EDGEFIELD, S.C. — The Colorado NWTF State Chapter has made a significant investment in water-related conservation projects by contributing $15,000 of Super Fund dollars to the Waterways for Wildlife Initiative. This investment will support the next series of grants awarded in the spring of 2025, aimed at enhancing riparian ecosystems along rivers and streams and wetland habitats across America’s Great Plains.
“It’s so great to see the efforts and work of our state and local chapters being able to contribute towards the Waterways for Wildlife Initiative and the restoration of riparian areas,” said Jason Mccormick, Colorado NWTF State Chapter president. “Our state and local chapters look forward to being able to contribute to more projects in the days to come.”
The Waterways for Wildlife Initiative funded 16 high-priority conservation actions in 2024, with four projects directly impacting Colorado. These efforts are crucial in restoring and conserving critical water-related ecosystems, enhancing habitat for wild turkeys and other wildlife species.
The Colorado NWTF State Chapter’s contribution for 2025 will be used to increase projects support across the initiative’s 10-state region.
2024 Waterways for Wildlife projects in Colorado include:
Arkansas River Restoration (CO/KS) – This project is in cooperation with Ducks Unlimited, Kansas Alliance for Wetlands and Streams, Mule Deer Foundation and Kansas Department of Agriculture and seeks to restore 1,176 acres of riparian habitat along 25 stream miles of the Arkansas River in western Kansas and eastern Colorado through removal of invasive species such as Salt Cedar, Russian Olive and Eastern red cedar.
Escalante Ranch: Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area (CO) – This project is in cooperation with The Conservation Fund, Bureau of Land Management and the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation. They’re working to acquire and ultimately convey to the BLM the 4,061-acre Escalante Ranch within the BLM’s Dominguez-Escalante National Conservation Area, which is a large conservation and riparian project that will support key wild turkey habitat in western Colorado.
Conejos River Restoration Project (CO) – This project is in cooperation with the Colorado Rio Grande Restoration Foundation, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies and many others addressing streambank stabilization, floodplain reconnection, channel morphology reconstruction, backwater and wetland restoration and irrigation infrastructure replacement on two and a half acres and one stream mile.
Rocky Mtn. Arsenal NWR – First Creek Restoration (CO) – This project is in cooperation with the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, American Conservation Experience and Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. The project will use a tractor with a seed driller attachment to plant a sandyland prairie mix across the 60 acres of the burn site in the spring of 2024 before vegetation begins to grow. Additionally, shrubs and cottonwood trees will be planted enhancing .5 stream miles and 25 acres.
Learn more about NWTF’s Waterways for Wildlife Initiative.
About the National Wild Turkey Federation
Since 1973, the National Wild Turkey Federation has invested over half a billion dollars into wildlife conservation and has positively impacted over 23 million acres of critical wildlife habitat. The NWTF has also invested over $10 million into wild turkey research to guide the management of the wild turkey population and to ensure sustainable populations into perpetuity. The organization continues to deliver its mission by working across boundaries on a landscape scale through its Four Shared Values: clean and abundant water, healthy forests and wildlife habitat, resilient communities, and robust recreational opportunities. With the help of its dedicated members, partners and staff, the NWTF continues its work to provide Healthy Habitats. and Healthy Harvests. for future generations.
