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Author: I-70 Scout

  • Outdoor Equity Grant Program Board member application deadline extended

    DENVER – Colorado Parks and Wildlife is accepting applications for Board members responsible for the governance of the Outdoor Equity Grant Program created by bill HB21-1318. The deadline for the application was originally set for Aug. 23 but was extended to Aug. 31 to make sure we provide prospective Board members with enough time to submit their application.

    The Board Member Application and additional application materials are posted on the CPW website

    The purpose of the Outdoor Equity Grant Program is to increase access and opportunity for underserved youth and their families to experience Colorado’s state parks and outdoor spaces. The board is responsible for overseeing the grant program and awarding grants to applicants that will directly use the funding to engage eligible youth and their families by reducing barriers to Colorado’s great outdoors.

    Individuals that sit on the Board can also be associated with an organization that intends to apply for a future grant. The Board members will be selected in collaboration with the Outdoor Equity Coalition which consists of more than 60 organizations that helped get the bill signed into law. Program grants will be distributed based on how an organization will impactfully create pathways for Colorado’s outdoors and offer environmental and outdoor-based educational opportunities for under-served communities. 

    The Outdoor Equity Grant Program Board will have nine voting seats. Board members will serve for four years but may not serve more than 2 terms. As CPW works to establish the Board, the term limits for racial justice, environmental justice and conservation will be limited to two years initially. After the first two years, these terms will transition to four-year terms to allow for staggered terms.

    For more information, visit cpw.state.co.us/Outdoor-Equity-Fund.aspx

  • When mule deer survival and mountain lion studies intersect

    A picture off the trail camera wildlife officers placed at the site where the collared mountain lion cached the collared mule deer

    HOT SULPHUR SPRINGS, Colo. – Colorado Parks and Wildlife officials observed a compelling intersection of two wildlife projects at the end of July when a deer affixed with a GPS satellite collar gave off a mortality signal just east of the Continental Divide.

    At the same time, a mountain lion also being tracked by a GPS collar deployed in CPW’s lion density monitoring work on the West Slope, showed it was nearby the location of the mule deer’s mortality signal.

    A wildlife officer hiked into the location, found the carcass of the doe and placed a trail camera at the site. That camera picked up the collared mountain lion consuming the collared deer, a time-lapse of which you can see here.

    To wildlife officials, it showed the uniqueness of these two marked animals crossing paths how nature would have it. The circumstance also presented an opportunity to share what can be learned from collared deer and mountain lion projects.

    “Better understanding species interactions, in particular predator and prey, is a huge benefit that has resulted from GPS technology,” said CPW Terrestrial Biologist Bryan Lamont. “In this case, both of these animals had traveled many miles away from where they had originally been caught and collared to only randomly cross paths. When determining female mule deer survival rates, this kind of information can help managers more accurately calculate the exact causes of mortality.”

    CPW has been monitoring mule deer populations, particularly population dynamics and the relationship to winter survival, on the western slope for over two decades. 

    Wildlife officials monitor herds in five intensive mule deer geographic areas with the use of GPS satellite collars that allow managers to track the animals. Weekly snow measurements combined with temperature data also help biologists understand how winter conditions may influence mule deer survival.

    The ability to survive is limited by the quality and quantity of forage and predation. That can be compounded by the severity of the winter and also population density, as competition over the available forage can increase their probability of succumbing to mortality factors such as disease and starvation or malnutrition.

    The two most limiting factors for the growth of a mule deer population is the survival of does and fawns.

    The doe mule deer killed and consumed by the mountain lion in this specific case was collared in 2020 between Kremmling and Ute Pass. The mountain lion’s collar was deployed in January, 2021 in northern Middle Park. 

    Mountain lions prey primarily on ungulates, especially deer, but also elk, moose, bighorn sheep and pronghorn. Prior research studies by CPW of mountain lions on the Front Range showed that 66 percent of lion kills were of mule deer, with over half of those being fawns. On average, a mountain lion could consume a deer a week.

    “While it is very uncommon, from time-to-time we will have a collared mountain lion interact with a collared deer, particularly collared fawns,” Lamont said.

    The reason this mountain lion had a GPS satellite collar is because the animal is a part of a new project CPW launched last winter to better understand lion population numbers on the west slope. A 10-year project looking at multiple study areas, it started in Middle Park for the first 2-3 years. You can learn more about the lion study from this video produced last March.

