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The I-70 Scout & Eastern Colorado News

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  • 6 million Southern California residents face unprecedented water restrictions

    A drier-than-normal winter in California has left the region in dire straits heading into the summer months, as the period from December to March is traditionally when the Golden State receives most of the precipitation it needs for the remainder of the year.

    AccuWeather Global Weather Center – April 27, 2022 – Southern California officials took unprecedented measures this week to restrict water usage for 6 million residents amid the state’s unrelenting drought.

    The Metropolitan Water District (MWD) of Southern California declared a water shortage emergency and implemented an emergency water conservation program for the first time in its history on Tuesday. These measures mandate residents and businesses across portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Ventura counties to slash water usage by 20-30%. The drastic cuts limit outdoor watering to one day per week.

    “This drought is serious, and one of the most alarming challenges our region has ever faced,” MWD officials said in a statement announcing the new restrictions, adding that “unprecedented times call for unprecedented measures.”

    The extreme measures, while approved on Tuesday, will not take effect until June 1, according to KABC-TV. Agencies that are supplied with water by MWD and fail to enforce the restrictions among their customers will be subject to fines up to $2,000 per acre-foot of water that exceeds the mandates.

    Georgia, South Carolina among multiple states at risk of more tornadoes (Full Story) >>

  • Antero Reservoir to open to boating on Sunday, May 1

    Antero Reservoir to open to boating on Sunday, May 1

    The south boat ramp at Antero Reservoir, taken Friday, April 22 (courtesy of CPW)

    The aquatic nuisance species (ANS) inspection station at the south ramp will be open seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. beginning May 1 and running through Sept. 30. From Oct. 1-31, the ramp will be open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., so long as there is no ice on the reservoir.

    The north boat ramp will not open until May 26 and stay in operation through Sept. 4. That ANS inspection station is open Thursday through Sunday, with its hours of operation being 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

    The reservoir had been covered with ice on the week of April 18, but the strong winds and mostly mild temperatures helped the ice recede rapidly.

    CPW reminds all boaters that boat inspection for aquatic nuisance species is mandatory. All watercraft that are not hand-launched and human-powered will need to be inspected at the boat ramps. This includes any and all vessels utilizing electric trolling motors.

    Zebra and quagga mussels, along with a variety of other ANS, are a serious threat to Colorado waters. Invasive species such as the zebra mussel negatively influence the food chain for native fish. The mussels reproduce prolifically, consume phytoplankton and devastate fisheries. The small mollusks also grow on engines and boats, and can clog water pipes and dam mechanisms.

    Boat owners are urged to clean, drain and dry their boats thoroughly before they launch for the first time this season. After that, owners should do so every time they leave the water.

    The bag and possession limit for trout at Antero Reservoir is two, while the daily bag and possession limit on tiger muskie is one, and it must be at least 36 inches long. Fish caught and placed on a stringer, in a container or live well, or not returned to the water immediately count in the daily bag and possession limit. See our 2022 Fishing regulations brochure for more information.

    For detailed fishing information, including species stocked at Antero Reservoir, please see the most recent fish survey and management data summary.

    [WATCH] Spawning brown trout at Antero Reservoir

    In order to keep water-based activities carefree and risks at a minimum, it is important to keep basic safety practices in mind. The Colorado Boating Safety Program promotes safe vessel operation while enhancing boating experiences.

    Antero is Denver Water’s first collection reservoir on the South Platte River. Geologists believe Antero Reservoir occupies the site of a former lake-bed called Green Lake. While Green Lake lies submerged within the reservoir, an extinct volcano, Buffalo Peaks, looms above.

    The north side area of the reservoir is a day-use area only (no camping allowed), but 38 first-come, first-served campsites are available at the south side campground and boat ramp.

    To learn more about Antero Reservoir, please visit Denver Water’s website.

    Photos below courtesy of Jason Clay/CPW.

  • Statement on Colorado Parks and Wildlife

    Statement from Colorado Department of Natural Resources Executive Director Dan Gibbs on Colorado Parks and Wildlife:

    “Last week I received several complaints about inappropriate comments and interactions at Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s (CPW) Partners in Outdoors Conference in Vail, CO.  As the Executive Director of Colorado’s Department of Natural Resources, equitable, inclusive access for all to our programs, events, and the outdoors are a priority personally and integral to the mission and culture of DNR. DNR has commenced a fact finding investigation to better understand what occurred and to help inform any future personnel or department actions.  We will follow our processes and procedures in regards to complaints received associated with the conference.  

