Poudre Heritage Alliance Archives | Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area

Feb 25

Press Release: 11th Annual Poudre River Forum Innovations and Trailblazers Shaping the Poudre River Watershed

By Rylyn Todd News, Press Releases

11^th Annual Poudre River Forum

Innovations and Trailblazers Shaping the Poudre River Watershed

GREELEY, Colo. (February 24, 2026) – As water challenges grow more complex across the Poudre River Basin, who is in the room matters. On March 6, voices from across the region will come together for the 11^th Annual Poudre River Forum, recognizing the people, places, actions, and discoveries that have shaped – and continue to shape – the basin for generations to come.

This conference offers a neutral space for discussion and idea generation in support of a healthy, working river, while fostering collaboration across disciplines. Attendees will engage with dynamic panels, network with water professionals, explore current Poudre River Basin initiatives, and connect with others who care about the river at exhibitor booths and a reception.

Hear it firsthand: Join Brad Wind, General Manager of Northern Water, and Gary Wockner, Executive Director of Save the Poudre, for a candid conversation about collaboration, compromise, and what it takes to move forward together.

Dale Trowbridge is the 2026 Poudre Pioneer Award recipient, an honor recognizing individuals or organizations who have made significant contributions towards making the Cache la Poudre River a premier example of a healthy, working river.

“If we stop talking, then differing viewpoints are not being understood,” Trowbridge said. “Resolution cannot happen. We MUST stay at the table. We MUST continue the conversation.”

“Trailblazers think outside the norm and demonstrate a commitment to a cause greater than themselves,” said Sabrina Stoker, Executive Director of the Cache NHA. “They see obstacles as a challenge to be solved and possess the courage to persevere.”

As a regional convenor, the Cache NHA is dedicated to collaborative efforts throughout the heritage area. The Poudre River Forum is an educational initiative of Poudre Runs Through It, a Cache NHA program, whose mission is dedicated to making the Poudre River the best example of a healthy, working river.

Event Details:

Where: Aims Community College Welcome Center
When: Friday, March 6
Time: 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Tickets: $60 | Ticket link.

This event is made possible thanks to the generous support of our sponsors, including Merrick & Company, City of Fort Collins Natural Areas, City of Greeley Water and Sewer, and Northern Water. For a full list of sponsors, please visit the event page.

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About the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area

The Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area is one of 62 National Heritage Areas in the U.S. As a partner of the National Park Service, Cache NHA promotes a variety of cultural and historical opportunities, engages visitors and residents in the river corridor, and inspires learning, preservation and stewardship. Through education, storytelling, and collaboration, the Cache NHA connects communities to their heritage. Learn more.

Jul 23

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National Endowment for the Humanities Funding Cuts Rock Colorado Humanities Statewide

By Rylyn Todd News

An article published in the Denver Westword on July 15, 2025, Kristen Fiore highlighted the implications of losing the National Endowment for the Humanities funding to Colorado humanities.

Colorado Humanities Organizations Scramble in Wake of Lost National Endowment of Humanities Funding

By Kristen Fiore | Denver Westword July 14, 2025

The National Endowment for the Humanities, which was established with the National Endowment for the Arts and passed by Congress in 1965, has been providing federal grants for humanities projects in Colorado for nearly sixty years and operating grants for Colorado Humanities since its founding in 1974, two years after Congress amended the statute to create state humanities councils.

Instead of receiving promised funds this year, though, many NEA and NEH grant winners received a vague email announcing that their funding would be rescinded as the federal agencies switch gears under the Trump administration. Unlike NEA grants, most NEH funding is paid out through multi-year grants, and the directive rescinded funds for projects in fiscal years 2021-2025. As a result, large chunks of the more than $11 million that would have been awarded to Colorado Humanities and other state organizations, such as universities and museums, suddenly disappeared.

Though some Colorado organizations had received part of their promised NEH funding before the April announcement, many are now scrambling for new financing and other ways to stay afloat.

To read about funding implications for other organizations such as Colorado Humanities, Denver Art Museum, and History Colorado Center, and to understand the broader impact on the arts and humanities in Colorado, read the full story here.

By Rylyn Todd | Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area

Local Impact of Funding Cuts

The Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area (Cache NHA), managed by the Poudre Heritage Alliance nonprofit, is a vital part of Northern Colorado, weaving tales of water development, management, and law over its 45-mile stretch. The PHA was slated to receive a $25,000 NEH grant for the project, “Interpretation Guru: Building Capacity for Effective Interpretation Across Cache NHA,” which was cut abruptly, leaving $6,000 in remaining project costs unfunded.

