In the 2007 calendar year, the district completed activities under each category listed below to address the natural resource concern.

Custer County Conservation District 1 Hermit Lane Silver Cliff, CO 81252 P O Box 756 Westcliffe, CO 81252 Phone: 719-783-2481 Fax: 719-783-9528   Monthly Meeting: First Thursday every month Mission Statement: "Use each acre within its capacity...Treat each acre according to its need."

 

Major Economy:

Ranching, hay production and cattle.

 

Points of Interest:

The Majestic Sangre De Cristo mountain range with ten of Colorado's peaks that are considered fourteeners.  Numerous alpine lakes, Towering Mountain peaks and rugged roads provide abundant fishing, backpacking, mountain climbing and biking opportunities.  Wildflowers and a wide range of birding and wildlife viewing make the Wet Mountain Valley a place to behold.

 

Custer County-Divide Conservation District was established May 4, 1939.

 

The District is located in Custer and a small portion of Fremont County.

 

The total acreage in the district is 473,600 acres.

 

Land ownership within the District is:

 

Land uses within the District:

  

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  Addressing Local Concerns  

Districts generate funding through local, state, and federal sources.  Local citizens elect the District board to identify and address local natural resource issues.  The board involves locals and experts to help develop strategic plans.  The district holds open monthly meetings, publications, events, presentations to communicate with district partners and residents about district services, good conservation practices and financial/technical services.

 

This conservation district serves its landowners as they participate in:

 

• The Custer County-Divide Conservation District stays current on local issues serving on weed boards, the San Isabel Land trust board, the cattleman's Association and the Cattlewomans Association boards.  The District's annual Poster contest gives 6th graders the opportunity to learn about conservation practices and apply them with their artistic abilities. The District also has scholarship opportunities to allow high school students to attend Camp Rocky. 
• The District is planning an Arbor Day activity where the fourth graders will receive a Colorado Blue Spruce. The Forest Ranger will give a presentation on how to plant and the benefits of planting trees.

 

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  Fostering Sound Range Management 

Ensuring sound range management for future generations is important to conserve natural resources and improve production as well as enhance wildlife habitat.

 

This conservation district serves its landowners as they participate in:

 

The District will have a Range workshop this fall with topics that include plant selection, calculating stocking rates, rangeland health and monitoring and more.  The District also works closely with the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) to provide sound information on grass seed, sources for seed purchase and instructions on proper planting. The District also stays current on local issues, serve on weed boards and the San Isabel Land Trust Board.  The Districts annual Poster Contest offers 6th grade students to learn about conservation practices and gets them involved. The District also assist with developing more efficient watering and grazing systems.

 

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  Preventing Soil Erosion     

Preventing erosion preserves soil producitivity long term for agriculture, production, and other uses on rural lands.  It also provides improved stream flows, decreases sedimentation, and improves overall water quality.  Some common practices that help producers prevent soil erosion and build soil quality include no till, minimum tillage and cover cropping.

 

This conservation district serves its landowners as they participate in:

 

With the pressures of new housing that is in the Wet Mountain Valley, the District works with landowners to reduce the erosion caused from development and the new roads being installed.  The Districts also make recommendations and offer specifications for native grasses suitable for the area. The District assists on subdivision reviews and mining reviews on private land.

 

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  Protecting Water Quality & Quantity 

The District provides assistance to managers, landowners, and residents with conservation practices and management tools to protect near stream areas.  In addition, they work together on reducing the movement of chemicals and nutrients to streams in sedimentation or runoff.  These efforts help stabilize streambanks and protect water bodies from impacts.

 

This conservation district serves its landowners as they participate in:

 

The Custer County-Divide Conservation District sales wildlife escape ladders which easily attach to stock tanks. With the lack of reliable water sources, wildlife use stock tanks as a source for their drinking water. When they get trapped in the tank they die and contaminate the fresh water for livestock. With this escape ladder the wildlife can use this as a way to recover themselves and escape from certain death.  The District also assist in designing and installing water irrigation systems to better irrigate pastures and hay land like pipelines and gated pipe.

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 Preventing the Spread of Noxious Weeds 

Conservation Districts implement measures to reduce the spread of invasive populations and help implement weed control projects.

 

This conservation district serves its landowners as they participate in:

 

In cooperation with the Custer County Extension Office and weed experts from across the state, the Conservation District participates in the annual Weed Tour which covers Weed identification, a bus tour to locate noxious weeds, release of biological insects for weed control, free handouts and books for sale, and a question and answer session.  The District is also looking into a certified gravel program to eliminate the spread of weeds through the use of gravel that is spread on roads and new construction sites. The District office also has handouts and information available and is willing to I.D. plants that could be potential noxious weeds and offer solutions.

Colorado Department of Agriculture · 700 Kipling Street · Suite 4000 · Lakewood, CO 80215-8000 ·(303) 239-4100