The Central Colorado Conservancy

The Central Colorado Conservancy is an organization that was created to help conserve the environment, the wildlife and the water bodies in the central region of the state of Colorado. The organization was started by environmental experts who were alarmed by the rate at which natural ecosystems, farmlands, and ranchlands in the region were disappearing. To stop the rapid destruction of the Colorado Rockies and the rest of the region’s scenic wilderness, the organization has started a number of projects and programs to reverse the harm that has been done and to prevent further destruction of the lands, rivers, and wildlife in the region. The following are some of the main activities that The Central Colorado Conservancy is concerned with.

Conservation of land

The Conservancy works with landowners, farmers, and the community to protect and conserve the vast areas of land in the region. The state of Colorado is famous for its breathtakingly beautiful landscapes that include mountains, canyons, parks, and pastures. In order to ensure that all these natural sceneries and features are well protected, the Conservancy holds workshops to educate landowners on the best land management practices. They also work with various stakeholders on issues such as land acquisitions, land ownership transitions, and land management deals, all with the aim of ensuring that current and future landowners are committed to conservation for the sake of posterity.

Protection of watersheds

The Central Colorado Conservancy is committed to ensuring that natural water bodies in the region are protected and that the hydrological cycle is not overly impacted by human activities.  To accomplish this, the conservancy has programs in place to monitor and improve the quality of water in the streams and rivers within the region, to help landowners use their water rights in a responsible and sustainable way, to restore water bodies that are polluted, and to discourage the destruction of riparian lands. Farmers and pastoralists in the  state depend on the water resources for irrigation of pastures and farmlands, so the livelihood of the entire region depends on the health of the watersheds.

Restoration of ecological balance

Maintaining the ecological balance in a given area is crucial for the survival or native plant and animal species, which is why the Central Colorado Conservancy works with local governments and private landowners to restore environmental systems that have declined over the years. At the moment, the Conservancy has several ongoing restoration projects, most notably the Salida Trail Restoration Project and the South Arkansas River Restoration Project. At the Salida Trail, they are looking to get rid of invasive weeds, to restore natural vegetation, and to improve the habitat for native species of birds. On the South Arkansas River, they have had some considerable success so for cleaning up long stretches of the river, and their ultimate goal is to restore the entire river by removing deposited sediments from its channel.

Conservation of wildlife

The wilderness of Central Colorado is home to many species of animals, including antelopes, elks, mountain lions, and lots of beautiful birds. To protect the wildlife, the Conservancy identifies the animals’ habitats, watering holes, feeding grounds, and corridors, and they work with The Land Trust to ensure that those areas properly conserved. The Conservancy provides local environmental trusts with the scientific information and the strategic plans that they need to fulfill their own conservation goals. They also help with fundraising efforts for some of their partners.

Outdoor and recreational activities

The Central Colorado Conservancy recognizes that outdoor and recreational activities are very effective when it comes to raising conservation awareness, which is why they work to increase opportunities for outdoor recreation in the region. They have designated areas where people can go on picnics, take part in boating activities, hunt, fish, or even study the wildlife. They also work with communities to create parks, gardens, and trails, all of which are accessible to the public.

If you want to be involved with the conservation efforts that are spearheaded by The Central Colorado Conservancy, you can visit their website (http://centralcoloradoconservancy.org/) to donate or to learn more about their current and future projects.