    In light of the complaints and events at the conference, I have placed Colorado Parks and Wildlife Director Dan Prenzlow on administrative leave, and designated Heather Dugan as Acting Director for Colorado Parks and Wildlife.  

    Heather is currently Assistant Director for Field Services for CPW overseeing operations including training and investigations associated with protecting Colorado’s wildlife and providing a safe and enjoyable recreational experience for visitors to Colorado. During her 30 year career, Heather has worked as a full-time ranger, a training coordinator, instructor, and a region manager.”

  • Can’t wait for hot weather? Dive into AccuWeather’s 2022 summer forecast

    AccuWeather Hurricane Center – April 27, 2022 – The start of summer is fast approaching, and AccuWeather meteorologists are ready to pull back the curtain to reveal what weather Americans across the country can expect in the coming months.

    The first taste of summer arrived months ahead of schedule in Southern California when widespread temperatures in the 80s and 90s F were reported during the first half of February. Meanwhile, residents of the northern Plains might still be wondering if winter has ended yet with multiple rounds of Arctic air and blizzard conditions throughout April.

    The roller-coaster ride that is spring will continue to blur the lines between the seasons in the coming weeks, but the light is at the end of the tunnel and widespread, long-lasting warmth is fast approaching.

    Summer has been on the minds of AccuWeather’s long-range forecasters for weeks, and the team of meteorologists, led by Senior Meteorologist Paul Pastelok, has put together the pieces of the weather-forecasting puzzle to create a forecast for the contiguous United States for the upcoming season.

    Meteorological summer is slated to begin on Wednesday, June 1, just two days after Memorial Day weekend, which is often touted as the unofficial start to summer. Astronomical summer will commence less than three weeks later on the solstice, which occurs this year at 5:13 a.m. EDT on Tuesday, June 21.

    Take a look at the complete region-by-region breakdown of the U.S. summer forecast below:

    Stormy summer ahead for Northeast, Midwest

    Lawnmowers will have their work cut out for them this summer across the northeastern and midwestern U.S., although finding windows of opportunities to head outside to cut the grass could be tricky with a stormy pattern on tap.

    “In the Northeast,” Pastelok explained, “we’ve had ample amounts of moisture here to start off 2022.”

    This wet weather pattern is predicted to continue across the regions into the summer with frequent rain that could disrupt many outdoor summertime activities, such as doing yard work, exercising outdoors or playing golf.

    “We may not have to water the lawn too often,” Pastelok said. “The thing is: you’re going to have to probably cut the lawn often.”

    Johnny Wilson mows a lawn in Washington on Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2017. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

    More moisture will also mean increased chances for severe weather from the Atlantic coast through the Great Lakes.

    “We may have a lot of severe weather to deal with here in the Northeast coming early to mid part of the summer season,” Pastelok said. “All of the ingredients are there.”

    The Midwest faces the highest risk of severe weather this summer, particularly in June and July, but damaging storms and tornadoes will also be possible across the Northeast throughout the summer, including the heavily populated Interstate 95 corridor.

    Pastelok noted that the long-term weather pattern this year is showing some similarities to 2012, a summer that produced a disastrous derecho across the Ohio Valley and mid-Atlantic.

    A derecho is a long-lived complex of thunderstorms that produces destructive wind gusts of at least 58 mph over an area spanning at least 240 miles. Wind gusts often exceed the 58-mph benchmark and the storm system is sometimes referred to as an “inland hurricane.”

    The areas at the highest risk of experiencing the impacts of a derecho, Pastelok said, are the Midwest, Ohio Valley and parts of the mid-Atlantic.

    While the wet pattern will fuel severe weather, it will help to limit the potential for heat waves across the regions.

    Nearly every major city across the Northeast and Midwest experienced more 90-degree days than normal last summer. Boston typically counts 14 90-degree days throughout the year, but last year reported 24. This year, AccuWeather is predicting 15 to 18 90-degree days for the city.

    Last summer in the nation’s capital, the mercury hit 90 F on 48 occasions above the long-term average of 40 days. A repeat could unfold this summer in Washington, D.C., with 42 to 46 days expected to reach 90 F this year.

    Chicago is another city forecast to have more 90-degree days than normal this year, similar to what unfolded in 2021. Last year, the city counted 22 days where the mercury reached 90 F, above the long-term average of 16 days. This year, AccuWeather is predicting that the Windy City will experience 18 to 24 days with a temperature of at least 90 F.

    Pastelok noted that although daytime temperatures will average near normal in the eastern half of the nation this summer, overnight temperatures will be well above normal. This means that there will be less natural cooling at night, increasing the energy demand during the overnight hours.

