2017 TCP grant, the Kremmling Field Office is currently working to fund 5 projects in Grand County.
The 2018 TCP application process has just begun, and the District will be applying for two different programs. First of all, we will be applying for the same High Mountain Flood program that we received in 2017. We know irrigation improvements are a high priority for landowners, and we hope to continue funding them.
Our second application is for targeted Forest Thinning projects. If approved, this program will help landowners thin lodgepole pine forests that are experiencing abundant regeneration since the end the of Mountain Pine Beetle epidemic. If left untreated, many stands will grow into stagnant, overstocked conditions. Studies show that overcrowded forests often have weakened trees that do not reach their fullest growth potential, have reduced tree vigor, and are more susceptible to insects and diseases. Our goal would be to improve the spacing between residual saplings and pole-sized trees by thinning. This will result in more vigorous growth and overall healthier forest stands. Healthy forests are more productive, more resilient in the face of environmental stressors, and make for better wildlife habitats. Additionally, healthy forests are better at protecting watersheds through sustained water quantity and quality, and improved soil stabilization.
Once NRCS makes a decision on the approved projects, we will let you all know how our applications fared.
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Ravenous Ravens & Dutch Harbor Pigeons
I recently came across two interesting articles that question whether some of our nation's protective measures towards some endangered, threatened, migratory, or otherwise "special" wildlife species might be a bit much.
The common raven's habitat is widespread and includes most of the northern hemisphere. Though their global population is upwards of 20 million birds, they are federally protected under the Migratory Bird Act. Despite their protected status, a recent article in the Fence Post Breeder's Connection magazine discusses the threat common ravens posed to agriculture operations. One ranching family in Jackson County, Colorado, has seen a conspiracy of common ravens peck holes in the hides of calves and terrorize full-grown bulls. According to the ranchers, the ravens target freshly branded cattle and bulls that are too large to defend themselves. Sometimes they peck holes the size of baseballs. Ravens are also known to go after newborn calves and foals, causing the moms to trample their babies while trying to defend them. Finally, according to the North Park rancher featured in the article, common ravens love sage grouse eggs. The Greater Sage Grouse was recently considered for listing under the Endangered Species Act, but the USFWS decided the listing was "not warranted". Greater sage grouse conservation remains a high priority though.
Like the common ravens here in Colorado, residents in Dutch Harbor, Alaska, face a similar problem with the "Dutch Harbor pigeons". The pigeons are actually bald eagles, yet they are as aggressive toward humans as the ravens are toward calves. An article in the California Sunday Magazine states, " In a community of just over 4,700 permanent residents, there live an estimated 500 to 800 eagles." They eat everything from fish to foxes and seagulls to people's trash and even slices of pizza right out of the hands of unsuspecting citizens. Residents are so scared of the eagles they even leave their homes equipped with helmets and sticks during the eagles' breeding season. Despite the serious threat to human safety in Dutch Harbor, the bald eagle, like the common raven, is protected under federal law, and it is illegal to hunt, harm, or even agitate the birds.
I am not promoting any one opinion on the subject of protected species, I am just presenting the facts for you to think about and formulate your own opinion.
References: "Protecting the predator: Raven attacks on the rise in Colorado, The Fence Post Breeder's Connection 2018 Periodical
Dirty Birds: What it's like to live with a national symbol, The California Sunday Magazine. March 30, 2017
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