Current News on UP Activities & Events
Uncompahgre Plateau Collaborative Restoration Project Awarded $8.5 Million USDA Grant
Western Colorado is one of only ten communities in the United States that was awarded a 10-year $8.5 million dollar grant from the United States Department of Agriculture to promote healthier, safer and more productive public lands. The project will restore seven plant types in 160,000 treatment acres and includes key watersheds that feed the Colorado River.
“This is welcomed money and will be put to very good use. The goal is to keep our forests healthy by reducing the risk of large wildfires, maintaining and improving water quality, preventing the spread of invasive noxious weeds and enhancing fish and wildlife habitats,” said Ron Henderson, Chairman of the Montrose County Board of County Commissioners. “Not to mention it will put some folks in our community back to work.”
The restoration project is expected to create close to 750 part-time or seasonal jobs, support the enlargement of biomass markets for renewable energy, and help to sustain our local timber mills which are currently the last remaining large sawmills in Colorado. A local, sustainable supply of wood is critical to the economics of both mills which are needed to service forest health projects across the State of Colorado. Local youth will also be involved in projects, providing work, job skill training, and educational opportunities.
“The incredible cooperative relationships that exist on the Western Slope of Colorado among our community members, public land agencies, environmentalists, recreation groups, local governments, energy industry, ranchers, and timber companies have made this opportunity possible,” stated Pam Motley, Outreach Coordinator for the Uncompahgre Plateau Project. “This grant is a win for all of us.”
The restoration projects will focus on 555,300 acres of Forest Service land within a one million acre landscape. Active restoration projects on 160,000 acres is to include controlled burns, timber harvests, native plant establishment, trail and road relocations to reduce sediment, riparian restoration and improvements for Colorado River cutthroat trout. Multi-party monitoring efforts are proposed for 68,000 acres. The grant provides money for implementation of restorative work and for monitoring.
The projects that were selected were based on the recommendations of a 15-member Advisory Committee. Advisory committee members were selected based on their technical expertise, the points-of-view represented, which geographic region of the country they represent and diverse backgrounds.
Additional information about the program can be found at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r3/spf/cfrp/.
The UP is changing its name!
The ‘Uncompahgre Plateau Project’ is changing its name to the ‘Uncompahgre Partnership’. The new name better represents the long term commitment and successes of our dynamic and diverse partnership. What began as a project, has grown to be a multi-faceted collaborative organization.
The UP was initiated in 1998 when a study of mule deer habitat on the Uncompahgre Plateau brought the CO Division of Wildlife, BLM, US Forest Service, Public Lands Partnership, Western Area Power Administration and Tri-State Generation and Transmission, Inc. together to discuss the ecosystem conditions. The group collectively realized the need to work together and the ‘Uncompahgre Plateau Project’ was born with the goal of addressing the needs of the plateau across agency boundaries.
Over 12 years later, the UP is still here! We have facilitated the development of numerous projects aimed at improving ecosystem health and natural functions of the landscape, using best available science, community input and adaptive management. The UP program areas have expanded from landscape-scale planning and implementation to include a native plant program, invasive species management programs, education and outreach efforts, and research activities. Our work has also expanded off of the plateau to local surrounding areas.
We believe this new name better reflects our organization’s involvement in numerous projects and its many and ever-expanding partners.
Landscape -Level Projects
Local High School Students get hands-on learning through the 'Forestry Intern Program' sponsored by the US Forest Service and UP.
The UP and US Forest Service, as a part of the Uncompahgre Mesas Forest Restoration and Demonstration Project, have hired 4 students to work on the large-scale forest restoration project. This is great real world experience for any student who is interested in pursuing a degree in science.
Uncompahgre Mesas Forest Restoration and Demonstration Project - Using science and collaboration to improve the resiliency, diversity and productivity of the native ecosystem
The UP, US Forest Service, Colorado Forest Restoration Institute –Colorado State University (CFRI), local conservation groups and interested members of the community have come together to develop a restoration and demonstration project on approximately 17,000 acres on the Uncompahgre Plateau. The UP Project was successful in receiving two National Forest Foundation grants to facilitate this project.
The UP, Forest Service and Colorado State University have initiated a new study to characterize ungulate browsing and aspen regeneration on the Uncompahgre Plateau.