    Monsoon to help short-term drought over interior West

    As thunderstorms frequent the East Coast and Midwest and tropical troubles brew near the Southeast, rain could be hard to come by across the nation’s heartland.

    Drought conditions are widespread from Texas through Montana with most of the High Plains experiencing severe to extreme drought, according to the U.S. Drought Monitor. The worst conditions are focused on the Texas and Oklahoma panhandles and western New Mexico.

    “The High Plains is going to end up being drier and drier and drier as we go into the first part of the summer season,” Pastelok said. “So, I don’t see any relief coming that way from any big [thunderstorm] complexes developing.”

    The heat and dryness will not only put a strain on crops across the region, but it will also lead to a high-than-average cooling demand across the region. Americans living in metro areas of San Antonio, Dallas, up into Kansas City and west out to Denver can expect substantial home cooling costs this summer.

    The best chance for much-needed rain across the drought-stricken West will arrive in the form of the annual monsoon over the Rocky Mountains and Four Corners.

    “We do think it’s going to be a pretty decent monsoon season,” Pastelok said. He added that it could begin slightly earlier than normal in late June or early July. Typically, the monsoon in the southwestern U.S. begins in July and lasts into September.

    Rain from the monsoon will help to douse short-term drought concerns across the region, but the monsoon-induced rain will be a double-edged sword.

    “Unfortunately when the monsoon season starts, you can get development of more fires triggered by lightning strikes, and then you have to deal with the mudslides afterward in the burn area. So it’s not all good news, but it is good news as far as water goes,” Pastelok explained.

    The fire season in the Four Corners got underway during the second half of April with multiple blazes breaking out, including the Tunnel Fire near Flagstaff, Arizona, and the Calf Canyon Fire near Santa Fe, New Mexico.

    A lightning bolt streaking over the Grand Canyon during a summer thunderstorm. (NPS/Grand Canyon National Park)

    Thunderstorms associated with the monsoon could disrupt outdoor plans all across the interior West during what is expected to be the busiest summer travel season since before the coronavirus pandemic.

    The millions of people set to visit national parks from the Grand Canyon in Arizona to Zion and Arches in Utah and eastward into Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado will all be subject to rounds of turbulent weather during the monsoon season.

    Can’t wait for hot weather? Dive into AccuWeather’s 2022 summer forecast >>

  • Colorado State Patrol Partners with Bandimere Speedway for 20th Year for “Take it to the Track”

    CSP Bandimere

    (COLO) – Start your engines, the opening night of “Take it to the Track” is Wednesday, April 27 from 4 p.m. – 9 p.m. at Bandimere Speedway located at 3051 S. Rooney Road, Morrison. The Colorado State Patrol has partnered with Bandimere Speedway for 19 years, so drivers of any age can come and legally race down the quarter-mile strip at full speed in a controlled environment.

    Traffic deaths surged across Colorado in 2021 hitting a 20-year high and speeding was a major factor in fatalities. For our youngest drivers, street racing also increased dramatically along with it the risk to other motorists and the general public.

    “Colorado State Troopers donate their time to these weekly Wednesday night events to connect with all ages, but its especially fun to talk with our young motor heads that take a lot of pride in their vehicles,” stated Sgt. Bonnie Collins, Colorado State Patrol. “They can bring their friends and even race a trooper – we don’t mind looking ‘not cool’ as long as they get out their need for speed here and not on the public roadways.”

    In 2021, Troopers top citation for drivers between the ages of 16-21 was speeding (9,240). The Colorado State Patrol supports “Take it to the Track” as the right way to hang with friends and show them what your car can do.

    “Investigating a fatal crash is a necessary part of my work as a Colorado State Trooper, and the tragedy of a life lost never becomes routine,” explains Sgt. Collins. “Speed eventually will change your life. This behavior will catch up with you with the loss of your license or the loss of a life.”

    “The Colorado State Patrol Take it to the Track events are the best part of our summer as we truly value the opportunity to make an impact in the community and in the lives of so many individuals,” General Manager Sporty Bandimere added. “At Bandimere Speedway, safety has been the focus since 1958 while giving the ability to people of any age, any vehicle, a haven to play and experience the automobile and is what we continue to do.”

    With the exception of July 13 and 20, the Colorado State Patrol “Take It To The Track” Test nights will be held every Wednesday beginning April 27 and run until October 12. Racing begins at 4 p.m. and runs until 9 p.m. For more information visit www.bandimere.com.