    After collaring 25 lions last winter, biologists are now relying on trail cameras to help them derive lion density in the study area.

    “We can use that sort of relationship of marked individuals and unmarked individuals over a month or two of sampling in the winter to actually get a density or abundance – a number of mountain lions in that population – as an estimate,” said Mark Vieira, CPW’s Carnivore and Furbearer Program Manager.

    Although the trail camera that captured the convergence of the deer and mountain lion was not part of either study, it did capture a little bit of Colorado’s wildness. Mountain lions are rarely seen feeding on their prey.

    “Mountain lions are amazing creatures in terms of what they are able to do, taking down animals that are three or four times their size, and at the same time staying largely undetected by people,” Vieira said.

    The population size of the deer herd the collared doe comes from (Data Analysis Unit D-9) was estimated to be 13,470 animals in 2020. Colorado has an overall statewide population of greater than 427,000 deer. CPW estimates we have 3,800 to 4,400 independent/mature mountain lions, not including dependent young, in Colorado.

    GPS coordinates from collared wildlife are sent to biologists through email, texts and collar database software.

    “Technology plays an important role in wildlife management for the collection of necessary data to inform decisions,” said Shannon Schaller, Deputy Regional Manager for CPW’s Northeast region. “This intersection of projects was illustrated with those technologies.”

  • Fish release scheduled for state-endangered species at Pella Crossing as part of a nationally recognized partnership project

    OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

    Picture of a Northern Redbelly Dace

    The Northern Redbelly Dace Project showcases a successful collaboration between local students, community stakeholders, and wildlife professionals to save a native species.

    BOULDER COUNTY, Colo. – Saturday, August 28, from 10 a.m. to noon will be a celebration of over two years of conservation efforts by multiple organizations with the release of the Colorado native, endangered northern redbelly dace, into Webster Pond at Pella Crossing. The event will include St. Vrain Valley Schools Future-Ready Innovation Lab and hands-on activity stations for children. Members of the public are encouraged to park at Hygiene Elementary School and Westview Middle School. A free shuttle service to Pella Crossing will be provided by St. Vrain Valley Schools’ transportation department. 

    Boulder County Parks & Open Space, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Denver Zoo, the Innovation Center of St. Vrain Valley Schools, Lyons Middle Senior High School, Ocean First Institute, and graduate students with University of Colorado Boulder have engaged in a nationally recognized partnership project to implement the reintroduction of the species to the St. Vrain River and educate students about the scientific process and importance of the successful restoration of this threatened species. 

    “The Northern Redbelly Dace is a State Endangered fish species, and is extremely rare in wetlands along the Front Range, where it is native in Colorado,” said Boyd Wright, Aquatic Conservation Biologist for Colorado Parks and Wildlife. “This unique project supports CPW’s goal of replicating populations of the species in suitable habitat within its native range, but perhaps more importantly engages the local community in the conservation of a little known fish species. It’s a rare and exciting project for a rare fish, and it wouldn’t be possible without this outstanding partnership.”

    “This project is recovering a locally endangered native fish species onto county open space using student innovation. I am proud to participate in a project that encourages our youth to act as stewards of the environment while also creating ladders of academic opportunity for student success,” said Mac Kobza, Wildlife Biologist with Boulder County Parks & Open Space.

    The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Native Aquatic Restoration Facility in Alamosa provided the fish to start the project. Students at Lyons Middle Senior and the Innovation Center of St. Vrain Valley Schools have raised the fish housed at the Innovation Center. The goal of the project is for the dace to be released into Webster Pond ahead of final reintroduction into the St. Vrain River. Post-reintroduction, students will continue to study the success of the project by monitoring the fish by utilizing underwater robotics, applying artificial intelligence, and conducting tests on the water quality through various means such as eDNA testing.

    “I have enjoyed watching these little fish grow up and love using our sensors to learn more about what the dace need to thrive in their environment,” said Innovation Center sophomore student Taryn McDermid who joined the project because it combined her passions for the outdoors and robotics. “This project is really important to me because of how important these fish are to the environment and to our community.”

