Greetings :

It was a stompin' good time at the 2nd Annual CEC Barn Dance, with over 200 folks attending. We appreciate everybody who came out to dance and bid on silent auction items. Please consider taking that extra step and getting involved in one of our campaigns here on the west slope. We are always looking for extra help for our events and need citizens to contact us and let us know what you care about.

One of the important issues this month has been the release of more public land for oil shale development and I hope you will take second to read below and stay informed and involved. 

Thanks,

Joe Neuhof 
West Slope Field Director

Second Annual Barn Dance Recap

CEC would like to thank all the attendees of the 2nd Annual Barn Dance for making it to a great night of music and fun. Varaison Vineyard’s barn provided a great setting for people to dance to the songs of Stray Grass, and socialize with friends and neighbors in the Grand Valley. One of this years’ highlights was Executive Director Elise Jones presenting Grand Junction’s Lee Gelatt as CEC’s Activist of the year. Lee has helped CEC’s Grand Junction in various capacities over the year, and helped plan this years Barn Dance. People also took home great items from our silent auction, which raised nearly $1000 dollars for the CEC.

» Check out the photos!

1st Annual ‘NoDo’ Night Out – A Flaming Success!

In campaigning for the long term protection of the Dominguez and Escalante Canyons, CEC --  in partnership with Western Colorado Congress and the Sierra Club-- hosted four annual Wild Uncompahgre Weekends (WUW).

These fun-filled adventures proved to be critical in igniting grassroots enthusiasm for landscape conservation, and as such we are happy to announce the recent success of our 1st annual ‘NoDo’ Night Out in the Northern Dolores River basin near Gateway, CO. Check out the CEC blog to find out what made this such a ‘flaming’ success and see pictures from the weekend! 

Peruse our web page, become a facebook fan, join us for an upcoming event like this weekend’s ‘Unaweep/West Creek Trash Pick-Me-Up’, or contact Kate Graham at 970.243.0002 or kate@cecenviro.org to get excited about this unfolding campaign!

Secretary Salazar issues new round of Research Development and Demonstration Parcels

CEC was glad to hear this week that Interior Secretary Ken Salazar will investigate the Bush Administration policies that fast-tracked oil shale development. The agency also announced that it intends to open public lands to a second round of research, development, and design (RD&D) projects. New policies give priority to applications that actually consider water and energy needs and impacts on the environment and local economies. 

Although this is a step in the right direction it remains to be seen whether or not it is prudent to keep offering public land for experimental technologies. The first round of research plots have had very little activity at this point and we are still decades away form knowing if oil shale development is worth it. 
» Learn more

Contact Joe at joe@cecenviro.org for more information.

Plant a Tree, Save a Forest

CEC and Friends of Northwest Colorado are working with the US Fish and Wildlife Service at Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge to restore cottonwood forests along the Green River. Autumn workdays are scheduled for November 20 & 21. We’ll spend the day transplanting trees and installing protective fencing. For this work we provide carpool transportation, snacks, lunch and tools. Accommodation is available on a first come first serve basis. To learn CEC and Friends of Northwest are working with the US Fish and Wildlife Service at Browns Park National Wildlife Refuge to restore cottonwood forests along the Green River.  

To learn more and reserve your space contact Sasha at (970)-824-5241 or e-mail sasha@cecenviro.org

New Digs for CEC in Craig!

CEC’s Craig Office is moving – just hopping down the street to 529 Yampa Ave. The new office is substantially larger and will even allow us to host community meetings for partners like Friends of Northwest Colorado. We hope to be in the new office beginning Oct. 26th.

Join Friends of McInnis Canyons for their Fall BBQ Mixer & Volunteer Event November 7th

We’re looking forward to spending the day with you in Rabbit Valley enjoying nature and doing our part to be good stewards of the land in McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area.

WHAT: FMC Fall BBQ & Adopt-A-Highway Clean-up — Join us for any or all of these activities!

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL TOUR: FMC Board Member and Museum of Western Colorado Archaeologist Zebulon Miracle will lead an educational tour highlighting the geological and paleontological features of the area. Come learn how to identify dinosaur fossils!

WHERE: Meet at Trail Through Time trailhead. Take I-70 West to Exit#2. Turn right and drive straight to the trailhead.
WHEN: November 7, 2009 
- Adopt-A-Highway = 9 am — noon (muffins & coffee provided)
- BBQ Mixer = Noon – 3 p.m.
- Dinosaur Tour = 1:30–2:30 p.m.

RSVP by Weds, Nov. 4

Email Danielle at mcinniscanyons@gmail.com or call 970-314-7364.