Three organizations whose missions include protecting river ecosystems have been awarded funding from the Pitkin County Healthy Rivers annual grant program. The program “supports organizations or individuals working to improve watershed quantity and quality, wildlife habitat and riparian zones, and that benefit the Roaring Fork drainage.”
The Aspen Global Change Institute was awarded $1,700.00 to support education and outreach associated with the Interactive Roaring Fork Observation Network (IRON). This project studies how mountain hydrology and ecosystems change in response to a warming climate.
A partnership of the Colorado Watershed Assembly, the Water Education Colorado and the Colorado Riparian Association received a $4,000 grant to support the Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference, which will be held in Avon, from Oct 9-11 of this year.
The Roaring Fork Conservancy received the largest grant allocation of $30,000 to fund a portion of the Weaver Ditch Existing Conditions Assessment. The Weaver Ditch runs through the Town of Carbondale with water diverted from the Crystal River. Water from the ditch is used in Carbondale for irrigation. Unused Weaver Ditch water ultimately ends up flowing into the Roaring Fork River. The assessment will document and evaluate methods and technologies that could increase the efficiencies of the water delivery and use of water diverted from the Crystal River within the Town of Carbondale’s ditch irrigation system.
“Our board is always looking for individuals and organizations working to sustain or improve the watershed and our local river ecosystem,” Chairman Bill Jochems said.
Pitkin County Healthy Rivers awards grants in the spring and fall. Grant applications are available at www.pitkincountyrivers.com.