Jan 9 - MWSMP Draft 2 Feedback Event: Mancos Community Center 6-8 pm
Jan 10 - 4th Annual Photo Contest open for Submissions
Jan 13 - MCD Board of Supervisors Meeting (3 pm)
Jan 15 - RiverWatch Sampling
Feb 10 - MCD Board of Supervisors Meeting (3 pm)
Feb 11 - MWSMP Draft 2 Feedback Event: Towaoc Community Center 4-5:30 pm
Check out our Events page, subscribe here to be added to our events email list, or follow us on social media to stay up to date on what's happening in the Mancos Conservation District!
CCDEA’S EMPLOYEE OF THE YEAR!
We are thrilled to announce that our very own Sensa Wolcott has been awarded "Conservation District Employee of the Year" by the Colorado Conservation District Employees Association!
Sensa has been an integral part of the success that the Mancos Conservation District is experiencing. In her relatively short time with the District, she has played an instrumental role in the funding and operations of the District. Sensa’s ability to increase the capacity of the Mancos Conservation District has been amazing. Sensa’s previous background as a teacher has been an incredible asset in connecting the local community to the conservation work being done in the Mancos Watershed.
Please join us in celebrating Sensa's well-deserved recognition for her outstanding service and commitment to conservation.
MANCOS WATERSHED STREAM MANAGEMENT PLAN
2ND DRAFT COMPLETED!
MCD and the Mancos Watershed Group are excited to share the second draft of the Mancos Watershed Stream Management Plan. This revised draft incorporates the feedback received during the past 6 months into the extensive stakeholder input gathered since the MWSMP process began in 2020. This dedicated stakeholder effort has resulted in the creation of a plan that the Mancos watershed community can use as a guide for protecting and enhancing the forest and water resources in the Mancos Watershed
First, please read and review the document! Second, our comment period is open through January 2025. We will be collecting feedback through a variety of means:
A Google Form
Public Events
1/9 - MWSMP Feedback Event - Mancos Community Center - 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
2/11 - MWSMP Feedback Event - Towaoc Community Center - 4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
We'd also like to extend a sincere thank you to those of you who have dedicated time and effort to providing feedback and input to this community-driven process!
FORESTRY PROGRAM
CONTRACTS, CONTRACTS, & MORE CONTRACTS
Our forestry program currently has several private lands forestry projects with awarded contracts and ground work is underway We have a few more projects in the planning stages, pre-implementation Most of our current projects include both wildfire defensible space around the home, as well as wildfire mitigation treatments on large parcels. We are also working on several pile-burning projects.
Currently, we are offering implementation cost-share dollars for private landowners near Jackson Lake, Summit Lake, and Chicken Creek areas, but there are opportunities for cost-share over much of Montezuma County Please reach out to the district today for more information on these new opportunities
EDUCATION & OUTREACH
FUN IN THE CLASSROOM
MCD is staying busy in the classroom. We continue to offer bi-weekly lessons at the Mancos Public Library and have expanded to work with local schools to provide snow science field trips over the next couple of months. If you want to offer a lesson or field trip on natural resources, contact the District!
POSTER CONTEST!
Every year MCD works with the 5th grade art classes to create natural resource themed art for CACD’s annual poster contest. This year’s theme was “May The Forest Be With You Always” to highlight the importance of forest health. After a public voting period, we have our winners!
SOIL HEALTH
THE SECRETS IN THE SOIL
The MCD soil health program wrapped up its 2024 year with a total of 20 producers and over 1500 acres enrolled in the program! The district installed 10 new soil moisture meter probes to assist producers in making irrigation decisions based on soil moisture Implementing soil health practices was financially incentivized by the Colorado Department of Agriculture. MCD producers received a total of $60,000 in 2024 for their implementation of soil health practices such as planting cover crops, high-intensity grazing, and no-till planting
4TH ANNUAL MCD PHOTO CONTEST!
We’re excited to host the 4th annual photo contest highlighting the beauty of the Mancos River and Mancos Watershed!
The contest is open to submissions from anyone who lives, owns a business, or attends school within the boundaries of the Mancos Conservation District.
Contest
DISTRICT CONSERVATION TECHNICIANS
Our District Conservation Techs (DCTs) played a key role in this fall's fieldwork. They helped collect eDNA while continuing our monthly River Watch sampling. They continue to provide their expertise on engineering and design projects and are crucial to MCD's ability to get projects completed.
Voting period March 10th28th
Giveus yourbest shot!
If you would like to get to know our current DCTs more, read our new article highlighting their diverse backgrounds and knowledge sets.
NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTIONS!
Here are some easy New Year's resolutions to make an impact in our community and be more involved in 2025!
Reach out to your local conservation district to request helpful resources
Attend more land management workshops
Spend more time in nature.
Shop farmers’ markets for local produce and products
Learn more about the Mancos Watershed.
MCDSCHOLARSHIPPROGRAM
$2,000 FOR HS SENIORS!
The MCD Board of Supervisors is now accepting applications for its annual scholarship program. This scholarship program is designed to aid deserving members of the Mancos High School 2025 graduating class to obtain a posthigh school education.
Mancos High School students seeking a degree in the fields of agro sciences, farming, natural resource conservation or management, agronomy, crop sciences, green biotechnology, large animal veterinary medicine, environmental sciences, and sustainability can apply for this scholarship. If a student is seeking a degree outside of the listed majors, the student should explain why they should be considered.
To apply visit our website.
DISTRICT DIALOGUES: A CONSERVATION PODCAST
MCD Watershed Coordinator Sensa and AmeriCorps member Reese have been hard at work creating our new District Dialogues Podcast! This podcast will be released quarterly and highlight work being completed within the Mancos Watershed.
Listen to our first episode on Spotify at the end of January.
The High Desert Conservation District completed the 2024 Master Land Steward Program with a two day intensive workshop held on November 7th and 8th. Speakers from Montezuma and Dolores County-CSU Extension, NRCS, Wildfire Adapted Partnership, Southwest Seed, and Colorado Department of Agriculture covered 10 topics ranging from soil health to agriculture business management. Participants engaged in two field tours showcasing soil health implementation and grazing techniques at Fozzie’s Farm, and irrigation and orchard management techniques at the Southwestern Colorado Research Station. The Mancos Conservation District was a partnering agency for the project. A total of 12 landowners or land managers participated in the MLS course, with over 1,800 acres enrolled.
