Conservation district recounts wildfire, watershed and landowner work; residents raise alarm over proposed water-date changes

Representatives of the Lake County Conservation District (LCCD) and Central Colorado Conservancy (CCC) briefed commissioners on conservation projects, wildfire mitigation coordination and private‑land assistance, and discussed funding and federal partnership history.

Partnership and role: Wendy McDermott, executive director of Central Colorado Conservancy, explained the shared position model with LCCD and the prior cooperative agreement with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). NRCS funding initially supported a shared district manager position; congressional budgeting interruptions and later NRCS budget reductions ended that contract. The county provided $25,000 in FY2024 and another $25,000 in FY2025 to help sustain the shared staffing arrangement while the organizations pursue grants, McDermott said.

District work and services: Harmony Jump, LCCD district manager (a shared employee of CCC), described primary LCCD activities: helping private landowners obtain federal and state conservation funding for irrigation efficiency, forest-health and wildfire mitigation, soil‑health and noxious-weed treatment, and rangeland improvements. LCCD also provides technical reviews on subdivision and mining reclamation applications and helped facilitate two local wildfire mitigation town halls after the Interlaken/Interlochén fire, Jump said.

Funding and staffing: Jump said LCCD receives a limited statutory payment from the Colorado State Conservation Board (about $8,500 annually) and relies heavily on grants and donations; the conservancy provides administrative support and in‑kind services. McDermott noted that NRCS cooperative agreement funding had been $96,000 previously and that Congress’ continuing resolutions and subsequent NRCS budget cuts led to a funding gap that local grantwriting has sought to fill.

Sentinel landscape and Corps of Engineers topics: Jump raised a pending proposal to designate a “Pike Peak–Central” Sentinel Landscape involving Department of Defense interests; the district plans to host Forest Service and Palmer Land Trust representatives at the August Forest Health Council meeting to explain potential implications for Lake County. Jump said the inclusion stems partly from the area’s importance as a water source serving downstream users.

Water rights concern voiced: several landowners and board members pressed county officials about separate state-level matters involving irrigation ditches, measurement and appropriation dates. Mary Smith, LCCD board president, reported confusion and worry over a state process that might change how diversion dates are measured and whether that could make older water rights vulnerable to challenge. Commissioners said county staff (Bryce) will be asked to report back next month with clarification and that the county would consider coordinating an interjurisdictional response if the state action affects multiple counties or risks litigation.

Ending: LCCD asked the county to consider continued partnership and funding as the district pursues grants. Commissioners said budget deliberations begin in August and asked to be kept informed about the water‑rights review and any Sentinel Landscape outreach in August.