By Shannon Lukens. Photos courtesy Nicky Boulger.
A five-year grant for $3.26 million dollars over five years has been given to the Colorado First Conservation District. It’s to protect the sage grouse in Moffat County, and their habitat on private lands in northwest Colorado. The grant will support collaborative work with local ranchers, government agencies and conservation partners.
District Manager Kacey Green Highlights Local Impact “This grant is a game-changer for our conservation efforts,” said CFCD District Manager Kacey Green. “The Greater Sage-grouse is not just a species of concern but a symbol of the health of our rangelands. With this funding, we can focus on enhancing and restoring sagebrush ecosystems to benefit wildlife, ranchers, and the broader community that depends on these lands. This is a win for conservation and for our local economy.”
For more information about this project or how to get involved, please contact: Colorado First Conservation District Phone: 970-329-3145 Email: coloradofirstcd@yahoo.com
Press Release — FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Colorado First Conservation District Receives Greater Sage-grouse Grant for mitigation for loss of habitat from Gateway South and Transwest Transmission Lines
Moffat County, Colorado – January 2025 – The Colorado First Conservation District (CFCD) is pleased to announce it has been awarded a 5 year, $3.26 million dollar grant in support of critical conservation projects aimed at protecting and enhancing sagebrush habitat on private lands for the Greater Sage-grouse and other wildlife in northwest Colorado under National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s (NFWF) Colorado Greater SageGrouse Fund.
The funding will allow CFCD to implement targeted efforts to ensure the long-term conservation of Greater Sage-grouse in Northwest Colorado by funding projects focused on restoration and enhancement of priority and general habitat. Additionally, the grant will support collaborative work with local ranchers, government agencies, and conservation partners to ensure the health of these rangelands for both wildlife and agricultural use. CFCD will be reaching out to key stakeholders in the community to start engaging on four key outcomes of:
- Improving habitat quality on rangelands and create contiguous patches of sagebrush.
- Enhancing habitat through control of invasive plants.
- Reversing juniper/conifer encroachment in sagebrush habitats.
- Maintaining and improving habitat on grazing lands/rangeland.
District Manager Kacey Green Highlights Local Impact
“This grant is a game-changer for our conservation efforts,” said CFCD District Manager Kacey Green. “The Greater Sage-grouse is not just a species of concern but a symbol of the health of our rangelands. With this funding, we can focus on enhancing and restoring sagebrush ecosystems to benefit wildlife, ranchers, and the broader community that depends on these lands. This is a win for conservation and for our local economy.”
BLM Field Manager Kymm Gresset Commends Partnership
“The partnership between federal agencies, conservation districts, and landowners is essential for large-scale habitat restoration,” said Kymm Gresset, Field Manager for the Bureau of Land Management’s Little Snake Field Office. “This funding will support innovative approaches to habitat improvement and strengthen the resilience of sagebrush ecosystems. We’re proud to work alongside an organization with the ties in the county such as Colorado First in this important effort.”
The Greater Sage-grouse: A Keystone Species
The Greater Sage-grouse is a key indicator of the health of sagebrush ecosystems, which support more than 350 other species, including mule deer, elk, and pronghorn. By focusing on habitat restoration, CFCD’s efforts will have far-reaching benefits for both wildlife and rural livelihoods in Colorado.
About the Colorado First Conservation District
The Colorado First Conservation District works to promote agriculture, wildlife and natural resource conservation practices in Colorado. Through key partnerships, CFCD bridges the gap between local needs and large-scale conservation goals.
For more information about this project or how to get involved, please contact:
Colorado First Conservation District Phone: 970-329-3145 Email: coloradofirstcd@yahoo.com