Sabrina Stoker, the Executive Director of the Poudre Heritage Alliance, notes the NEH funding cuts significantly affected organizations across the state, but the larger ramification for the PHA is the loss of federal appropriations from Congress.

“For us as a National Heritage Area, the devastating blow is that of the withholding of FY25 funding that has been appropriated by Congress with CR3 but is being withheld by the Office of Management and Budget and being zeroed out in the upcoming FY26 budget,” Stoker said. “There are three NHAs in Colorado who work to tell the Colorado experience and America’s stories: Cache la Poudre River, Sangre de Cristo, and South Park. Each year, Congress appropriates $500,000 to each of these NHAs, so that’s $1.5M in humanities funding cut in Colorado in areas that drive tourism and generate significant economic activity.”

Good News

In good news, just one week after the publication of that article, Congress has awarded the remaining FY25 funds to the Poudre Heritage Alliance and other National Heritage Areas across the country. National Heritage Areas were also included in the first draft of the FY26 budget in the Department of Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Appropriations Bill, 2026 (U.S. House of Represenatitives, 2025). There is still a long fight ahead as the federal funding landscape is constantly changing.

Save Your Heritage

The Alliance of National Heritage Areas, which represents all 62 National Heritage Areas in the United States designated by Congress, is actively advocating for the continuation of funds in Fiscal Year 2026.

We urge those in support of the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area’s mission to let their U.S. legislators know the importance of your National Heritage Area! Not sure how to contact your legislators? Use this tool to find your House and Senate representatives.

Save your heritage! You can help to close the funding gap by donating today. Your donation of any amount supports the Cache NHA’s efforts to provide free educational events to the public, community art shows, field trips for students, and historic preservation all while connecting people with their water heritage.

More Information

Left or Right; Do National Heritage Areas transcend political divides?

Frequently Asked Questions

Jun 09

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Capture the Cache Exhibition Event Summary

By Rylyn Todd Events

On Tuesday, June 3, the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area hosted the Capture the Cache Exhibition opening reception, an evening dedicated to art, culture, and community. The event was held from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm at Visit Fort Collins in Old Town.

Following the opening reception, the exhibit is free and open to the public for the month of June. It was also featured at First Friday Art Walk in June. All artwork is available for purchase.

All artwork and photography showcased in the juried exhibition highlight the fusion of art and heritage tourism, featuring pieces inspired by the agriculture, community, and climate of the Cache NHA. The jury panel comprised Marshall Floyd, Manager of the Visit Fort Collins Welcome Center; Tim O’Hara, a local photographer; and Amy Brackenbury Larson, a local artist. Attendees savored hors d’oeuvres, explored silent auction baskets, viewed the exhibit, and enjoyed live music. Visit the exhibit today to find out who won!

Plein air artists, Xavier Pereria and Jen Snow, from the Petrichor Collective showcased their talents outside on the patio, while Elyse Miller captivated the audience with her live guitar performance. The paintings were auctioned off at the end of the night.

Emeritus Honorees

Dr. Robert Ward was honored as an emeritus of the Cache NHA with a name plate on the perpetual plaque that marks the legacy of outstanding service. The perpetual plaque is on display at our office in the Eaton House at 130 N 5^th Street, Windsor, Colorado.

As the Director of the Colorado Water Center at Colorado State University from 1991 to 2005, Robert’s influence reached far and wide. Robert is also credited with founding the Water Resources Archive at CSU.

Robert’s interest and passion aligned well with the establishment of the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area. He served on the Board of Directors from 2001 to 2016. Robert was often learning new things about the Poudre River and finding ways to connect with others, both learning from them and sharing his knowledge. Robert has conducted numerous Pedaling the Poudre bike tours and presented an oral history of water development. Robert also volunteered his time, visiting with Northern Arapaho elders to learn about the significance of sites along the river and record oral histories.

Karen Scopel, long-standing board member, recalled Robert as a “kind and considerate person. Robert was always thoughtful, collaborative and passionate about the National Heritage Area. His enthusiasm for history is remarkable.”

”Dr. Robert Ward, A Gentleman and a Scholar. This phrase signifies a man of refinement, good manners, and intellectual pursuits.
Greg DeweyPHA Board Member

A heartfelt thank you to our sponsors who helped to make this event possible: Fort Collins Rotary, OtterCares, and Fort Fund, along with generous in-kind support from local businesses.

Jun 24

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Cache & Cocktails Event Summary

By Communications Events

On Thursday, June 20, the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area hosted Cache & Cocktails, an evening dedicated to art, culture, and community. The event was held from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm at Windsong Estate Event Center in Severance, CO.