  • States That Have Born the Most MVPs in American Sports History

    Springtime is one of the busiest periods on the professional sports calendar each year. Opening day for the 2022 Major League Baseball season fell on April 7 this year. The National Basketball Association and National Hockey League both end their regular seasons and begin their playoffs in April. While football fans have to wait until the fall for their teams to retake the field, many pro football obsessives eagerly anticipate the next generation of players entering the league with April’s National Football League draft.

    This exciting time for fans of the “Big Four” sports in the U.S. is increasingly becoming a worldwide phenomenon as the leagues attract more top-end international talent. Reigning American League MVP and Japan native Shohei Ohtani has revolutionized the MLB as one of the first players in generations to achieve success simultaneously as a pitcher, hitter, and fielder, while many of baseball’s other top stars, including recent MVPs like Jose Abreu and Jose Altuve, hail from Latin America.

    The last three NBA MVP awards have gone to international players—two for Greece’s Giannis Antetokounmpo and one for Serbia’s Nikola Jokic—and a fourth looks likely, with Antetokounmpo, Jokic, and Cameroon’s Joel Embiid being the frontrunners for this year’s award. The NHL has long drawn a large portion of its player pool from Canada and Europe in addition to the U.S., and even the NFL—which has only around 3% international players—has been attempting to inspire more global interest by playing regular season games in the U.K., Mexico, and Germany.

    Despite recent growth of the Big Four sports’ international talent pool, international players still represent a small share of MVP award winners historically. The U.S. has produced 70% of all MVP award recipients, while Canada is responsible for 20.6% of winners, and all other countries combined have produced 9.4%. Only 15 countries outside of Canada and the U.S. have ever produced MVPs.


    For now, the U.S. remains the leading producer of top end talent in its major sports leagues, and some states are far ahead of the pack. In particular, California has been a hotbed for MVPs, with 47 all-time winners, nearly half of which (21) have been awarded since the year 2000. California’s recent dominance in MVPs has been fueled by all-time greats like the MLB’s Barry Bonds (7 total MVP awards) and the NFL’s Aaron Rodgers (4) and Tom Brady (3).


    In fact, California alone has produced more than 10% of all Big Four MVP winners in history. California and many of the other leading states are among the U.S. leaders in population, which increases the number of top athletes who may emerge from those states. But one state stands out for punching above its weight: Louisiana. Despite being in the middle of the pack for U.S. population, the Bayou State has produced 19 MVP awards from nine unique winners, including 10 NBA MVPs, second only to New York’s 13, and eight NFL MVPs, behind only California’s 12.


    Researchers at HotDog.com ranked U.S. states and territories according to the total number of MVP awards won by Big Four athletes born in each location. All NFL MVP awards issued since the NFL/AFL merger agreement in 1966–67 were included; all NBA MVP and NHL Hart Memorial Trophy winners were included; and all of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America’s Most Valuable Player award winners in MLB’s AL and NL were included. In the event of a tie, the location with the greater number of unique MVP award winners was ranked higher, and recency was also factored in.

    The analysis found that Colorado-born players have won a total of 0 MVP awards throughout the history of “Big Four” American sports. Here is a summary of the data for Colorado:

    • Total MVP awards: 0
    • Different MVP award winners: 0
    • Total NFL MVPs: 0
    • Total NBA MVPs: 0
    • Total MLB MVPs: 0
    • Total NHL MVPs: 0
    • Most recent award: N/A

    For reference, here are the statistics for the entire United States:

    • Total MVP awards: 403
    • Different MVP award winners: 278
    • Total NFL MVPs: 57
    • Total NBA MVPs: 66
    • Total MLB MVPs: 183
    • Total NHL MVPs: 97
    • Most recent award: 2021

    For more information, a detailed methodology, and complete results, you can find the original report on HotDog.com’s website: http://hotdog.com/blog/states-most-mvps/

  • Chatfield State Park making change to boat ramp in operation

    LITTLETON, Colo. – Chatfield State Park is switching its boat ramp in operation to its larger ramps on the northern side of the reservoir, effective immediately.

    The north boat ramp has eight launch lanes and four courtesy docks. 

    The hours of operation for the north boat ramp Aquatic Nuisance Species (ANS) inspection station will be from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.

    Reopening of the south boat ramp will be announced when adequate staffing is available to operate a second ANS inspection station on the south side of the reservoir.

    Please click here to see a map of the state park.

  • Colorado Has the 11th Most Expensive College Tuition in the U.S.