The goal of the study is to obtain a better understanding of the role of forest management in regenerating declining aspen stands. Successful regeneration of aspen appears to be more limited across the Plateau, as a result of low rates of major disturbance, sudden aspen decline (SAD), and high browsing pressures on aspen suckers. Forest managers may have an opportunity to foster more aspen regeneration, if we can provide clear insights on the key factors.
The UP is assisting the North Rim Landscape Workgroup in developing a strategy document
The vision of the North Rim Landscape workgroup is to work collaboratively at a landscape scale to build a shared science and knowledge base to inform decision-making across jurisdictional boundaries and to develop strategies for land use management. The North Rim area encompasses 220,679 acres of private and public lands adjacent to the north rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
On-The-Ground Treatment Projects
In 2009 work continued on the Western Area Power Administration and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Administration powerline fuels treatment projects. This project is supported by a National Fish and Wildlife Foundation Keystone Grant, the Forest Service and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Administration.
Invasive Species Management
UP Sponsors Uncompahgre Valley Weed Uncompahgre Valley Weed Awareness Day
The UP and Montrose County sponsored the first annual community weed awareness day on July 10 at Cerise Park in Montrose. Over 25 members of the public came out to learn more about how to identify, control and prevent noxious weeds.
Lauire Mingen, Montrose County Weed Administrator, educates participants on effective weed control products
Robin Barrett demonstrates weed control
North Rim Landscape Coordinated Weed Management Area
The UP is initiating a Coordinated Weed Management Area (WMA) Plan and treatment program for the 220,000-acre North Rim Landscape area, located at the north rim of the Black Canyon of the Gunnison National Park.
Coordinated Weed Management Area Plans
The UP, USFS, BLM, Montrose County, NRCS, and The Nature Conservancy have successfully inventoried and developed integrated weed management strategies for almost 500,000 acres! In 2009, over 3,000 acres were treated by the partners.
The UP has developed an Invasive Weed Prevention - Best Management Practices brochure for public land users
Other Weed Treatment Projects
In addition to the Coordinated Weed Management Areas, the UP is involved in several individual invasive species management projects in the local area.
Native Plant Program
CDOW Seed Storage Warehouse
The Colorado Division of Wildlife (DOW) plans to construct a native seed storage facility on the Escalante State Wildlife Area, west of Delta, CO in 2010 using “Species Conservation Trust” funds. This facility will fill the need for a proper long term storage facility on the west slope of Colorado.
The UP advances a western Colorado source of Sandberg bluegrass to commercial production.
A major milestone has been reached within the UP with the commercial production of a key native grass. Approximately 20,000 pounds of Sandberg bluegrass are currently ready for purchase by federal and state agencies as well as by private companies.
The UP delivers thirteen species to commercial growers
The UP has advanced thirteen species through our program, performing the necessary studies and seed increase process, and they are now in the hands of commercial growers. The UP has selected these species (six grasses and seven forbs) because they are considered key components of native ecosystems in the Colorado Plateau area.
The UP has adequate seed stock in place to support commercial production of five additional forbs
We now have adequate source-identified seed and have collected sufficient data on cultivation practices for five important forbs: blueleaf aster (Aster glaucodes), Lewis flax (Linum lewisii), alpine golden buckwheat (Eriogonum flavum), multi - lobed groundsel (Packera multilobatus), hairy goldenaster (Heterotheca villosa) and shaggy fleabane (Erigeron pumilus). The UP is working to expand our grower base and hopes to have these forbs in production as soon as possible.
The UP completes an Upper Colorado Plateau Native Plant Materials Assessment
This year, the UP used an on-line survey to assess the current and potential demand for native plant materials for the upper Colorado Plateau. Results of the survey indicate a need for local sources of native seed and a lack of adequate storage facilities.
The UP partners with CSU and the San Juan National Forest to initiate a new study of perennial native forbs and early emergent species.
The goal of the proposed project is to research and develop economically viable techniques to commercially produce seed of key perennial forbs and pioneer species for use in restoration and revegetation efforts.
To learn more about current UP Activities you can also download the following reports:
To learn more about current UP Program Areas, download the following report:
