Conservation Corner: Understanding Eagle County’s conservation priorities
If you were to look into the minds of your neighbors and pinpoint their primary concerns about local natural resources, what would you guess? Water and wildfire likely come to mind, but what about issues like noxious weeds or soil health?
While these are pressing matters, the question remains — are your neighbors aware of them, and do they even care?
Last summer the Eagle County Conservation District took a proactive step to understand the pulse of Eagle County residents. Determined to grasp their priorities regarding the protection and management of both private and public landscapes, Eagle County Conservation District commissioned a public opinion survey targeted at local landowners. The aim was clear: to gain insights into the conservation concerns that resonate most with the community.
But why go through the trouble of conducting such a survey?
As a Title 35 Special District, Eagle County Conservation District holds the responsibility of representing landowners and water rights holders in Eagle County, and connects the community with conservation practices tailored to the local environment. Eagle County Conservation District can also advocate on behalf of its landowners, providing a unified voice of conservation concerns and priorities, unveiled in the survey results.
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Wildfire mitigation topped the list, with 74% of respondents indicating it as a top resource concern. Beyond protecting homes, addressing this concern also serves to mitigate environmental degradation caused by intense fires, safeguard our watershed, and alleviate the economic impact of fire events.
Unsurprisingly, water emerged as another headline concern, with 71% of respondents indicating a desire for more county-wide efforts aimed at reducing water use and enhancing drought resilience. This issue is not new to Western residents, and as the region experiences aridification and population growth, innovative water conservation strategies become essential for preserving the land for future generations.
A concern that might fly under the radar but is crucial nonetheless is the prevalence of noxious weeds. Ranking as the third-highest issue, 70% of respondents expressed worry about noxious weeds and called for increased efforts in eradication and revegetation. Noxious weeds, being non-native and aggressive, replace native vegetation, reduce agricultural productivity, cause wind and water erosion, and pose an increased threat to communities from wildfire.
Are we starting to see a pattern here?
These top three resource concerns are interconnected, necessitating holistic and integrated approaches for effective solutions. Ignoring the complexity of our ecosystem and focusing on one issue at a time is akin to treating symptoms rather than addressing root causes.
By sharing these survey results, Eagle County Conservation District aims to spark ongoing conversations about the community’s priorities and to build partnerships that address these concerns comprehensively. Going forward, Eagle County Conservation District plans to work with community partners, agencies and stakeholders to create adaptive and resilient solutions to the issues we face, expand upon existing programming to incorporate public concerns and to seek state and federal funding that can be channeled into the community for years to come.
By understanding our neighbors’ concerns, we not only gain insights into pressing conservation issues but also acknowledge the community’s pivotal role in shaping collaborative efforts to preserve Eagle County’s natural heritage.
Allegra Waterman-Snow is a technician for the Eagle County Conservation District, which is committed to preserving and restoring natural resources by collaborating, educating, and cooperating for conservation. For more information, visit EagleCountyCD.com or contact allegra.eaglecountycd@gmail.com.