Capture the Cache photo contest winners and participants were recognized during a celebratory evening of signature cocktails, hors d’oeuvers, and camaraderie. Cache NHA emeritus inductees were also honored for their service to the heritage area. A gallery of images were on display in a silent auction, available for purchase. There were gift baskets correlated to our photo contest categories (History Along the River Corridor, Outdoor Community Culture, and In Motion) auctioned off too. Thank you to the local businesses who supported the silent auction: Visit Fort Collins, Poudre Pet & Feed, Silver Grill, Old Firehouse Books, and Blue Credit Union.

Plein air artists, Kim Stenson and Laura Young, from the Thompson Valley Art League took to the outdoor patio for their incredible watercolor painting demonstration. They were joined by photo contest participant, Nicholas Fischer. All three paintings were auctioned off at the end of the night.

“It was lovely to meet other creative, nature-minded folks,” said Young. “What a cool event.”

Capture the Cache Winners

The annual Capture the Cache photo contest celebrates the natural beauty, culture, and heritage of the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area. Winning images offer a snapshot of what makes the heritage area unique and important. View the full 2024 participant gallery here.

Grand Prize Winner | By John Bartholow

History Along the River Corridor

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By Nicholas Fischer | 1st Place

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A dry, frozen irrigation ditch with a historic headgate along the Pleasant Valley Canal near West Vine Drive in Fort Collins, Colorado. By Nina Judson | 2nd Place Capture the Cache Exhibition

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By Terry Walsh | 3rd Place

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By Dennis Wentz | Honorable Mention

Outdoor Community Culture

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By David Davis | 1st Place

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By Dave Cho | 2nd Place

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By Kristin McCandless | 3rd Place

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By David Kemp | Honorable Mention

In Motion

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By Caleb Stewart | 1st Place

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By Kristen Hayes | 2nd Place

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By Dave Cho | 3rd Place

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By Tim Ohara | Honorable Mention

Emeritus Honorees

During the event, emeriti were recognized and honored for their services to heritage area. Emeriti are individuals who have served the Poudre Heritage Alliance, the nonprofit managing entity of the Cache NHA, and the heritage area with distinction, excellence, and outstanding service. The unveiling of the new perpetual plaque marks the legacy of the outstanding service of each emeritus member. Two of the individuals named on the plaque were in attendance: Dick Maxfield and Brian Werner.

“The plaque will be on permanent display in our office,” said Executive Director, Sabrina Stoker. “On behalf of the Poudre Heritage Alliance, we express our most sincere gratitude to your service and continued support.”

The evening’s honoree, Brian Werner, testified before Congress in 1995 in support of the S. 342 the Cache la Poudre River National Water Heritage Area. His testimony was a crucial step in securing designation for the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area. Werner was an original appointee to the Poudre Heritage Alliance Board from 2001 to 2016.

”"As a founding member of what became the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area, I have a true soft spot for everything Cache NHA is about and am truly honored to be receiving the Emeritus Award. The Poudre River is such a wonderful natural resource and a real lifeline for the region. We should celebrate all this river is about."
Brian Werner

Feb 19

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Volunteer of the Month: Deborah Shulman

By Poudre Heritage Alliance News

Q: Tell us about your path to water activism

A: I began participating in water activism in 2015 by joining the League of Women Voters water and environmental group and the Larimer County Parks Advisory Board where I still serve, but my journey started with the High Park Fire.

I watched on national media outlets as the fire fighters battled the fire and the helicopter made a wall of water between my house and the fire.

Our house and property are located on a steep hillside and we have a limited water supply from our well. We have run out. I have learned to manage water, how to conserve and be efficient and even grow vegetables and fruit.

Water is a precious limited resource that we all need and have to negotiate. I have participated in deliberation and water facilitation workshops and learned how to have conversation surrounding tough water issues toward resolution.

It was at the Poudre River Forum where the Poudre Heritage Alliance is a sponsor that I first heard how the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area recognizes water and beneficial use from different vantage points – agricultural, industrial, municipal, environmental and recreation.

There is conversation. There is collaboration. That is what motivated me to become a Poudre Heritage Culturalist and to teach others about water and history.

Q: Why did you become a volunteer with the Poudre Heritage Alliance?

A: I believe in the power of stories and history to teach fundamental lessons and guide us going forward. The events that led to Prior Appropriation and its subsequent adoption into Colorado water law along with national and global impacts, resonate in this day of polarized politics, gridlock and inability to work together for the common good.

The men from the Union Colony and Fort Collins that arrived at the Eaton School House on their horses, with their tents and guns were angry. Union Colony had built ditches, it’s community and economy around the Poudre River. Fort Collins had grown and also needed the water. Then the water dried up.

