In this final episode of season one of Crisis to Comeback, host Kori Stanton talks with Colorado Water Center's Director, John Tracy. According to CSU’s website, "The Colorado Water Center is one of 54 Water Resources Research Institutes created by the Water Resources Act of 1964. As a division under CSU’s Office of Engagement and Extension, the Center aims to connect all water expertise in Colorado’s higher education system with research and education needs of Colorado’s water managers and users, building on the rich water history at Colorado State University."John got his undergraduate degree in civil engineering at Colorado State University and ultimately received a master's and PhD at UC  Davis. Throughout his career he has been  Director of water centers in Nevada, Idaho and Texas before coming back to Colorado to lead the Water Center two years ago. You can find more information on the Center at watercenter.colostate.edu

On this episode host Kori Stanton interviews Andrew Rickert, Program Manager for Colorado’s Weather Modification Program which is through the Colorado Water Conservation Board aka CWCB. Andrew has been managing the state's Weather Modification Program for five years and was recently in the field helping measure Colorado's snowpack statewide.  Andrew invites listeners to reach out to him with any questions via email at andrew.rickert@state.co.us or you may call his office at 303-866-3441 extension 3249. VIDEO: NCAR | RAL - Winter Cloud Seeding with Silver Iodide StepsSource for Silver Iodide: Deepwater Chemicals, Inc., Safety Data Sheet

This episode features a conversation (based around the carbon cycle) with political economist, climate change advisor and North Fork Valley resident, Calla Rose Ostrander. Calla Rose is also the co-creator and host of 'Rain & Shine'—another podcast produced by Kori Stanton.  If you have any nature or science questions for Calla Rose you can reach her at rainshineweekly@gmail.com and who knows…  maybe one of your questions will be answered on an upcoming episode of Rain & Shine.

This episode features John Miller who is the Soil Health Program Manager through the Colorado Department of Agriculture. John was born and raised on a cattle ranch in Delta County, he has a  background  in  engineering and prior to working for the CDA he spent over 11 years working for the Delta Conservation District  teaching  people  irrigation water management in Delta, Mesa and Montrose  Counties. Colorado's Soil Health Program(STAR) Program - Colorado Saving Tomorrow’s Agricultural Resources 2024 Western Colorado Soil Health, Food & Farm Forum

Here’s the link to the sustainability report: https://www.blackhillsenergy.com/sites/blackhillsenergy.com/files/2022-sustainability-report.pdf Black Hills Colorado Gas, Inc. 2024 – 2028 Clean Heat Plan

This episode feature's a conversation on food security and climate change with Colorado's Commissioner of Agriculture, Kate Greenberg.

This week's episode feature's a conversation with Dr. Heidi Steltzer. Dr. Steltzer is a Professor of Environment and Sustainability at Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO where she’s been teaching for the last 15 years. She's been living in and studying Colorado since 1994. She founded the Heidi Mountains Cooperative, a non-profit field station & retreat center in Cortez, Colorado that honors science and faith as ways of knowing. Heidi is a Master’s student in Theological Studies at Iliff School of Theology in Denver.Dr. Steltzer is a lead author for the chapter on High Mountain Areas in the 2019 Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on the Oceans and Cryosphere in a Changing Climate. She is a member of the American Geophysical Union (AGU), and an advocate in AGU’s Voices for Science program launched in 2018 to promote communication about the value and impact of Earth and space science to decision makers, journalists, and public audiences.Dr. Steltzer is a mountain and Arctic scientist, explorer, and science communicator. She studies how environmental changes affect mountain watersheds and Arctic ecosystems and their link to our well-being. She has spent 25 years conducting field studies on mountain and Arctic hillslopes in Colorado, Alaska, Greenland and recently China. She’s pioneered studies on the impacts of earlier snowmelt through experimentally accelerating snowmelt and monitoring plant and ecosystem responses. Her field studies lead to an experiential approach to higher education, in which she creates opportunities for student-led inquiry into environmental issues. Her experiences engaging with students have influenced her choice to invest in science communication and climate diplomacy. Dr. Steltzer earned her BS in Biology at Duke University. Her doctorate is in Ecosystem Ecology from University of Colorado at Boulder. Find her on social media @heidimountains.Recent HonorsWitness before the US House Committee Science, Space, and Technology for the U.S. House of Representatives for the hearing on: An Update on the Climate Crisis: From Science to Solutions, 2020Powerhouse Science Center Honoree, Durango, Colorado, 2019

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This episode features Paonia resident, Elizabeth Agee. Elizabeth is passionate about helping people build their connection with the natural world through gardening and conservation. In 2015, she moved to Colorado to study permaculture at Central Rocky Mountain Permaculture Institute, seed saving at Rocky Mountain Seed School, Holistic Management at Holistic Management International and Southwestern agriculture and tradition. She values collaborations within the local community and thrives in situations where she can support others' work in conservation and agriculture. Elizabeth works for an organization called Colorado Farm & Food Alliance (COFFA) and manages the Plant-A-Row project, Just Good Food Campaign and the newly minted Equity Garden Incubator Plot in Paonia, CO.

