The agreement provides funding to colorado natural heritage program

This Cooperative Agreement award from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) under the Regional Wetland Program Development Grants (CFDA 66.461) provides $354,256 in funding to Colorado State University (CSU) to complete the following key products and services:

1. Develop a Quality Assurance Project Plan, progress reports, and a final report to ensure project compliance and document progress.
2. Update the National Wetland Inventory (NWI) mapping for the Colorado Front Range region.
3. Assess the condition and vulnerability of wetlands along the Front Range urban corridor.
4. Develop outreach materials and partnerships to increase stakeholder and decision-maker understanding of Front Range wetland location, condition, and ecological value.

The anticipated outcomes of this 2-year project include improved wetland data and mapping, more effective wetland management and preservation, and enhanced public awareness about the importance of Front Range wetlands. The intended beneficiaries are the State of Colorado and its residents.

Specifically, the recipient will with complete national wetland inventory (NWI) mapping, a wetland assessment, and outreach about the front range wetlands' greatest trends and needs.activities:the activities include 1) develop a quality assurance project plan (qapp), produce progress reports and a final report 2) update NWO mapping 3) assess vulnerable wetlands and 4) develop outreach materials and partnerships. Subrecipient:no subawards are included in this assistance agreement.outcomes:the anticipated deliverables include - qapp, progress reports and a final report - updated 2025 national wetland inventory mapping - front range vulnerable wetland level 1 and level 2 wetland condition assessment - final report and professional meeting presentation on front range vulnerable wetland location, condition, and social values - storymap about front range wetlands - development of cnhp outreach capacity for front range wetlands through development of outreach social media and website content, web tool tutorial updates, cnhp staff trainings, urban partnership building, and wetland outreach trainings and field days. The expected outcomes include: - accountability for project compliance with federal regulations - regular reporting on project progress - increased knowledge of project goal through interim and final reports - updated wetland national wetland inventory (NWI) and riparian mapping data layers and display on the cnhp wetland mapper mapping tool will significantly improve: the coverage and accuracy of current mapping, state regulatory and scientific research capacity, and the knowledge of locations of vulnerable wetlands along the front range urban corridor and the associated preservation of wetland quantity and quality. - more effective and strategic wetland management, wetland impact minimization, and informed stewardship decisions will be possible, due to more accurate data on front range wetland types and locations. - outreach will increase stakeholder and decisionmaker understanding of wetland location and ecologic condition for the front range urban corridor region. The intended beneficiaries include the state of colorado and its residents.