Just Trust Me: Exploring and Understanding the Role of Trust in Collaborative Efforts
Hosted by Shannon Wadas, RiversEdge West
Time: 8:30-11:30am MST
Location: Colorado Mesa University, University Center; Room: West Ballroom
Shawn Johnson, Director of the Center for Natural Resources and Environmental Policy, University of Montana, and chair of the Center’s graduate certificate program in Natural Resources Conflict Resolution
Aireona Raschke, Associate Director of Practice, Center for Collaborative Conservation at the Warner College of Natural Resources CSU
Shannon Wadas, Associate Director, RiversEdge West
Restoration on any scale can be a daunting endeavor and one that is often more manageable and successful with a collaborative approach. Because collaborative efforts are largely supplemental to existing organizations, institutions, and structures, they rely on effective relationships rather than formal or hierarchical power to function. These relationships take many forms – interpersonal, interagency, cross-cultural – and include relationships to place and to process. Regardless of the type of relationship, it requires a certain amount of trust in order to unlock the promise of that relationship – whether that’s greater knowledge and understanding, access to more capacity and resources, accountability to a process, or an abiding connection to place. We will dive into why trust matters and then explore approaches, tools, and skills for building, restoring, and communicating about the state of trust among partners. We will spend some time on peer-to-peer learning through the sharing of experiences and discuss how we have navigated the ups and downs of trust among our partnerships, coalescing the theoretical with the practical to provide some tangible skills and resources around engaging and sustaining your collaboratives.
Links you'll need during the workshop:
Palisade Insectary Tour
Hosted by Dan Bean, Colorado Department of Agriculture
Time: 9:00-11:00am MST
Location: Meet at the Palisade Insectary at 9am—750 37 8/10 Rd, Palisade, CO 81526
Transportation is not provided but carpooling is encouraged.
Sign-up for carpooling here (2nd Sheet).
Meet at the Colorado Department of Agriculture's (CDA) Palisade Insectary for a walking tour. The Palisade Insectary has long been a promoter of the use of biological control in weed and insect pest management and is home to about 20 different species of biological control agents. Join us for a closer look at these insects and their unique rearing processes, as well as general information on past and future efforts by the Colorado Department of Agriculture's Biological Pest Control Program.
Integrated Woody Invasive Management Strategies: Perspectives from On-the-Ground Experiences
Hosted by John Leary, RiversEdge West
Time: 8:30-11:30am MST
Panel Discussion
8:30-9:55am
Location: Meet at Colorado Mesa University, University Center; Room: East Ballroom
This panel-style workshop is designed to present practical information from project managers’ experiences using a variety of methods to treat tamarisk and Russian olive. Topics include prescribed fire, tamarisk beetles, and herbicide selection, timing, and application methods. This panel is aimed at restoration practitioners, land managers, and anyone who is interested in learning current tamarisk and Russian olive treatment approaches, success rates, and lessons learned. Discussion and Q&A will follow the presentations-attendees are encouraged to participate in the conversation and come prepared with additional questions/talking points from their own projects or research.
Moderated by: John Leary, Restoration Coordinator, RiversEdge West
Casey Cisneros, Land Stewardship Manager, Natural Resources Department, Larimer County - Herbicide selection, timing, and application method.
Duncan Fuchise, Southeast Area WUI Specialist, Utah Department of Natural Resources, Division of Forestry, Fire & State Lands - Large scale tamarisk and Russian olive removal in Southern Utah.
Jordan MacMahon, Wildlife Biologist, BLM Vernal Field Office - Utilizing a combination of prescribed fire and tamarisk beetles for tamarisk management on the Pariette Wetlands, Utah.
Site Visit
Hosted by: Kyle Alstatt, Bureau of Reclamation
9:55-11:30am
Location: Carpool to 311 25 3/4 Rd, Grand Junction, CO 81507
(Transportation is not provided but carpooling is encouraged. 10-15 minute drive)
Sign-up for carpooling here (3rd Sheet).
Following the Discussion, attendees are invited to visit the Bureau of Reclamation’s Grand Junction Wildlife Area, where BOR staff will discuss their long-term restoration plan and showcase their progress removing Russian olive, re-establishing native ecosystems, and a native perennial food plot.
Horsethief Canyon State Wildlife Area Site Visit
Hosted by Scott Romatzke, Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Time: 9:00-11:00am MST
(Travel to HCSWA 8:30-9:00am)
Location: Meet at Horsethief Canyon SWA at 9am
Limited transportation provided, carpooling encouraged. Please sign-up for the van or Rusty's vehicle first.
Sign-up for a van or carpooling here (4th Sheet).
Meet in the Atrium at 8:20am if you are carpooling with Christa or Rusty.
Join Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) and Ducks Unlimited (DU) for a site visit to Horsethief Canyon State Wildlife Area (SWA). Horsethief Canyon SWA is located approximately four miles west of Fruita, CO. and sits astride the Colorado River. DU, in partnership with the Bureau of Reclamation, CPW, and others teamed up to restore, enhance and create a larger wetland footprint in western Colorado. The project decommissioned redundant levees, water-control structures and conveyance ditches that currently interfere with the efficient application, movement and drawdown of water supplies on the targeted units. These structures were left over from farming and fish-rearing activities in years gone by. The work resulted in a series of high-quality wetlands, growing plants that are preferred by non-breeding populations of waterfowl.
RiversEdge West’s (REW) Private Lands Biologist, Christa Brown will also share about a wetland creation project on private lands in Loma, CO. REW teamed up with CPW and DU to bring the Bittle Family’s vision for a shallow water wetland to life. The Bittles are avid stewards of their land to support wildlife and recreational activities. The 3.75-acre wetland was first filled in the fall of 2023 and since then, has supported a large diversity of waterfowl throughout the winter into 2024. (please note that the site visit will not include a tour of the Bittle Wetland)