PARTNERSHIP Rocky Mountain Region Rocky Mountain Region National Forests and National Grasslands Bighorn NF SOUTH DAKOTA Black Hills NF Shoshone NF Thunder Basin NG Fort Pierre NG Buffalo Gap NG WYOMING Oglala NG Nebraska NF Samuel R. McKelvie NF Medicine Bow NF Nebraska NF NEBRASKA Routt NF Roosevelt NF Pawnee NG Arapaho NF White River NF Grand Mesa NF COLORADO Pike NF KANSAS Gunnison NF San Isabel NF Uncompahgre NF Rio Grande NF San Juan NF Comanche NG Cimarron NG Table of Contents Introduction 1 Rocky Mountain Region 2 Rocky Mountain Research Station 8 Nebraska and Samuel R. McKelvie National Forests and Buffalo Gap, Fort Pierre and Oglala National Grasslands 10 Black Hills National Forest 12 Bighorn National Forest 14 Shoshone National Forest 16 Medicine Bow-Routt National Forests and Thunder Basin National Grassland 18 Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland 20 Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests 22 Rio Grande National Forest 24 San Juan National Forest 26 White River National Forest 28 Pike and San Isabel National Forests and Cimarron and Comanche National Grasslands 30 Partnership / Agreement Summary 32 Partnerships are a key ingredient in the success of Forest Service Research and Development programs. The Rocky Mountain Research Station relies heavily on its partners to help develop and deliver knowledge and innovative technologies that improve and sustain our nation’s forests, rangelands, and grasslands. In addition to partnering with managers of our National Forests, our largest stakeholder group, we also work closely with: universities through numerous re- search joint venture agreements, other federal land management agencies, state and local agencies, industry, non-governmental organizations, tribal govern- ments, and international groups and organizations. This report highlights just a few of the many partners we rely on to be success- ful, such as: the Rocky Mountain Center, which provides fire weather intelli- gence and smoke forecasts for the western United States; Colorado State Uni- versity’s work on declining populations of grassland birds; and the University of Colorado’s interactions with mountain homeowners to help develop wildfire programs. As challenges related to natural resources management become progressively more complex, the Rocky Mountain Research Station will increasingly look to our partners to help develop science findings that assist land managers and planners in making wise resource decisions. Dave Cleaves Director, Rocky Mountain Research Station The past century’s far-sighted leaders imagined the kind of country they wanted to leave their grandchildren and built a vision of public lands owned and man- aged with care by the people. If you’re like me, you highly value our nation’s public lands—forests and grass- lands with beautiful scenery, abundant wildlife, diverse recreation, wilderness, and more. Our employees are passionate about conserving the basic resources of air, soil, and water upon which all life, all habitats, and all uses ultimately depend. We reverently accept the charge to manage the national forests and grasslands for balanced multiple uses that leave a light touch on the land, and we know we do a better job with everyone’s help. That’s where partnerships come in. Everyone benefits when we team up to meet our visitors’ needs while monitoring and caring for ecosystems. This report recognizes our partners whose generous help expands our personal and organizational capacity to get things done; leads to better-informed deci- sions; and directs our resources and energies to the critical needs of the land and communities. Committed partnerships among federal, state, local, and private stakeholders will ensure our ancestors’ vision continues to be a reality for future generations. Rick Cables Regional Forester Partnership Introduction This document highlights a handful of the Proven success in collaboration and partner- many partnership success stories in the Rocky ship development is allowing us to address Mountain Region and Rocky Mountain Re- the ever increasing number and complex- search Station of the US Forest Service. In ity of issues facing our nation’s forests and fiscal year 2006 our partners provided an grasslands. estimated $57 million of both direct and in- The stories provided on the following pages kind contributions. Our partners –universities, are outstanding examples of what can be tribes, non profit organizations, corporations, accomplished. Just as substantial are the state, local and federal governments and hundreds more examples from 2006 and the individuals have donated their valuable time, thousands of partners working with the For- expertise and financial resources. Built upon est Service. Every attempt