Middle Park Conservation District
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In the 2007 calendar year, the district completed activities under each category listed below to address the natural resource concern.
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Middle Park Conservation District
Monthly Meeting:
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Major Economy:
Points of Interest:
Middle Park Conservation District was established on August 12, 1957.
The District is located in Grand County and all of Summit County.
The total acreage is 1,091,953 acres.
Land ownership within the District is:
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Privately owned - 341,712 acres
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US Forest Service - 606,505 acres
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BLM - 95,012 acres
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State owned - 47,009 acres
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Water & Power Resources Service - 1,715 acres
Land uses within the District:
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Range - 187,678 acres
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Irrigated Cropland - 200 acres
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Non-irrigated Cropland - 0
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Irrigated Pasture & Hayland - 59,670 acres
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Woodland - 35,000 acres
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Community Services - 6,000 acres
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Commercial Industry - 1,220 acres
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Residential - 13,546 acres
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Transportation - 1,600 acres
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Wildlife - 13,000 acres
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Other - 432 acres
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:
MPCD held board meetings open to the public every month except July and August. Cost-share money was made available to land owners for irrigation projects. Application was made to Co. State Water Cons. Board for funding a new Snotel site. Copies of Landowning Colorado Style sold to Summit County and Grand County. Towns and Summit County invited to have subdivision reviews done. AG Readers distributed to Fraser Elem. Three newsletters were published. Conservation After Beetle Kill workshops in May and August. Newspaper articles were published after each activity. Annual dinner was held in February. Tree seedling sales and grass seed sales were advertised. NRCS staff participates in local sage grouse meetings and Habitat Partnership meetings. Both Grand and Summit Counties are experiencing forest beetle kill issues. District Manager has attended Summit County Task Force meetings throughout the year.
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:
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:
Aerial Clover seeding project on irrigated meadow and sagebrush interface; Ox-eye daisy control project; Grass seed sales and tree seedling sale; Cost-share irrigation projects; Pursuing sale of P.A.M.
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:
Cost-share irrigation projects; Pursue sno-tel site on Elliott Ridge; Pursuing sale of P.A.M; Selling tree seedlings and grass seed.
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:
Ox-eye daisy control project; Serve as Grand County Weed Board; Participate in state weed management meetings; Wrote EQIP noxious weed control grant and was funded; Setting up weed sprayer rig for rental.