12-11-2024 Conservation Districts Projects Larimer CD & White River CD

CSCB is lucky this month because we had two districts presenting on different projects, challenges, and successes their districts have taken on this year. Please read below for more information regarding the topics and the presenters themselves!

Larimer Conservation District:

Anna Cloud with Larimer Conservation District (LCD) will be providing an overview of their recently implemented riparian restoration project along the S. Fork of the Cache la Poudre River at the Lazy D Ranch. This project utilized low-tech process-based restoration to improve beaver habitat and address various resource concerns related to stream health on the Ranch. Come learn about the project process including community outreach, design, permitting and implementation, as well as the funding mechanisms available for this type of work!

Anna Cloud started working for LCD as the Riverscapes Program Manager in August of 2023, and has been focused on developing a program that implements primarily low-tech process-based restoration projects on private lands. Through collaboration with several local partners, Anna has been working over the past year to develop relationships within the two watersheds in her community, and developing projects that improve stream health and function while also providing several benefits to the greater watershed. Anna's favorite part of her projects is seeing beaver move back into their historic homes and finding ways to help the landowner coexist with their new tenants!

White River Conservation District:

Interested in how other Colorado Conservation Districts impact their county or community? Who do they partner with and what projects take priority? What are their challenges and successes? Join the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation District of Rio Blanco County as they recap accomplishments in 2024.

This year, Vanessa Trout joined the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts as a Forestry Program Coordinator and Interim Director in October. Callie Scritchfield, the district's former executive director for 12 years and Vanessa's mentor, was elected as the next Rio Blanco County Commissioner. With a dedicated Board of Directors, staff, a planning advisory committee, and a work group, together their many 2024 accomplishments focused on issues related to Rangeland, Water, Forestry and Wildlife.