Returning Circles: Exploring Dryland Restoratioon Pathways for Retired Croplands in the SLV
Primary Topic:
Agriculture
Other Topics:
Community & Economic Development, Natural Resources
Lead Mentor:
Madeline Wilson
Extension Agent (Ag Production Systems Specialist)
Internship Overview:
By state mandate, economic constraint, and physical necessity, thousands of irrigated acres in the San Luis Valley will come out of potato, barley, and alfalfa production in a collective attempt to salvage our dwindling aquifers. Without adequate vegetative cover, these highly disturbed soils are susceptible to wind erosion and noxious weeds. The resulting public safety, water and air quality concerns of blowing dust, as well as the burden of weed management on producers and taxpayers begs the question of best practice for critical area revegetation in the SLV.
In response to local producer and stakeholder requests, CSU is designing, implementing, and monitoring several on-site revegetation strategies with the goal of delivering a Revegetation Playbook for producers navigating the transition from irrigated to dryland systems. This internship program will assist in the implementation and monitoring of various dryland restoration trials, assist in the writing of the Revegetation Playbook, and develop strong regional partnerships with SLV agencies, organizations, and producers at the nexus of agriculture and natural resource management.
In response to local producer and stakeholder requests, CSU is designing, implementing, and monitoring several on-site revegetation strategies with the goal of delivering a Revegetation Playbook for producers navigating the transition from irrigated to dryland systems. This internship program will assist in the implementation and monitoring of various dryland restoration trials, assist in the writing of the Revegetation Playbook, and develop strong regional partnerships with SLV agencies, organizations, and producers at the nexus of agriculture and natural resource management.
Goals, Scope and Objectives:
Project Scope:
This ten-week internship will design, implement, and monitor the dryland restoration of de-watered croplands in the San Luis Valley. Mentorship team includes Madeline Wilson and Larry Brown of CSU Extension and Carrie Havrilla of CSU’s Dryland Ecology and Management Lab.
Internship Goals:
Develop an understanding of groundwater dependent agriculture, policy, and management in the San Luis Valley and the State of Colorado.
Gain experience with inter-disciplinary project management and collaborative conservation at the intersect of agriculture and natural resources.
Internship Objectives:
Monitor on-site strip trials including maintaining soil moisture sensors, taking soil samples, identifying native vegetation, communicating with producer cooperators, etc.
Research dryland restoration strategies, develop case study profiles, and assist with the writing of the Revegetation Playbook
Network with stakeholders at local meetings including but not limited to Rio Grande Basin Roundtable and local Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
This ten-week internship will design, implement, and monitor the dryland restoration of de-watered croplands in the San Luis Valley. Mentorship team includes Madeline Wilson and Larry Brown of CSU Extension and Carrie Havrilla of CSU’s Dryland Ecology and Management Lab.
Internship Goals:
Develop an understanding of groundwater dependent agriculture, policy, and management in the San Luis Valley and the State of Colorado.
Gain experience with inter-disciplinary project management and collaborative conservation at the intersect of agriculture and natural resources.
Internship Objectives:
Monitor on-site strip trials including maintaining soil moisture sensors, taking soil samples, identifying native vegetation, communicating with producer cooperators, etc.
Research dryland restoration strategies, develop case study profiles, and assist with the writing of the Revegetation Playbook
Network with stakeholders at local meetings including but not limited to Rio Grande Basin Roundtable and local Soil and Water Conservation Districts.
With which stakeholder group(s) will the intern work?
Rio Grande Water Conservation District, the Rio Grande Roundtable, Colorado Water Conservation Board, the State Land Board, local Soil and Water Conservation Districts, NRCS, CDA, Colorado Open Lands, County Commissioners, Wetland Dynamics LLC, Soil Health Services PBC, Cactus Hill Ag Consulting, USDA Range Management, and SLV Producers (Potato, Barley, Alfalfa).
What student learning outcomes do you anticipate and what are the opportunities for professional development?
1. Understanding of groundwater management and conservation including inter-state compacts, Senate Bill 22-028, CREP, center pivot irrigation, groundwater conservation easements, etc.
2. Understanding of dryland restoration strategies including identification and feed value of native species, development and application of soil inoculants,
3. Development of technical field research skills including soil moisture meter monitoring, soil and forage analysis and interpretation, how to use existing online tools (maps, databases, etc).
This interdisciplinary work presents opportunities for professional development through the direct collaboration with the stakeholder groups identified above. Additionally, the mentorship team will devote regular time to the identification and development of the intern’s career goals.
2. Understanding of dryland restoration strategies including identification and feed value of native species, development and application of soil inoculants,
3. Development of technical field research skills including soil moisture meter monitoring, soil and forage analysis and interpretation, how to use existing online tools (maps, databases, etc).
This interdisciplinary work presents opportunities for professional development through the direct collaboration with the stakeholder groups identified above. Additionally, the mentorship team will devote regular time to the identification and development of the intern’s career goals.
