Western Slope Conservation Center

If you’re an angler — or if you simply appreciate native fish — you know the importance of the bluehead sucker, flannelmouth sucker, and roundtail chub to the Gunnison River ecosystem. Soon these fish will be better able to move upstream to spawn, thanks to a project by the Western Slope Conservation Center and the North Fork Farmers Ditch Association to modernize the Farmers Ditch diversion and headgate structures. The project is one of eight

WSCC  is shining the spotlight on one of our pivotal volunteers, Ralph D’Alessandro. Having grown up on the east coast, Ralph never thought that he would live anywhere that wasn’t on the water. Luckily, life has a sense of humor, and Ralph’s took him westward to our land-locked, drought-susceptible corner of the country.  Growing up surrounded by water, Ralph’s curiosity was sparked when, in a college law class, he learned about water appropriation issues affecting

In June, the Department of the Interior launched a review of five foundational policies that guide how wilderness and wilderness-quality lands are managed across the BLM, NPS, and USFWS. No specific changes were proposed, but rather the sweeping review was buried inside an announcement regarding climbing guidance. Under the guise of “removing unnecessary barriers,” the government is attempting to open the door to industrial development, resource extraction, unsustainable motorized use, and privatization.  Specifically, the policies

WSCC would like to highlight an integral member of our volunteer team,  Mike Burkley, who has been volunteering his time, energy, and expertise with us for almost ten years. Having an extensive background in conservation work from his days volunteering with Utah-based conservation organizations for 20 years prior, Burkley knew that he wanted to be involved with North Fork efforts as soon as he arrived in Paonia in 2017. Luckily for us, Colorado Public Radio