    The upcoming release is a reflection of the resiliency of both the endangered species and the partners who have persevered despite setbacks from the coronavirus crisis. The northern redbelly dace are extremely sensitive and challenging to raise and the initial release to Webster Pond was delayed from its scheduled summer 2020 release. A previous batch of northern redbelly dace were successfully released in a different location in fall 2020. Initially a man-made pond, Webster Pond was significantly altered by the 2013 floodsand Boulder County Parks & Open Space transitioned the ecosystem to an emerging wetland, an ideal environment for the reintroduction of rare and endangered fish species. 

    “After beginning this project at the start of the pandemic, we have worked tirelessly to create an environment for these fish to not only survive, but thrive at our school,” said Lyons senior Cassidy Batts. “The fish lost their environment just like we did in the 2013 flood. We faced COVID obstacles while raising them, but persevered because the conservation of this native species matters. We are so excited to finally release the fish into Webster pond after releasing some last year in a Lyons pond. We are honored to be a part of this impactful conservation effort and hope to see these fish succeed in their natural habitat with the support of all the partnerships.”

    “The dace is a symbol of hope, showing us that all, regardless of size, are important to a functioning and healthy environment. From students to professionals or from small minnow to an entire ecosystem, we all have a part to play in building resilience in our community,” said Executive Director of Ocean First Institute Dr. Mikki McComb-Kobza.

    The successful culture of this species will expand and create opportunities for students to understand species conservation, engage in hands-on research and community outreach conveying why conservation of this indicator species and its continued resilience is important to Boulder County and ultimately, to Colorado.

    All participating organizations have provided funding and resources. Significant contributions include a $30K grant from Boulder County Parks and Open Space Foundation, a $5K grant from the Lauren Townsend Memorial Wildlife Fund, and a $1K grant from Denver Zoo.

  • Special Edition Kernels

    District Meetings to be held NEXT WEEK

    The CCAC will be holding district meetings in District 1&2, District 5 and District 6 NEXT WEEK for the purpose of nominating corn producers to the CCAC Board of Directors. 
     
    The meetings will feature guest speakers from the US Meat Export Federation (USMEF) and Sarah Bohnenkamp Coaching & Consulting, LLC (CCAC Strategic Planner). 
     
    Nicholas Colglazier, Executive Director for the CCAC, will also be in attendance. This is a great opportunity to meet Nick and engage with your fellow corn producers and make a difference in the CCAC. Food and drinks will be provided. 
     
    District 5: 
    Monday, August 23rd from 5:30 – 7:00 pm 
    Red Willow on Main 
    124 South Main St | Yuma, CO
     
    Colorado Corn Administrative Committee is seeking nominations for: 
    • District 5: Director and Alternate
    • At-Large: Director and Alternate
    *District 5 Nominations – includes Yuma county. 
     
    District 1&2: 
    Tuesday, August 24th from 5:30 – 7:00 pm 
    Double Tree Restaurant 
    701 Vasquez Blvd. | Platteville, CO 
     
    Colorado Corn Administrative Committee is seeking nominations for: 
    • District 1-2: Alternate
    • At-Large: Director and Alternate
    *District 1-2 Nominations – include Adams, Arapahoe, Boulder, Denver, Douglas, El Paso, Elbert, Jefferson, Larimer, Lincoln, and Weld counties.
     
    District 6: 
    Wednesday, August 25th from 5:30 – 7:00 pm 
    Washington County Events Center 
    552 W. 2nd St. | Akron, CO 
     
    Colorado Corn Administrative Committee is seeking nominations for: 
    • District 6: Director and Alternate
    • At-Large: Director and Alternate
    *District 6 Nominations – include Cheyenne, Kit Carson, and Washington counties.
     
    If you would like to attend, please RSVP: 970-351-8201
     

    Lunch and Learn: Webinar with NCGA’s Jon Doggett – This Thursday

    Jon Doggett, Chief Executive Officer of the National Corn Growers Association, will be joining us next week on August 26 at 12:30 pmfor a discussion on the work and programs that NCGA is engaged in to benefit corn farmers, and Colorado’s engagement with NCGA. The webinar will be available on our YouTube channel after the event.
     
    Doggett has served as the CEO since 2018 and been with NCGA since 2002. 
     
