Our Community Foundation was pleased to make year-end grants to reflect our commitment to increase resources and funding for conversation, outdoor recreation and environment projects in western Colorado.

Our Community Foundation awarded a $10,000 grant to Palisade High School for their fish hatchery. Students and teachers from the school are working with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, irrigation companies and other partners to convert a storage shed on the school property into a fish hatchery for endangered razorback suckers.  Students will learn about balancing competing uses for river water and the impact of drought on fish habitat, agriculture, and recreational uses.

In December, we presented a $10,000 check to the Colorado Plateau Mountain Bike Trail Association for trail management and interpretative signage for the new Palisade Plunge mesa-to-river mountain bike trail.

Last but not least, we congratulate the Colorado National Monument Association on their success in meeting a challenge match and securing $25,000 in funding from us for the renovation of the Saddlehorn Amphitheater next to the Monument Visitor Center.
Meeting the match proved extra challenging in light of the partial government shutdown which kept the visitor center and CNMA offices closed for five weeks at year end. Notes Michael Paxton, “We are very appreciative of the Community Foundation’s support for this project and for working with us to succeed in attracting new funds to renovate this important community asset.”