This episode features a conversation Ben Katz, Public Lands Program Director, for the Western Slope Conservation Center, a non-profit organization based in the North Fork Valley. Ben shares his perspective on how climate is affecting Public Lands in the North Fork Valley and regionally on the Western SlopeClick here to learn more about the 30x30 Movement that Ben mentioned in the interview.

This episode features Executive Director and co-founder of 350 Colorado, Micah Parkin. 350 Colorado has been around for the last 10 years. It is a statewide movement-building organization around the issue of climate change with a focus on transitioning to a sustainable future. Micah has been doing climate and clean energy advocacy work for 27 years, first in her hometown just outside of  New Orleans and for the last 16 years here in Colorado. Notably, Micah worked with last week’s guest, Ann Lee Foster during their time at Colorado Rising while working on the 112 ballot initiative and the two of them continue to work together through the organization Safe & Healthy Colorado. Micah kicks off the conversation by talking about her work on the 112 ballot initiative and the new phase-out ballot initiative that 350 Colorado is currently working towards. Pledge to sign link. Here is a direct link to 350 Colorado's Event Calendar.

This episode features Paonia resident, communications consultant, and climate advocate Anne Lee Foster. Prior to moving to the Western Slope, Ann Lee was living in Boulder and was the Director of Communications and Community Engagement at Colorado Rising where she served as the ballot initiative proponent and the lead spokesperson for the proposition 112 ballot initiative campaign. She serves on the board of an organization called Safe & Healthy Colorado. Safe & Healthy Colorado is a grassroots, volunteer-led coalition of Coloradans who are working toward a safer, healthier future. Their new ballot initiative is focused on phasing out new fracking permits in Colorado by 2030.

Part 2 of an interview with Hotchkiss, Colorado resident Wade Pridgen. Wade is a self described misfit from Florida, he has an extensive background in land surveying for large infrastructure projects and he worked in the oil and gas industry from 2014 to 2021. He is now retired and spends his days living in an RV on his little bit of land with his two dogs. Wade has made it his personal mission "to be a soldier for Mother Earth."

Over the next two episodes we'll hear from Hotchkiss, Colorado resident Wade Pridgen. Wade is a self described misfit from Florida, he has an extensive background in land surveying for large infrastructure projects and he worked in the oil and gas industry from 2014 to 2021. He is now retired and spends his days living in an RV on his little bit of land with his two dogs. Wade has made it his personal mission "to be a soldier for Mother Earth."

This episode of "Crisis to Comeback" features Christie Ashwanden who is the Executive Director of the Grand Mesa Nordic Council. Christie has been involved with this western slope organization since 2004, she is also a journalist and has served on several local nonprofit boards over the last 20 years.Here is a link to the Grand Mesa Nordic Council's event schedule. Grand Mesa Nordic Council (GMNC) is a community-supported, nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting fun and safe cross country skiing experiences on Grand Mesa for skiers of all ages and abilities. GMNC relies entirely on voluntary contributions and grants to fund trail grooming and maintenance operations.GMNC is governed by a volunteer Board of Directors from our local communities. Numerous additional volunteers are instrumental in creating our vibrant Nordic ski community.GMNC grooms and maintains 50 km (31 miles) of Nordic ski trails on the Skyway, County Line, and Ward trail systems on Grand Mesa near Grand Junction in western Colorado. Grand Mesa is known for its long season and heavy snowfalls, often more than 300 inches per year. GMNC’s trail systems include high quality classic and skate ski trails as well as marked trails for ski touring.

The Colorado Farm & Food Alliance grew from the grassroots efforts of western Colorado agricultural operators, ranchers, food producers, and community members who organized in opposition to a series of ill-advised oil and gas lease sales in the North Fork Valley. Since then we have broadened our work to strengthening the local food movement, building sustainable food systems, and advocating for climate action, as well continuing our work to protect Colorado lands and water from oil and gas development. The Colorado Farm & Food Alliance welcomes participation from a range of organizations, individuals, and businesses on our various projects. Please contact us to get involved! pete@colofarmfood.orgelizabeth@colofarmfood.org