    Raised on his family’s Montana ranch, Doggett has substantial knowledge of
    production agriculture and agribusiness, as well as more than 30 years of agricultural policy and leadership experience, after moving to Washington in the late 1980s.
     
     
    Please share!
    This webinar is open to anyone who would like to attend, so please feel free to share this with any organization or individual who you think would benefit from this information.
     
    While the CCAC is not allowed to lobby under the marketing order, it is allowed to educate producers on legislation.
     
    CONNECT WITH US!
     
  • Glenwood Springs, CO: Update

    GLENWOOD SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) _ Colorado Gov. Jared Polis says the state should be able to reopen a vital interstate highway corridor that was blocked by massive mud and debris slides in a wildfire burn scar area to limited traffic on Saturday.

    Polis made the announcement after touring repair work along Interstate 70 in the Glenwood Canyon area on Wednesday. The interstate, which winds through the narrow, 18-mile-long (29-kilometer-long) canyon, has been closed since July 29, when a series of mud and debris slides triggered by heavy rain buried parts of the highway.

    Polis said workers hope to open traffic on one lane in each direction by Saturday afternoon as repairs continue. State transportation workers have been removing thousands of tons of debris from the roadway, which connects Denver to the West Coast.

    Mudslides have become more frequent and intense since the Grizzly Creek Fire scorched about 50 square miles (130 square kilometers) in the canyon last summer, making conditions ripe for debris flows in burn-scarred terrain. Scientists have long warned mudslides can follow wildfires made worse by climate change. Such slides have caused deaths and destruction in recent years in California and other parts of the U.S. West.

    The July 29 mudslides stranded more than 100 people in their vehicles overnight, capping several weeks of perilous conditions in the scenic canyon carved by the Colorado River. The 46-mile-long (74-kilometer-long) closure has forced commercial and personal vehicle traffic to make hours-long detours, and state transport officials even recommended long-haul commercial trucks take Interstate 80 to the north in Wyoming as an alternate route.

    “We are pushing to get this open as quickly as we can. But of course it has to be safe before we can do that,” Polis said after touring the area with Shoshana Lew, executive director of the state transportation department, and other transport and U.S. Forest Service officials, The Post-Independent reported. “At this point, we are confident it will be open Saturday afternoon with one lane each way.“

    Polis said both lanes in each direction will open, likely in November, with initial repairs to the road surface, though motorists should prepare for short-term closures as repair work continues. “There’s really only about a quarter-mile patch where it would go down to one lane,” he said.

    In one section, a 15-foot-deep hole pocks the eastbound lanes, and a barrier wall along the westbound lanes sustained significant damage. In several areas, crews had to remove 10 to 15 feet of debris (3 to 4.5 meters) in order to inspect damage underneath.

    The Federal Highway Administration has authorized an initial $11.6 million in funding for the work. Polis has requested $116 million in emergency federal aid.

    Scientists say special calculations are needed to determine how much global warming is to blame, if at all, for a single extreme weather event such as the debris flows. But a historic drought and recent heat waves tied to climate change have, no doubt, made wildfires harder to fight in the American West.

    Climate change has made the region much warmer and drier in the past 30 years and is expected to make weather more extreme and wildfires more frequent and destructive, which could lead to more mudslides as rain falls on burn scars.

  • Iliff Avenue Corridor Improvement Project begins this summer

    ARAPAHOE COUNTY — Arapahoe County Public Works and Development, along with contractor partner Concrete Express Inc., will begin the $25.64 million Iliff Avenue Corridor Improvement Project between South Parker Road (CO 83) and Quebec Street this week. Once complete, this highly anticipated project will greatly improve this important two-mile throughfare in Arapahoe County.  
     
    Planned improvements to Iliff Avenue include: a four-lane corridor with acceleration and deceleration lanes, intersection safety modifications, bike lane and additional ADA-compliant sidewalk installations, transit stop enhancements, multi-use path/crosswalk improvements, traffic signal optimization with signal detection and video monitoring, and equipment upgrades. 
     
    Motorist and pedestrian safety improvements and increased multi-modal access highlight the improvements being made to this heavily traveled East-West corridor.   
     
    “After a large amount of work by the Arapahoe County project team, the much-anticipated Iliff improvements are going to construction,” Arapahoe County Transportation Division Manager James Katzer said. “The County looks forward to completing this project and improving this corridor for all users.” 
     