    Despite a slight drop in college attendance amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the large majority of high school graduates go directly to college upon completing high school. According to data from the National Centers for Education Statistics (NCES), enrollment in four-year colleges has more than doubled over the last 50 years, going from a little over five million students in 1970 to nearly 11 million in 2019. At the same time, Census Bureau data shows that the share of the U.S. adult population with a four-year college degree has more than tripled, from 11% in 1970 to 36% in 2019.


    For many, a college degree offers the most straightforward path toward securing a job and increasing pay. Research from Georgetown University suggests that 35% of job openings in 2020 required at least a bachelor’s degree and data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows a greater than 67% pay difference, on average, between high-school graduates and college degree holders.

    While higher levels of education are necessary for many jobs, the cost to get this education has increased dramatically in the last several decades. In 1979, the average annual total cost of attendance—including tuition, fees, room, and board—for full-time undergraduates was $9,307 (in constant 2019-2020 dollars). By 2019, this rate had nearly tripled, to more than $25,000. The result is that currently, the average amount of debt a college graduate owes at graduation is $31,100, up from less than $10,000 in 1970.


    Because of this, it’s not surprising that cost is one of the primary determining factors when considering where to attend college. In fact, roughly four out of every 10 high school students rated cost as “most important” in a recent Fidelity survey. However, a university’s published price is often not a strong indicator of what any individual might actually pay out of pocket to attend, after factoring in the availability of grants and scholarship aid. In recent years, more than 80% of first-time, full-time undergraduates attending four-year colleges received some form of financial aid. So rather than focusing on published sticker prices, prospective students and their families should focus on net price, which better reflects the dollar amount paid by those who can’t afford to pay full price.

    To determine the states with the most expensive college tuition, researchers at Self Financial analyzed data from the National Center for Educational Statistics. The researchers ranked states according to the average net price for students awarded aid, defined as the total published price of attendance for full-time, in-state undergraduates less the average amount of grant and scholarship aid received. Researchers also calculated the average published total price, the average published price of tuition, fees, books, and supplies, the average published price of room and board, and total public undergraduate enrollment. Only public, four-year, degree-granting institutions were included in the analysis.

    The analysis found that in Colorado, students pay an average net price of $18,247 for college tuition. Out of all states, Colorado has the 11th most expensive college tuition. Here is a summary of the data for Colorado:

    • Average net price for students awarded aid: $18,247
    • Average published total price: $28,394
    • Average published tuition, fees, books, & supplies: $12,600
    • Average published room & board: $15,793
    • Total public undergraduate enrollment: 105,475

    For reference, here are the statistics for the entire United States:

    • Average net price for students awarded aid: $15,090
    • Average published total price: $26,685
    • Average published tuition, fees, books, & supplies: $11,533
    • Average published room & board: $15,151
    • Total public undergraduate enrollment: 5,297,491

    For more information, a detailed methodology, and complete results, you can find the original report on Self Financial’s website: https://www.self.inc/blog/states-with-the-most-expensive-college-tuition

  • Biden-Harris Administration Launches Nationwide Network of Partners to Tap Resources for Rural America

