WESTERN SLOPE – Montrose, Gunnison and San Miguel counties are three of 19 Colorado counties where 2012 Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation grant funding will be used on projects to rejuvenate and restore elk habitat being invaded by noxious weeds.
A total of $262,232 in funding is being given by the RMEF in areas throughout Colorado. This year’s habitat rehabilitation efforts include noxious weed management, the encroachment of piñon/juniper on elk habitat, prescribed burns and mitigating the effects of oil and gas development on habitat.
In Montrose County, RMEF spokesman Steve Wagner says $15,000 in grant money will be used to thin piñon/juniper encroachment and for prescribed burns to rejuvenate forage for elk and deer on 750 acres of land in the Monitor Mesa area of the Uncompahgre National Forest. Those funds will also be used to treat 1,250 acres of noxious sulphur cinquefoil weeds in the Copper King area of the Uncompahgre National Forest.
In Gunnison County, Wagner says $17,081 will fund a prescribed burn of 208 acres of land to enhance habitat for foraging elk in the Sapinero Mesa and Dutch Gulch areas managed by the Bureau of Land Management. The funding will also go toward the decommissioning and rehabilitation of unnecessary roads in the Sugar Creek area as well as providing a sponsorship for the Gunnison Fishing and Outdoor Sports Derby. The funding will also sponsor the Gunnison Middle School National Archery in schools program.
Both of the conservation projects in Gunnison County are in partnership with the BLM Gunnison Field office, while the education projects are in partnership with the City of Gunnison and Gunnison Middle School.
In San Miguel County, at total of $15,000 in RMEF grant funding will be used to close and rehabilitate non-system, user-created roads to improve habitat for elk, turkey and sage grouse in the East Naturita Division of the Norwood Ranger District portion of the Uncompahgre National Forest.
Sponsorship funding for the Outdoor Heritage Day in Delta is also being provided by the organization to engage youth in wildlife, conservation and shooting.
“Prescribed burning, forest thinning and weed treatment projects will help enhance some 9,000 acres of elk habitat across Colorado,” said RMEF President and CEO David Allen. “We’re also investing in different research projects to improve elk population estimates, management strategies and potential impacts from oil and gas development.”
Funding for RMEF grants is based on local membership drives and banquet fundraising by RMEF chapters and volunteers in Colorado.
RMEF’s mission is to ensure the future of elk, other wildlife and their habitat. Since 1985, the organization and its partners have completed 560 conservation and hunting-heritage outreach projects in Colorado with a combined value of more than $128.9 million.
Other statewide and regional RMEF initiatives include funding for a northwestern U.S. study to synthesize data from seven states to improve elk management models against factors such as habitat changes, predators and weather patterns.
Conservation projects are selected for grants using science-based criteria and a committee of RMEF volunteers and staff along with representatives from partnering agencies and universities. RMEF staff and volunteers select hunting heritage projects to receive grants.
gjarvis@watchnewspapers.com or @GusJarvis
Grant Funding to Go Toward Improving Elk Habitat
Jul 30, 2012 | 1050 views | 0 
| 3 
| 
| 
| 3 | | Comments
(0)
Post a Comment
photos
DISCUS THROWER Lance Brooks competed in the 2012 London Olympics. (Photo by Steve DeAutremont)
RESEARCH ASSISTANTS – Ridgway High School students (left to right) Jack Middleton, Abel Lannan and Tashi Hackett presented the results of their research on possible sister cities to Ridgway Town Council last week. Mountain towns in Costa Rica, El Salvador and Dominican Republic made the cut. Next step: contact. (Photo by Peter Shelton)
MAIN STREET GELATO – A+Y Design Gallery owners Adam and Yesenia Duncan offered up gelato samples from behind their Italian-imported gelato case Monday morning. Along with unique furniture and fine art, the two offer 22 flavors of locally-made gelato. (Photo by Gus Jarvis)
BUILDING OPTIMISM – Tom How (left) and Daniel Key of Sjoden Wood Designs worked on a new home in the Cobble Creek Golf Community Tuesday morning. The spec home is being built under the direction of contractor Bert Welz, who said he’s optimistic for the region’s construction trade. (Photo by William Woody)
GROWTH INVESTMENT – Students took advantage of a "living classroom" at the Telluride School's new Grow Dome this spring. The Dome, which will be open to the public for tours Wednesday, May 22, was funded in part by a Telluride Medical Center's Physical Education Program (PEP) grant. (Courtesy photos)
HEADED TO PLAYOFFS - Montrose High Shoo0l's Jake Kastendieck fielded a ground ball last Saturday during the team’s 10-0 victory over Woodland Park. The Indians advance to the state 4A quarterfinals this Friday at Cherokee Trail High School against Valor Christian. (Photo by William Woody)
PINHEADS, PIXELLATED – The Pinhead Institute holds its annual fundraiser, entitled Minecraft Mania,at the Sheridan Opera House this Sunday, May 19. (Courtesy photo)
TELLURIDE IN 1910 – A hypothetical model of the main street facades, made up of buildings throughout the region, the television producers are proposing to build for the production of "When Calls the Heart." (Courtesy image)