MCWC receives fire restoration grant to put rain gauges in Glenwood Canyon
Flash flooding and debris flows are more likely to occur when wild fires damage the soil and burn away vegetation. To protect people and infrastructure who are in the vicinity of a burn scar in the first years after a fire, awareness of changes in weather and a warning system needs to be in place to get information out to the public as quickly as possible.
Middle Colorado Watershed Council was awarded funding from the Colorado Water Conservation Board in May to place rain gauges in Glenwood Canyon to enhance the weather communication network. MCWC is working in coordination with CDOT who are also placing gauges at key points in the canyon.
Working with USGS, the gauges will be placed on perimeter points on the canyon to heighten awareness of incoming storms from the northwest, southwest and east. Additional tracking will be done in certain drainages to monitor unstable air parcels that could produce extreme participation events in areas of higher concern: CDOT’s operation center in the middle of the canyon; recreation activity at Hanging Lake; and Glenwood’s public water intake and the No Name community.
Once the final sites are confirmed by the USGS and CDOT, access agreements must be obtained from private landowners and the U.S. Forest Service to get the gauges in place before the summer monsoons. The National Weather Service in Grand Junction will receive the weather information, who in turn, will communicate with CDOT who will determine whether a Glenwood Canyon closure is necessary and how quickly it must be done.
With additional future funding, these gauges will be kept in place to monitor weather for the next three to five years.
Colorado River District to host State of the River Learn more about water issues in the Colorado River Basin in Thursday evening webinar.
Join the Colorado River District for the Colorado State of the River to learn more about current issues in the Colorado River Basin, from Grand County to the Grand Valley. Learn how last year’s intense wildfire season has impacted our water supplies and how to prepare for the impacts of post-fire floods. Tune in to get information about water availability amid impending summer drought and find out more about funding available for local water projects.
This year’s Colorado State of the River will be presented as a webinar from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, May 27. If you cannot attend the webinar live, register to receive a recording of the webinar for later viewing. The webinar is free, but registration is required. Register online now here: https://bit.ly/COsor2021
Volunteers dig in for Rifle Creek restoration project
Several thousand newly-planted native plants will contribute to a healthier cold-water ecosystem along Rifle Creek, providing shade to cool the creek and improving habitat for fish and wildlife. The Colorado Natural Heritage Program, with help from the Middle Colorado Watershed Council, was able to bring in more than 60 volunteers to help with the May restoration project.
The planting effort at the Rifle Ranch is part of a collaborative effort with CNHP, MCWC and the USDA’s Natural Resource Conservation Service to mitigate impacts from the Rifle Gap dam and past agricultural activities, as well as to control invasive tamarisk, Russian Olive and other weeds along the creek.
Healthy Lands Workshop and Field Tour Coming in June
Wildlife andWorking Lands Week at Rifle Ranch is hosted by the Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Bookcliff, Mount Sopris, and South Side Conservation Districts, Aspen Valley Land Trust, and other West Slope Conservation Partners.
June 8 @ 8 PM: Nature’s Tiny Titans. An all-ages evening of learning about these winged wonders, including the benefits they provide to Colorado’s natural and working lands and how to support these amazing mammals. Attendees are welcome to hang around until after sunset when the bats start moving around to see and “hear” some of the six species of bats found on the ranch. Please RSVP at ReviveRifleCreek@gmail.com
June 9 @ 9 AM: Healthy Lands Workshop and Field Tour. Join local land trusts and conservation partners for a meet-and-greet, tours, and conservation easement Q&A. Attendees will get a chance to tour an active restoration project, meet local conservation experts, ask about plant ID, and learn about easements and other programs available to private landowners. Lunch will be provided, followed by an optional tour of several local conservation easements from 1-3pm. Please RSVP to the Conservation District by email (GarPitCD@gmail.com) or phone (970) 404-3439.
June 11 @ 6AM: Breakfast with the Birds. Join Audubon Rockies and the CNHP for a morning of birding on a ranch along Rifle Creek. Afterwards, we’ll gather for a light breakfast and discuss bird habitat on West Slope working lands. Participants will also learn about resources and funding available to landowners interested in providing habitat for birds ranging from Western Meadowlark to waterfowl. Attendees are invited to bring their binoculars or simply their ears to hear the incredible morning bird songs at the ranch. All ages are welcome. Please RSVP at ReviveRifleCreek@gmail.com
HELP THE MCWC
A small donation goes a long way. Sponsor a student to test water quality, spearhead the removal of an invasive tamarisk, or support the replanting of willows and cottonwoods in our waterways. We need your support.
