by Julie Ash
Greetings CRA members:
It is such a beautiful time of year to be out in Colorado enjoying “the green line”. I hope everyone is finding some time, amidst work and deadlines, to play along our rivers, wetlands, riparian areas, and other special places. As fall approaches, so does the annual conference co-hosted by CRA. The 2008 Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference: Striking a Balance for the Future will be held in Vail from October 1st through 3rd. This year’s conference features presentations on balancing science and policy, growth and natural resources, and the environment and human needs. The Colorado Watersheds Conference has grown to a large event with over 240 people in attendance last year! Once again the conference will also offer a stellar line up of posters and presentations. Please refer to the conference information and agenda in this issue, and visit the CRA website at www.coloradoriparian.org for more information.
This fall also brings the 19th annual South Platte Forum (October 22nd through 23rd in Longmont; www.southplatteforum.org) covering a broad spectrum of topics from water supply forecasting to aquatic invasive species.
The Third Interagency Conference on Research in the Watersheds (September 8th through 11th in Estes Park; http://www.hydrologicscience.org/icrw/index.html) is sponsored by a consortium of Federal agencies and open to participation by anyone interested in watershed science and its role in resource management.
The Colorado Association of Stormwater and Floodplain Managers (CASFM) will hold its 19th Annual Conference (September 10th through 12th at the Crested Butte Mountain Resort; www.casfm.org) with technical sessions on Low Impact Development (LID), Stream Restoration, Watershed Protection and Sustainable Stormwater Management, and other critical topics.
These conferences are a collaboration of water users, academics, consultants, regulators, watershed groups and others that come at riparian issues from a variety of angles to accomplish the shared goals of enhancement, restoration, and protection. As such, they offer important opportunities for both their attendees and for the environment. We hope to see you out there – enjoying “the green line” and at the fall conferences covering its issues!