    larksdale, Miss., April 20, 2022 – U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack and White House Domestic Policy Advisor Susan Rice today announced a new whole-of-government effort led by USDA to transform the way federal agencies partner with rural places to create economic opportunity in rural America. The USDA-led Rural Partners Network (RPN) is an all-of-government program that will help rural communities access government resources and funding to create jobs, build infrastructure and support long-term economic stability.
    Today’s announcement is part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s Building a Better America Rural Infrastructure Tour, during which Biden Administration officials are traveling to dozens of rural communities to talk about the impact of Bipartisan Infrastructure Law investments, as well as President Biden’s broader commitment to ensure federal resources reach all communities in rural America. Secretary Vilsack and Ambassador Rice are in Mississippi with Congressman Bennie Thompson (MS-2) to meet with community leaders and stakeholders who will benefit from RPN in Clarksdale and Greenwood, Mississippi.
    “Under the leadership of President Biden and Vice President Harris, USDA and its federal partners are committed to unlocking the full potential of rural America by investing in its people and the unique visions they have for the places they call home,” Vilsack said. “Rural America is incredibly diverse – economically, racially, culturally and geographically. What makes sense for one community may not for another. The Rural Partners Network will help communities get funding for investments that create long-lasting benefits for their communities, especially those that have been overlooked in the past. By providing one-on-one support to these communities, we can lay the foundation for people to build healthy, successful futures on their own terms.”
    Vilsack added, “We are also grateful for our Congressional partners like Congressman Bennie Thompson, Senator Cortez Masto and Senator Kelly who work tirelessly to ensure that all communities have access to federal funding, and that we are coordinating these resources across the federal government.”
    “President Biden has delivered unprecedented resources for rural communities through the American Rescue Plan and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law,” Rice said. “However, just making resources available is not enough—the federal government must work better for rural communities so that they can fully take advantage of these opportunities. The Rural Partners Network will empower rural communities to get their fair share of federal funds, an important goal for not only economic development but equity as well.”
    Background: Rural Partners Network
    The Rural Partners Network is a first-of-its-kind collaboration between federal agencies and local leaders and residents. This Network is focused on improving social and economic well-being bolstered by existing local partnerships and assets. The Network will launch in selected communities in Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, New Mexico as well as certain Tribes within Arizona. Community networks within these states will receive individualized support with the expertise to navigate federal programs, build relationships and identify additional resources to promote community-driven solutions.
    USDA has selected the following community networks for the Rural Partners Network:
    • In Georgia: Emanuel County and City of Twin City Community Network; Ben Hill County and City of Fitzgerald Community Network; and Southwest Georgia Regional Commission Community Network including the counties of Baker, Calhoun, Colquitt, Decatur, Dougherty, Early, Grady, Lee, Seminole, Miller, Mitchell, Terrell, Thomas and Worth.
    • In Kentucky: Kentucky Highlands Community Network including the counties of Bell, Clay, Harlan, Knox, Leslie, Letcher, Perry and Whitley; and Fulton County and cities of Fulton, Hickman and Cayce Community Network.
    • In Mississippi: Washington County Economic Alliance Community Network including the counties of Bolivar, Leflore, Sunflower and Washington; Greater Grenada, Lake District Partnership Community Network including the counties of Grenada and Yalobusha; and North Delta Planning and Development District Community Network including the counties of Coahoma, Quitman and Tunica.
    • In New Mexico: Southwest New Mexico Council of Government Community Network including the counties of Catron, Grant, Hidalgo, and Luna; Northern New Mexico Pathways Economic Development District Community Network including the counties of Mora, San Miguel, Colfax and Taos; and Mesilla Valley Community Network including the county of Doña Ana.
    • In Arizona: San Carlos Apache Tribe, Tohono O’odham Nation and Cocopah Indian Tribe.
    Each community network will be supported by a Rural Partners Network team to help address that community’s specific needs and concerns, building on local assets. Network staff will also be responsible for sharing lessons learned from selected communities with federal agencies in D.C. to ensure rural communities have a voice in policymaking. Policy development will occur through regular convenings of the Rural Prosperity Interagency Policy Council, co-led by USDA and the Domestic Policy Council. There are 16 federal agencies and regional commissions participating in the Council. Members of Congress across the political spectrum have called for this whole-of-government approach, including U.S. Senators Catherine Cortez Masto, Joni Ernst, Kirsten Gillibrand, Chuck Grassley, and Mark Kelly, and U.S. Representatives Angie Craig, Dan Newhouse, Cindy Axne, Adrian Smith, Tom O’Halleran, and Randy Feenstra. To deliver on the promise to make federal resources more readily available to underserved communities across rural America, the Biden-Harris Administration will expand the Rural Partners Network to additional places later in fiscal year 2022. Those states, Tribes and territories include Nevada, North Carolina, Puerto Rico, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and Native Alaskan communities.
    Information about the Rural Partners Network is available online at Rural.gov.
    Background: Building a Better America Rural Infrastructure Tour
    Under the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA and its federal partners in the Infrastructure Implementation Task Force are working with rural communities to deliver on the promise of support for rural America.
    The Building a Better America Rural Infrastructure Tour is a multi-faceted outreach effort involving cabinet and sub-cabinet officials across federal agencies as they travel to and learn from key rural communities. These visits will highlight new federal funding and investments already underway through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, a once-in-a-generation investment that will support rural communities and their infrastructure needs.
    USDA touches the lives of all Americans each day in so many positive ways. In the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA is transforming America’s food system with a greater focus on more resilient local and regional food production, fairer markets for all producers, ensuring access to safe, healthy and nutritious food in all communities, building new markets and streams of income for farmers and producers using climate-smart food and forestry practices, making historic investments in infrastructure and clean-energy capabilities in rural America, and committing to equity across the Department by removing systemic barriers and building a workforce more representative of America. To learn more, visit www.usda.gov.
    Under the Biden-Harris Administration, Rural Development provides loans and grants to help expand economic opportunities, create jobs and improve the quality of life for millions of Americans in rural areas. This assistance supports infrastructure improvements; business development; housing; community facilities such as schools, public safety and health care; and high-speed internet access in rural, tribal and high-poverty areas. For more information, visit www.rd.usda.gov.
    If you’d like to subscribe to USDA Rural Development updates, visit our GovDelivery subscriber page.

  • CPW recognizes outstanding partnership contributions with the 2022 Partners in the Outdoors Awards and Grants

    Colorado Parks and Wildlife presents the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative with its Statewide Partner of the Year Award.

    CPW’s annual Partners in the Outdoors awards recognize partner organizations that have made outstanding efforts in support of Colorado’s Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP), State Wildlife Action Plan (SWAP) and CPW’s Strategic Plan. Organizations are nominated by CPW staff for their significant efforts in conservation, stewardship, outdoor education and/or research, with award winners selected by CPW regional leadership.

    This year, CPW awarded $100,000 in grant funding through its Partners in the Outdoors Grants program. These grants are a unique element of the conference, with all organizations attending the annual conference eligible to apply. Besides the Statewide Partner of the Year and the Statewide Collaboration award, each of CPW’s four regions honors a partner organization for working to uphold those strategic goals.

    In the introduction to the awards ceremony, CPW Director Dan Prenzlow said, “The Partner of the Year Awards are presented to those who have displayed outstanding efforts in support of Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s mission. Each of the organizations honored plays an integral role in advancing and balancing outdoor recreation and conservation in Colorado.”

    Statewide Partner of the Year: Colorado Fourteeners Initiative

    Colorado Fourteeners Initiative (CFI) protects and preserves the natural integrity of Colorado’s 14,000–foot peaks —the “Fourteeners”— through active stewardship and public education.

    Established in 1994, CFI hires crews and passionate volunteers to maintain, reroute and repair the trails that take an estimated 415,000 hikers every year to special alpine places. The work conditions require long hikes, the ability to move heavy rocks and 5 a.m. start times to conduct much-needed trail maintenance.

    CFI’s work contributes to the goals of SCORP by supporting public land access, building a stewardship ethic and addressing recreation impacts. To provide a more robust understanding of changing conditions on 14er trails, CFI began the Sustainable Trails Program in 2010. This effort was conducted foot-by-foot, with GPS-based inventories of all constructed trail features and resource concerns. Over two phases and five years of data collection, CFI assessed the condition of all 56 principle 14er routes. The updated 2019 “14er Report Card” outlines $12.8 million in needed new summit trail construction projects and a further $5.6 million in major improvements to existing trails. CFI uses this data to both educate and prioritize future work plans. CFI has become the nation’s leading high altitude trail building, terrain restoration and visitor education organization through its ongoing work protecting this special network of trails, and its work has garnered honors and awards from Congress, the U.S. Forest Service and the Coalition for Recreational Trails.

    Statewide Collaboration Award: Colorado Department of Education; Colorado Alliance for Environmental Educators 

    The Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education (CAEE) is a professional organization for environmental educators in Colorado. CAEE was established as a nonprofit in 1989 to serve the shared interests of public agencies, businesses, teachers, community organizations and individuals providing environmental education materials and programs. Since then, CAEE has grown to more than 850 members across Colorado. Members cover virtually every subject discipline from anthropology to zoology, and have learners across the lifespan, from early childhood educators, elementary and high school teachers, camp counselors and university professors.

    Fostering a love of the outdoors and an interest in being active stewards of our natural resources starts by building lifelong habits from an early age. CAEE, the Colorado Department of Education (CDE) and CPW have been collaborating on a number of projects to support K-12 students by building a solid understanding of Colorado’s precious natural resources. The Colorado Environmental Education Plan was adopted by the Colorado State Board of Education in 2012 and is currently in the final stages of updating by CAEE, CDE and CPW. The plan includes goals to support educators in strengthening collaborations with key stakeholders, access to professional development, access to outdoor experiences for all students and support in creating pathways for career exploration opportunities. These goals directly align with CPW’s goals to maintain dedicated personnel and volunteers, increase awareness and trust for CPW and connect people to the outdoors.

    Northwest Region Partner of the Year: Headwaters Trails Alliance

    Headwaters Trails Alliance (HTA) is a nonprofit advocacy organization for trails in scenic Grand County, Colorado. Surrounded by mountain peaks and passes, Grand County streams are the headwaters of the Colorado River. HTA works hard to provide high-quality trails linking towns and recreational areas within Grand County, with secondary trail systems connecting historical, cultural and recreational sites within the local communities.

