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Annual Farm Day

Annual Farm Day has been held this year at the Charles and Angela Ryden ranch, Red Glen Ranch. Bookcliff Conservation District hosts this annual event, assisting the Ryden�s to bring agriculture to area students.

This year we provided three days that included 6th graders from Parachute, Rifle, New Castle and Carbondale. Each class enjoyed our extended summer while participating in running through the corn maze and answering ag questions, learning about riparian health and the water trailer, discovering new plants and learning about our native habitat. This year we reached 512 6th grade students, plus their siblings, parents and teachers. Partners included Garfield County Farm Bureau, Division of Wildlife, Natural Resources Conservation Service and Mount Sopris & South Side Conservation Districts.

Colorado River Watershed Conservation Tour

The Colorado River Watershed Conservation Tour was held on September 30. This tour was hosted by Bookcliff Conservation District and highlighted a few of the conservation projects in the district. The goal of the tour was to show our elected officials where conservation dollars are spent and share success with our neighboring districts. Dominic Dodero, landowner, explained the complicated siphon project that was funded partially through the Colorado State Conservation Board matching grants. Other projects highlighted included EQIP irrigation, Basin States Salinity irrigation projects, noxious weed projects, and the seed plot.

After the tour a business meeting was held and all districts, Middle Park, Mesa, Debeque / Plateau, Bookcliff, Mount Sopris, South Side, and Eagle County Conservation Districts gave a presentation to highlight their current year projects.

South Side Conservation District Tamarisk Project

South Side Conservation District has partnered with Garfield County to treat the tamarisk on Mamm Creek. A landowner meeting was held this spring and it was decided that aerial treatment would be the most efficient way to treat the noxious weed.

The first step was to hire an intern to map the tamarisk on the entire drainage. South Side CD hired summer help and he completed the mapping. Steve Anthony received approximately 10,000 tamarisk beetles mid-summer and released the bugs on the lower part of Mamm Creek. The District and landowners have reevaluated the plan and have decided to wait until next fall to see the progress of the beetle. Treatment in the future may include aerial spraying, spot spraying or mechanical treatment. Restoration will be an important part of the plan and each landowner will be involved. Keep your eyes out on the tamarisk along Mamm Creek to see how biological control can work!

Garfield County Noxious Weed Cost Share Program

The partnership between landowners, Garfield County, Bookcliff, Mount Sopris and South Side Conservation Districts continue with the noxious weed program. This program is in its 11th year and continues to be a successful program for the Districts, County and most importantly, the landowners that we represent.

To date in 2010 this program has treated 3020 acres of noxious weeds with a total of $69,839.12 in noxious weed treatment. NOW is the time to be thinking of your treatment plan for 2011. Please call the district office at 945-5494 ext 3 for assistance.

Conservation District Irrigation Cost Share Program Continues

Your local Conservation Districts are offering a cost share program for improving irrigation systems. Do you have a leaky headgate? Are you losing more water in the ditch than is getting to your field? Are you still flood irrigating, wishing you had gated pipe or maybe a big gun sprinkler? This program is for you!

Not all our landowners qualify for EQIP or all they need is a single practice. If that is you, than call the office for more information on this new program. Remember, this program is not intended for general maintenance but for water quality or quantity improvements. Download Application

Annual Dinner Meeting

The Bookcliff, Mount Sopris and South Side Conservation Districts held their Annual Dinner Meeting on November 5, 2010 at the Ramada Inn in Glenwood Springs. Robbie LeValley was our guest speaker discussing the Colorado Monitoring Program. Local landowners Will Perry and Judy Fox-Perry shared their experience with their conservation planning, EQIP contract and construction phases of their project. They have a conservation plan that includes improved conservation practices and management practices and also participates in the Garfield County�s noxious weed program. We also shared our conservation successes with our partner, Natural Resources Conservation Service. Conservation Partner of the Year went to Garfield County Commissioners, John �Wyatt� Martin, Tresi Houpt and Mike Sampson. John accepted the award and thanked the districts for their commitment to conservation. Ninety-three guests enjoyed dinner and sharing conservation successes!