has been made to trust, mutual respect and a shared vision list all of our partners in the Region. As part- these partnerships have accomplished much. nerships change, grow and expand, so does They have built, improved and maintained this list. For many more stories and a detailed trails; improved fire management, air quality list of additional partners go to the Rocky and water quality; reduced fire risk; restored Mountain Region (Region 2) Website at natural areas and; provided alternative en- www.fs.fed.us/r2/partnerships. ergy sources for schools. Join us in reading this report and experience Most importantly they have demonstrated the power of people working together. ingenuity and a commitment to the steward- ship of our forests and grasslands. 1 PARTNERS • Rocky Mountain Region Adesta Communications, Inc Colorado Division of Emergency Mgmt Colorado Water Conservation Board Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Colorado Division of Minerals and Geology Community Agriculture Alliance American Fisheries Society Colorado Division of Parks and Outdoor Continental Divide Trail Alliance American Forests Recreation Cortez Culture Center Army Corps of Engineers Colorado Division of Telecommunications Creede Repertory Theatre Atlantic City Historical Society Colorado Division of Wildlife Resources Denver Business College Badlands Natural History Association Colorado Energy Mgmt and Conservation Denver Institute of Technology Board of Trustees, Southern Illinois Colorado Fourteeners Initiative Ducks Unlimited, Inc University Colorado Geological Survey Ecological Society of America Cache La Poudre-North Park Scenic Byway Colorado Historical Society Ellsworth Air Force Base Council Colorado Mountain Club Federal Bureau of Investigation Center for Plant Conservation Colorado National Guard Federal Emergency Mgmt Agency/US Fire Central Federal Lands Highway Division Colorado Off-Highway Vehicle Coalition Administration Chadron State College Colorado Office of Archaeology and Historic Federal Emergency Management Agency City of Boulder, CO Wildland Fire Dept Preservation Fort Carson City of Douglas, WY - Historic Preservation Colorado Passenger Tramway Safety Board Fort Lewis College Commission Colorado Preservation Inc Front Range Earth Force Clear Creek County Colorado Public Utilities Commission Garna Colorado Water Conservation Board Colorado Rural Development Council General Services Administration Colorado Archaeological Society Colorado Ski Country USA Geological Society of America Colorado Avalanche Information Center Colorado Ski Museum/Colorado Ski Heritage GIS Institute Colorado Cattlemen’s Association Center Granary Memorial Gallery Inc Colorado Council for Professional Colorado Small Business Development Idaho Department of Fish and Game Archaeologists Centers Idaho Department of Lands Colorado Counties Inc Colorado State Forest Service Intermountain Forest Association Colorado Department of Agriculture Colorado State Historic Preservation Office Iowa State University Colorado Department of Natural Resources Colorado State University IT-National Information Technology Center Colorado Department of Public Health and Colorado Trail Foundation Jefferson County Airport Environment Colorado Wool Growers Association Kansas State University Colorado Department of Public Safety Colorado/Wyoming Society of American KN Energy/Western Gas Supply Co and Colorado Department of Transportation Foresters Questar Pipeline Company 2 Volunteers Complete, Maintain, and Restore the Colorado Trail Partnership Snapshot: Colorado Trail Program Highlights Partnership Provides Trail Maintenance and Recreation Benefits The Colorado Trail Foundation (CTF) works In 2006, the Colorado Trail benefited from with the Forest Service to provide a 500- the efforts of 779 volunteers who contributed Hikers, horseback riders, and mountain bikers mile non-motorized recreation trail between 18,035 hours and $325,531 worth of labor. all enjoy the Colorado Trail. The partnership Denver and Durango, Colorado. The trail between the Colorado Trail Foundation and CTF trail crews are teams of approximately traverses diverse ecosystems and eight moun- the Forest Service guarantees that this popu- 20 volunteers who work on weekend to tain ranges in the Colorado Rocky Moun- lar route receives regular care while giving week-long summer projects. Sixteen week- tains. Through volunteer programs and other volunteers opportunities for teamwork and long and five weekend volunteer trail crews partnerships, CTF develops, maintains, and outdoor experience in a positive social atmo- accomplished significant trail improvements. improves the Colorado Trail and trail corridor. sphere. These wonderful crews: The Forest Service manages the land base by State: