🌸 April showers bring May flowers—and a season full of promise!

As spring rains soak the valley and snowmelt makes its way down from the high country, water is once again flowing through our canals. Fields across the Grand Valley are being irrigated for the first time this season, signaling the start of a new chapter for our agricultural community. Every drop of water brings life to the soil, energizing the land and the people who steward it.

At Mesa Conservation District, we're embracing this season of renewal by supporting producers through soil health initiatives, habitat restoration efforts, and collaborative conservation planning. April is a time to prepare, plant, and dream big.

Be sure to join us for our upcoming community gatherings, including the Mesa Conservation District’s Annual Landowner and Local Work Group meeting and the Grand Valley State of the River, hosted by the Colorado River District. These events are wonderful opportunities to connect, share ideas, and celebrate the shared resources that sustain our region.

Together, let’s celebrate the return of water to our fields and the renewed energy it brings to our land and community.

Joely Anysz - Mesa CD District Manager

Upcoming 2025 Annual Landowner and Local Work Group Meeting

Please join us to hear about District updates, celebrate the MCD-nominated Colorado State Conservationists of the Year: Lowell King, Philip Frank, and Harry Jackson, and learn more from featured speaker Greg Peterson about the Colorado Ag Water Alliance Drought Resiliency Program. Additionally, make your voice heard at the Local Work Group.

Dinner provided!

RSVP by May 5th by clicking the button below.

Notice of Proposed Amendments to Mesa Conservation District By-Laws

Proposed amendments to Mesa Conservation District By-Laws have been submitted to the Mesa Conservation District Board of Supervisors. A copy of the proposed amendments to the by-laws are available to review by clicking the button below and are available to review at the NRCS office: 2738 Crossroads Blvd. Grand Junction, CO 81506.

Any interested elector of Mesa Conservation District may inspect the proposed amendments and bring forth any objections thereto at the regularly held meeting prior to the vote of adoption of the amendments to the bylaws on May 5, 2025.

Program Updates

The Grand Valley Water Committee project teams will soon be holding their first meeting to address the critical water challenges of our region. We are grateful for the support from the local community! To view the GVWC Strategic 3-Year Plan, click the button below:

New to the Website: Agriculture Resource Hub

Have you wanted to know more about soil amendments or how to attract more pollinators? Have questions about conservation and ditch easements? Mesa Conservation District is proud to announce the opening of our resource hub! Click the buttons below to learn more about available soil health, irrigation, and rural behavioral health resources! This is just the beginning! If you would like your business highlighted or have suggestions, please reach out to: mesaconservationdistrict@gmail.com

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

We appreciate you taking the time to read our newsletter! Below please find links to upcoming events. To be clear, not all these events are hosted by or sponsored by Mesa Conservation District. Whenever possible events will contain links to the appropriate contact to learn more or to register/RSVP.

One of the main goals of Mesa CD is to help spread the word about all the great opportunities to learn from so many great organizations!

You can find more events on our webpage on our regularly updated calendar:

Colorado River District State of the River

The Colorado River District’s State of the River meetings are a spring tradition in Western Colorado, bringing communities together to discuss the most pressing water issues facing our region. These free public events provide valuable insights into river forecasts, local water projects, and key challenges impacting West Slope water users.

While each program is tailored to reflect local water priorities, key topics at all events will include:

• River flow forecasts

• Updates on the Colorado River system

• Local water projects and priorities

• Current challenges facing Western Colorado water users

• Shoshone Water Rights Preservation Project updates

Registration for dinner is closed but attendees are welcome to join when programming beings promptly at 6:30pm.

FarmAid Grants Available

The American Farmland Trust Emergency Resilience Grant is accepting applications. Applications will be accepted from April 16th until April 26th. AFT expects a large number of applicants and are encouraging farmers to apply as early as possible.

More information can be found here: https://farmland.org/resilience

Funding will be prioritized for small- to mid-sized farms that have previously faced challenges accessing traditional funding opportunities, enhancing financial resilience, supporting business technical assistance, investing in business building, and/or fostering soil health and environmentally beneficial agricultural practices.

Please consider supporting local agriculture by donating to Mesa Conservation District today!

Now more than ever, local producers need your support.

Your donation to Mesa Conservation District directly benefits farmers and ranchers, ensuring the longevity and sustainability of agriculture in the Grand Valley.

Together, we can strengthen our local food system and preserve our agricultural heritage for generations to come.

Thank you for your consideration and support.