    Construction begins the week and will continue for 18 months, with work beginning near South Parker Road (CO 83) and moving west towards Quebec Street as improvements progress. 
     
    “This is already a main artery for this part of the County, and we look forward to how this project will improve mobility and sustain our quality of life for residents and visitors as our population continues to grow,” said Arapahoe County Board Chair Nancy Jackson.  
     
    TRAVEL IMPACTS  
    Expect daytime and nighttime construction impacts. Intermittent daytime and nighttime lane closures should be expected. Minor impacts to bicycle and pedestrian access will be required. Access to transit stops will be maintained throughout construction.  
     
  • CO 52 closed for several weeks between WCR 73 and 77 for bridge and road repairs

    WELD COUNTY –Colorado Highway 52 closed to through traffic between Weld County Road 73 and WCR 77 on Aug. 9 through early September. During the full closure, CDOT and the contractor team led by Martin Marietta will make extensive repairs to the bridge over Lost Creek and resurface CO 52 between WCR 73 and 77. 


    Work involves removing and replacing portions of the 63-year-old structure. The six-mile signed detour route will direct traffic around the work zone using WCR 73, WCR 16 and WCR 77.


    The bridge work is part of a larger project to resurface CO 52 near Prospect Valley. Over ten miles of CO 52 between Weld County Road 73 and WCR 95 (Mile Points 44 – 54.5) will receive a new asphalt surface. In most areas, the roadway will be rebuilt from the ground up using a method called full-depth reclamation. 


    “Asphalt overlays and surface treatments have helped maintain the CO 52 since it was first paved. The corridor is now due for major work to address issues below the pavement. With full-depth reclamation, we’re able to pulverize the existing asphalt pavement in place and reuse it as part of the new and improved base layer,” said CDOT Regional Transportation Director Heather Paddock. 


    This project will also repair the bridge over Kiowa Creek, upgrade guardrail, replace mailbox posts and install new roadside delineators. By the end of the year, drivers will enjoy a smoother highway with roadside safety enhancements. Project completion is anticipated in December 2021. 


    Please be aware of the following conditions in the work zone between WCR 73 and WCR 95:
    • Expect various mobile construction operations Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
    • Lane closures and traffic holds with flaggers, pilot vehicles or temporary traffic signals will be utilized
    • Vehicles will be held at intersections and driveways while equipment passes through to ensure product quality and safe operations
    • Temporary rough riding surfaces will be present until paving is finished
    • Speed limit reductions and width restrictions will be in place as needed
    Construction schedules are weather-dependent and subject to change. Weekly updates are available on the project web page.

     

    Stay Informed
    For additional information about this project, contact the project team. 
    Project hotline: 970-735-9975


    Travelers are urged to “know before you go.” Gather information about weather forecasts, anticipated travel impacts and current road conditions prior to hitting the road. CDOT resources include:


    Remember: Slow For The Cone Zone
    The following tips are to help you stay safe while traveling through maintenance and construction work zones.
    • Do not speed in work zones. Obey the posted speed limits.
    • Stay Alert! Expect the unexpected.
    • Watch for workers. Drive with caution.
    • Don’t change lanes unnecessarily.
    • Avoid using mobile devices such as phones while driving in work zones.
    • Turn on headlights so that workers and other drivers can see you.
    • Be especially alert at night while driving in work zones.
    • Expect delays, especially during peak travel times.
    • Allow ample space between you and the car in front of you.
    • Anticipate lane shifts and merge when directed to do so.
    • Be patient!


    About CDOT
    CDOT’s Whole System-Whole Safety program has one simple mission — to get everyone home safely. Our approximately 3,000 employees work tirelessly to reduce the rate and severity of crashes and improve the safety of all modes of transportation. The department manages more than 23,000 lane miles of highway, more than 3,000 bridges and 35 mountain passes. CDOT also manages grant partnerships with a range of agencies, including metropolitan planning organizations, local governments and airports. It also operates Bustang, the state-owned interregional express bus service. Gov. Jared Polis has charged CDOT to further build on the state’s intermodal mobility options. 
  • Don’t miss the final show of the summer!

    Don’t miss the final show of the summer!

