County plans tamarisk removal under America the Beautiful grant; funding, timing remain uncertain

San Miguel County staff reported progress on a grant-funded tamarisk-removal project that would use Conservation Corps crews to clear tamarisk in the West End and in Dry Creek Basin.

Staff said the award comes through an America the Beautiful program funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and routed through Colorado's agencies. County staff initially sought to use crews in Disappointment Valley but shifted toward Dry Creek Basin after outreach with the Gunnison sage-grouse working group, the Bureau of Land Management and Colorado Parks and Wildlife.

Julie said the county's portion of the award was small'the county's funding share was only to cover about two weeks of Conservation Corps work'and that Colorado Department of Agriculture staff warned the federal funds for the region might be reduced. The county anticipates a deadline to complete the funded work by November 2026 and said it was seeking letters of support and landowner buy-in for access on BLM and other lands.

Why it matters: Tamarisk (Tamarix spp.) removal is invasive-plant management that can benefit riparian habitat and species such as Gunnison sage-grouse in riparian basins. The federal-state funding source and interagency coordination determine what sites and timing are feasible.

Next steps: Staff said they are continuing site coordination with BLM, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and local stakeholders, confirming letters of support, and resolving timing; agencies asked that the work occur earlier in the field season rather than late summer because of hunting seasons and summer field constraints.