    During the 2021 field season, HTA reported 1,351 hours spent on trails with a total of 6,158 volunteer hours. This includes 530 miles of trail maintenance, 9,718 hazardous trees removed, 2,320 drains cleared or constructed in wetlands, 27,720-feet of new trail construction, and 18,480-feet of trail reroutes to promote sustainability and social trail decommissioning.

    HTA works closely with outdoor government agencies, local land management agencies, local municipalities, land developers and CPW to promote sustainable trail systems for public use. CPW has partnered with HTA on a variety of projects to promote developing trails with wildlife in mind, advocate for sustainable trail systems and sponsor educational events around the community.

    Southeast Region Partner of the Year: Get Outdoors Leadville!

    Get Outdoors Leadville! (GOL!) supports a mission to deepen the community’s connection to the natural world by expanding equitable access to culturally informed and enriching outdoor experiences.

    GOL! is dedicated to helping the Leadville community to find connections in nature, and they work to facilitate access and remove barriers so that all can enjoy the outdoors. They partner not only with CPW but with other local organizations to support outdoor community and school programming. GOL! works with many local and trusted community-based organizations to help expand their reach. One such organization is Full Circle of Lake County whose mission focuses on youth development, community empowerment and family services. Full Circle also works with immigrant families in Leadville and helps GOL! bridge the gap between Spanish-speaking members of the community. Other unique programs they launched include a Latinx Family Campout program. GOL! also expands its reach beyond Lake County with its Taking Kids Outdoors training for teachers and administrations across the state. The training focuses on teaching how to take students and their learning outside in a safe and inclusive way.

    Northeast Region Partner of the Year: Jeffco Open Space

    Jeffco Open Space (JCOS) was founded as a land conservation organization in 1972 by PLAN Jeffco and The League of Women Voters of Jefferson County. Funded with a one-half of one percent sales tax, JCOS contributes to city and park district projects and preserves more than 56,000 acres, manages 27 open space parks and more than 261 miles of trails in Jefferson County, Colorado.

    The willingness of JCOS to assist CPW with wildlife management, wildlife education and hunter outreach efforts is exemplary. From raptor monitoring to coordinating access for CPW hunter outreach programs, and providing support when contentious wildlife conflicts arise, JCOS staff go above and beyond to provide detailed documentation of wildlife sightings, wildlife population monitoring and wildlife conflicts on JCOS properties. This communication with CPW on all wildlife matters helps ensure that a collaborative approach is taken when solving wildlife management challenges in the county.

    JCOS’s partnership and support of CPW outreach hunting programs, disease monitoring, and an elk radio collar study are helping pave the way for better management of healthy elk and deer populations. JCOS works to keep wildlife in mind, and their actions to conserve wildlife and habitat to ensure healthy, sustainable populations and ecosystems are right in line with the CPW Strategic Plan.

    Southwest Region Partner of the Year: Friends of Youth and Nature

    Friends of Youth and Nature (FOYAN) promotes, supports and facilitates opportunities for youth and family to go outside. Their goal is to get kids outside in nature to explore, learn and have fun.

    The FOYAN is a leader in outdoor experiences for youth in the Colorado counties of Montrose, Delta and Ouray. FOYAN staff is dedicated to bringing kids to the outdoors in collaboration with their community partners, and work through their partnerships to better understand what the needs of the youth are so they can customize and accommodate a positive outdoor experience. Each outing they create provides opportunities for youth to build knowledge, awareness and personal success in a natural setting through experiential learning. Through grant funding, FOYAN has removed obstacles, particularly for underserved youth. Their approach is to comprehensively plan and provide activities, including equipment, transportation and food as needed to foster a happy outdoor adventure.

    CPW’s SCORP and Strategic Plan aligns with FOYAN’s mission to connect people to the outdoors. An example is a recent grant designed specifically for families associated with CASA and the Families Plus Organization out of Delta county to have access to outdoor equipment so underserved local communities have the ability to spend quality time outside and enjoy Colorado’s great outdoors.

    About the Partners in the Outdoors Conference
    CPW hosts its annual Partners in the Outdoors Conference to provide a platform for those involved in the outdoor industry to network, collaborate and stay abreast of current issues and initiatives. This year’s conference was held in Vail from April 18 – 20, 2022, with over 600 participants from more than 250 organizations attending.

    Goals of the conference include: providing professional development on current issues affecting the industry, providing funds for our Partners in the Outdoors Grant program, and recognizing the work our partners across the state do to advance outdoor recreation and conservation through our Partners in the Outdoors Awards program.

    More information about the Partners in the Outdoors Conference is available on CPW’s website.