    Celebrate the end of the summer at the 2021 Backyard Concert Series at Anythink Wright Farmswith Denver-based Americana band Bison Bone on Friday, Aug. 13! Watch the music video below to check out the band’s style – it’s a little bit country, a little bit rock ‘n’ roll.

    Also this week: Help us unlock a $1,500 donation! Two of our amazing Anythink Foundation supporters, Dennis Humphries of Ratio Architects, LLC and TBK Bank, have offered a $1,500 match if we can get 50 donors to give by 8 pm on Friday. Will you help us reach this goal? Donate now to help unlock this generous match.

    Donate now

    Ready to enjoy live music with friends and family? Here are the details:

    • Doors open at 5:30 pm; the show starts at 6:30 pm. 
    • Enjoy food available for purchase from Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, wine from The Infinite Monkey Theorem, as well as beer and hard seltzer from Great Divide Brewing. Water and soda are available for purchase.
    • Dogs welcome! 
    • The concert will take place rain or shine.
    • Feeling social? Share our Facebook event
    • Remember to stay home if you’re not feeling well.

    Don’t forget: Catch the concert at home by tuning in to our Facebook and YouTube livestreams.

    Not only is the Backyard Concert Series free and open to all, it’s also a fundraiser for the Anythink Foundation. All proceeds from this year’s Backyard Concert Series will go toward The Anythink Box, a free subscription service that provides kids ages 5-12 with books at their doorstep. The Anythink Box initiative is so popular that it’s grown to include a sizable waitlist of interested families! Stop by The Anythink Box tent during the show to view sample boxes and discover fun surprises. Your support will help us reach more kids in Adams County with this one-of-a-kind service. Anyone can donate in-person, online or by texting BACKYARD to 50155. 

    We can’t wait to see you this Friday for music and good times. You can find more information on the Anythink Backyard Concert Series on our website

    The Anythink Backyard Concert Series is made possible by the generous support of our sponsors: 

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    Official music video for “Alright” by Bison Bone.

     

  • Air Quality Health Advisory for Wildfire Smoke

    Issued for eastern Colorado

    Issued at 8:00 AM MDT, Monday, August 9, 2021

    Issued by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment

    Affected Area:  Logan, Sedgwick, Phillips, Morgan, Washington, Yuma, Elbert, Lincoln, Kit Carson, Cheyenne, Teller, El Paso, Pueblo, Crowley, Kiowa, Otero, Bent, Prowers, Huerfano, Las Animas, and Baca Counties. Locations include, but are not limited to Sterling, Julesburg, Holyoke, Fort Morgan, Akron, Wray, Kiowa, Hugo, Burlington, Cheyenne Wells, Pueblo, Ordway, Eads, La Junta, Las Animas, Lamar, Walsenburg, Trinidad, and Springfield.

    Advisory in Effect:  8:00 AM MDT, Monday, August 9, 2021 to 9:00 AM MDT, Tuesday, August 10, 2021.

    Public Health Recommendations: If smoke is thick or becomes thick in your neighborhood you may want to remain indoors.  This is especially true for those with heart disease, respiratory illnesses, the very young, and the elderly.  Consider limiting outdoor activity when moderate to heavy smoke is present.  Consider relocating temporarily if smoke is present indoors and is making you ill.  If visibility is less than 5 miles in smoke in your neighborhood, smoke has reached levels that are unhealthy.

    Outlook:  Heavy smoke from California wildfires will continue to move into Colorado and spread across the plains of eastern Colorado throughout the day on Monday and into Tuesday morning.  Expect the heaviest smoke impacts in sheltered valley locations where atmospheric mixing is more limited. Some clearing is anticipated in areas of southern Colorado on Monday and Tuesday, however residual health impacts may linger from prolonged exposure to elevated smoke concentrations.

    For the latest Smoke Outlook, visit:
    http://www.colorado.gov/airquality/addendum.aspx#smoke

    For more information about smoke and your health, visit:
    http://www.colorado.gov/airquality/wildfire.aspx

    For the latest Colorado statewide air quality conditions, forecasts, and advisories, visit:
    http://www.colorado.gov/airquality/colorado_summary.aspx

    Social Media:
    http://www.facebook.com/cdphe.apcd
    http://twitter.com/cdpheapcd