FCD Bulletin - May 2025
FCD Bulletin - May 2025
Canon City Public Library Garden Dedication
Last year when beloved Canon City Public Library Director, Susanne Lasha, passed away unexpectedly, plans were already underway to construct an edible garden on library grounds. In the wake of Suanne’s passing the partner entities of the Fremont Conservation District, the Green Thumb Initiative, the Canon City Parks Department, and the Canon City Public Library Foundation came together to complete the project in her memory. Utilizing grant funds awarded to the Fremont Conservation District, multiple private donations made to the Canon City Public Library Foundation, and the donated time and labor of the Green Thumb Initiative and Canon City Parks Department, eight garden boxes were successfully installed in Macon Plaza. The boxes are anchored and edged by timbers from the Royal Gorge Bridge and filled with fresh soil generously donated by Grow Generation of Pueblo West. A memorial stone was placed on site, and Handeland Concrete donated the engraving.
On Friday, May 16, Mayor Troutman and the new library director, Kendra McFall, cut the ribbon in a ceremony dedicating the garden as the Susanne Lasha Memorial Garden. This dedication ceremony was not the completion of the project, but merely the beginning. Susanne’s legacy of service to the library and community will be reflected in the many years of use to come from this new space. Education programs for both youth and adults will grow up around the garden, and as years pass community interest and resolve shall direct, develop, and continuously renew the purpose of the garden while being guided by the memory and spirit of Suanne.
FCD Awarded CSCB Grant for Conservation Projects
Fremont Conservation District has been awarded $41,000 from a Colorado State Conservation Board (CSCB) matching grant to financially assist on private-lands conservation projects in Fremont County. Thirteen projects were selected to receive grant funding including five irrigation projects, three forestry/range recovery projects, two urban agriculture projects, one seeding project, one education project, and one fire mitigation project. Grant sub-awardees included ditch companies, volunteer fire departments, and private landowners.
In the past, FCD has routinely offered $11,000 per year for conservation cost-shares. With the assistance of this matching grant and an increase in our annual budget for walk-in cost share applications, we aim to provide $55,000 in assistance this year.
If you are interested in applying for a conservation cost-share, please contact our District office.
FCD Awarded 2025 Noxious Weed Fund Grant
FCD serves as grant manager and passthrough entity for the Upper Arkansas Cooperative Weed Management Area (UACWMA). The UACWMA group was founded in 1998 and consists of various organizations across Lake, Chaffee, Teller, Park, Huerfano, and Fremont counties. The group's major focus each year is work done via the Colorado Department of Agriculture's Noxious Weed Fund grant. This year the Fremont Conservation District was awarded $110,000 to combat List A & B Noxious Weed species in our region. Sub-awardees and partners on the grant include the above counties. Grant monies are utilized for herbicide purchases, aerial applications, equipment rentals, and private-lands cost-share for noxious weed treatment. With the uncertainty brought about by major cuts to noxious weed funding at both the Federal and State level, we are proud to continue our partnership with the UACWMA group to carry out this important conservation work.
Inagural FCD College Scholarship Awarded
This year the Fremont Conservation District opened applications for our inaugural college scholarship program. We are pleased to announce that the first winner of this $1,000 college scholarship is Gage Grisenti, a senior at Florence High School. Gage will be attending the Oklahoma State University Institute of Technology to become a heavy machinery mechanic. Congratulations, Gage, and good luck!
2025 Camp Rocky Registrations Now Open; Full Scholarships Avalaible from FCD
Fremont Conservation District is proud to offer full scholarships for Camp Rocky 2025.
Camp Rocky is a week long educational, residential camp for ages 14-17 who enjoy the outdoors and are interested in natural resources, agriculture, and environmental science.
The camp is located outside of Divide, Colorado, and will run July 6th-11th this year.
Camp Rocky’s professional staff helps campers learn about the environment through hands-on experiences. Students work in teams, making new friends from across Colorado.
Each year new and returning students choose one of the following resource fields for their area of focus: Rangeland Science, Forestry Management, Soil and Water Science, Fish and Wildlife Management.
At the end of the week, students will use their group learning plan to complete a management project. Additional camper activities include volleyball games, hiking, campfires, group challenges, nightly natural resource presentations, and a talent show!
To learn more, or to apply, click here.
FCD Board Letter to County Assessor concerning High Tunnels
There have been reports that the Fremont County Assessor’s office has been classifying high tunnels, or "hoop houses" as permanent structures subject to a 27% tax per structure. The Fremont Conservation District Board of Supervisors has sent a letter to the assessor’s office concerning this issue. The Board argues that high tunnels are temporary structures best classified as agricultural tools rather than permanent structures. The basis for this argument is that crops grown in high tunnels are planted directly in native soil, the walls are made of plastic, and there is no anchored foundation or electricity usage as would be found in a greenhouse. Agricultural producers and landowners who own high tunnels and have received their annual property tax assessment are encouraged to reach out to the Fremont County Assessor’s Office to file an appeal. See the PDF below to read the full letter.
high tunnel letter to assesor.pdf
In Review: 79th Annual Landowner's Banquet
Fremont Conservation District held its 79th Annual Landowner's Banquet on Friday, April 25th, 2025 at Pathfinder Park. Highlights of the evening included the renewal of the Annual Conservation Awards, which were last held in 2011. This year's winners were Justin Jenkins of Jenkins Farms. Tim Madone of Diana's Pumpkin Patch & Corn Maze, and Cynthia Fall, Florence FFA teacher. A big thank you to Bob Weir Music for donating his time and talent, Carol's SOCO Catering for the excellent dinner, and to the Florence FFA students for serving the meal. Our speakers included Senator Mark Baisley of Colorado's 4th District, Tim Canterbury of the Public Lands Council, and Commissioner Dwayne McFall of Fremont County. Thank you to all who attended!
Upcoming Events
- Canon City Public Library Garden Dedication. Friday May 16th, 9:00 a.m. Macon Plaza.
- Water Conservation and Composting Presentation. Friday May 23rd, 2 p.m. Penrose Library.
- Memorial Day. Monday May 26th. District office will be closed.
- Fremont Conservation District Board Meeting. Wednesday June 4th, 6:00 p.m. USDA Service Center Canon City.