Western Landowners Alliance

Water Webinar this Friday! Roots and Rivers: The crucial connection between forests and watersheds Join us this Friday, July 26 at 12:00 pm MDT for our webinar spotlighting the Headwaters of the Colorado Initiative’s (HOC) vital efforts to enhance watershed health and learn how the intersection of healthy forests and rivers can benefit all water users. During the webinar, we’ll hear from HOC representatives and landowners who have successfully leveraged their voices to secure partnerships and funding for watershed projects in their own backyard. If you’re looking for ways to get involved in your own watershed, or are curious to know how other landowners are improving theirs, join us for this panel and gain insights into the science, partnerships, and projects of a regional watershed collaborative. https://lnkd.in/g8NFbK9x

Back by popular demand! Join East Yellowstone Collaborative, Western Landowners Alliance and a TON of incredible partners at the Cody Auditorium on August 7th at 4-7pm for Weeds, Wildlands and More! This is a true community event with drinks, light fare and an array of land management and conservation specialists to help connect you with the tools you need. We'll see you there! For more information, check out this article on the event from the Powell Tribune. https://lnkd.in/gtQpzgag

Eric and Emma Wickens and their family want to leave land, water, wildlife, and relationships better than they found them. “There is a large circle of life to study on our ranch,” Emma said. “Recognizing how each part has an important purpose really serves to inform the stewardship decisions we make.” Their stewardship has earned Wickens Salt Creek Ranch the Montana Leopold Conservation Award! This award honors ranchers, farmers, and forestland owners who go above and beyond in the management of soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat on working land. Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust will present Leopold Conservation Awards to landowners in 28 states this year. In Montana the award is presented annually with the Montana Department of Natural Resources & Conservation and the Montana Rangeland Resources Program. Read more about Wickens Salt Creek Ranch and their stewardship practices at On Land online. https://lnkd.in/geffnQ5a

With #extremeheat racking much of the West, @ProgressiveFarmer's Chris Clayton breaks down a new proposed OSHA regulation for extreme heat. "The nation's first federal safety [rule] for excessive heat would lead to more safety inspections on more than 105,000 farms and related agribusinesses, affecting nearly 1.14 million farm and agricultural processing workers." https://lnkd.in/gUMErXfG

Wilderness alone is not enough. To overcome the challenges we face today, our conservation needs to encompass working lands: the places where we derive our food, fiber, energy and timber - places where people and wildlife both depend on the landscape. Working lands are the some of the most biodiverse in the country. And they’re under the greatest threat from development. At Western Landowners Alliance, we’re doing something about it. Watch our CEO Lesli Allison's recent keynote from the Old Salt Festival: https://lnkd.in/gZTtC7Wa

🇺🇸🎇 Happy Independence Day! We'll be out on the land with family and friends, and we hope you're able to do the same! Photo by Alderspring Ranch for On Land Magazine

Tomorrow, join us for the second in our Summer Water Webinar Series: Alternative Forage - The challenges and opportunities. Learn more about our expert panel of landowners, policy wonks and researchers.  Landon Wilson is a 5th-generation farmer in Montezuma County and a Full-Service Irrigator. His passion for farming brought him back to the area after attending Colorado State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agribusiness. Landon enjoys farming alongside his dad on their irrigated and dryland fields. The Wilsons received funding through the Colorado Ag Water Alliance's Drought Resiliency Program, to experiment with lower-water crops, like wheat and barley. Greg Peterson grew up in Littleton, CO, where he still lives after living around the world. Greg received a Masters in Political Economy of Resources from The Colorado School of Mines and worked as a teacher previously to becoming the Executive Director of the Colorado Ag Water Alliance. For the past few years, Greg has been knee-deep in working with farmers and ranchers, learning more about water, agriculture, Colorado, and the digestive habits of cattle. He spends his free time growing vegetables on his small farm, learning to hate hail and bindweed. Phil Brink is a conservation scientist and owner of Brink, Inc. which provides compliance assistance to animal feeding operations and soil and water conservation assistance to the agriculture industry. He also serves as the Consulting Coordinator of Colorado Cattlemen’s Association’s Ag Water NetWORK and a partner to the Colorado Ag Drought Advisors and Colorado Ag Water Alliance. Phil holds a master’s degree in environmental science with a water and hydrology emphasis. He is an Environmental Professional certified through the National Academy of Board Certified Environmental Professionals, and an NRCS Technical Service Provider. https://lnkd.in/giKc_prP

More than 50% of the water in the Colorado River Basin is used to grow forage (food) for livestock! So forage crops that use less water have the potential to make a big difference for how the West copes with ongoing drought. Join us for the second webinar in our summer water series this Friday June 28 @ 12:00pm MDT, where we’ll learn about the challenges and opportunities of growing alternative forages from the perspectives of both landowners and scientists. We’ll cover the science, economics, and logistics associated with growing these crops, informed by the results of programs and research and the firsthand accounts from landowners experimenting with these practices. Whether you're a farmer, rancher or just interested in a water-smart future for the West, you need to know about alternatives to traditional forage crops like alfalfa. Register for this free webinar: https://lnkd.in/gZDBb_vN

Join us June 28 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm MDT for our upcoming webinar on alternative forage and learn why this topic is crucial for water users across the West. Did you know that most of the water used in agriculture in the Upper Basin of the Colorado River supports forage crops for livestock? With increasing water scarcity, exploring alternative forage crops that require less water and are more resilient to drought is vital. This free webinar will delve into the latest research and strategies for adapting to our changing climate. Don't miss out on the chance to understand the future of drought-resilient farming and its impact on the environment and food security. Register today! https://lnkd.in/gZ-uGgX7

WEBINAR TOMORROW at @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm MDT: Mimicking Nature: Flood irrigation and watershed health Join us to learn from ranchers and researchers on how flood irrigation helps to sustain seasonal wetlands by mimicking natural processes, how flood irrigation contributes to healthy habitats, and how flood irrigation can be used as a water management tool by supplementing aquifer storage. Our expert panelists include: Adrian Hunolt, Evanston, Wyoming rancher Erica Hansen, Intermountain West Joint Venture, Water 4 Coordinator Jim Hagenbarth, Dillon, Montana rancher Ginette Abdo, Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology, Ground Water Investigation Program Manager If you’re wondering how irrigation efficiency strategies (i.e., converting flood irrigation to sprinkler or drip irrigation) will impact watershed health and water availability, you should understand where and when flood irrigation provides more than just water for crops. Bring your questions! Register for this free webinar here: https://lnkd.in/gdi8TsAB