What happened in that school house is nothing short of remarkable. It taught me the power of conversation and collaboration to solve our issues for the common good. We have to know what we want and what we are willing to give up to get to a point of resolution.

Conversation and collaboration are not easy and we have to keep coming back to the table even when the going gets hard and tempers flare.

This is what I bring to my participation the Poudre River Forum committee and our approach to water education. Everyone loves the Poudre River. We all need and want water. Now let’s talk.

The Poudre River Forum is on February 28 and the topic is Quality Collaborations (water quality). Please join us.

Q: When you aren’t supporting PHA as a volunteer, what do you like to do for “fun”?

A: It’s all about water. I spend winters cross country skiing – classic, skate, trail, backcountry, and telemark.

In the warmer months, I swim, bike, run, hike and grow food. I also have a touring kayak and enjoy paddling on Horsetooth Reservoir near my home.

I am on the committee for the Horsetooth Swim races.

Q: When did you decide to run for Larimer County Commissioner?

A: It was a direct result of my participation in water issues and the Poudre Heritage Alliance. I was in a small group deliberation workshop surrounding NISP and how to have constructive dialogue around contentious issues. I wanted to know about how these cities were managing water and if there was a focus on conservation and efficiency.

I asked, “How can I influence water and land use policy?” or “How do we get a regional water treatment plant?”. The answer was to become county commissioner.

To learn more about the 2020 Candidates for Larimer County Commissioner, check out this article from the Coloradoan.

To learn how you can volunteer with the Poudre Heritage Alliance, please contact Jordan Williams at admin@poudreheritage.org or visit our website: https://poudreheritage.org/heritage-culturalist-volunteers/

Feb 14

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Poudre Heritage Alliance Hosting 3rd Annual Poudre Pour: An Educational Celebration of the Poudre River

By Communications News

The Poudre Heritage Alliance (PHA), in partnership with the Town of Windsor and 16 local brewers and distillers, is hosting the 3rd Annual Poudre Pour – an educational celebration of the Cache la Poudre River – on Saturday, March 28 from 2:00-6:00PM at the Boardwalk Park in Windsor, Colorado. Tickets to the family-friendly event include beer tastings, coffees and non-alcoholic beverages; complimentary paired appetizers at each beer and beverage booth; history and heritage activities; a silent auction; live Blues music with the award-winning Grace Kuch Band; educational speakers and more. Event information and tickets at www.poudreheritage.org/poudre-pour

Water from the Poudre River has nourished our region for centuries. Today, the Poudre and other rivers in the West are under exceptional stress due to growing populations, drought, and other demands on our water supplies. The Poudre Heritage Alliance raises awareness about water issues and connects people to their water heritage through a variety of year-round programs and events such as the Poudre Pour.

“The Poudre Pour is a unique community event that brings together people from all walks of life and from all over Northern Colorado to celebrate the Cache la Poudre River,” said Kathleen Benedict, Poudre Heritage Alliance Executive Director. “The educational activities and speakers will help bring an understanding of water law and our water heritage to guests.”

“We care deeply about the Poudre River. I grew up playing in and on it, and only in adulthood came to realize how much we and downstream neighbors rely on its abundance and health.” Said Carol Cochran, owner of Horse & Dragon Brewing Company. “For our product, delicious craft beer, a healthy watershed is vital. For all of us in our community, this beautiful river is at the root of what drew us here and is the thread that connects us all.”

Poudre Pour attendees will enjoy beverage tastings from breweries and distillers spanning the National Heritage Area, including Odell Brewing, Horse & Dragon, High Hops, Weldwerks, Gilded Goat, Intersect, Maxline, Snowbank, Rally King, New Belgium, Mighty River, Mash Lab, Red Truck Beer Co., Timnath Beerwerks, Wiley Roots, and CopperMuse Distillery. Attendees can also enjoy coffees from Human Bean. Water from the Poudre River nourishes the healthy farm produce that will be used by Z Catering to craft tasty appetizers made with local beers and spirits. This year kids 16 years old and under receive FREE admission to the event with a paying adult. The all-inclusive tickets for people 17 years and older range from $20-$40, and they can be purchased online at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/3rd-annual-poudre-pour-tickets-74729230139

poudre pour 2020 brewers and distillers

In the event’s third year, the Boardwalk Park in Windsor will serve as the backdrop for the family-friendly event, offering guests access to a beautiful outdoor space and a variety of historic buildings important to the heritage and history of the area, including the Whitehall schoolhouse, a train depot, a German farmhouse, and a beet shack. Attendees can dance to the music of 16 year-old Blues phenom Grace Kuch and her electric Blues band; engage in a “Heritage Trail” scavenger hunt; bid on silent auction items such as a week in Steamboat or a craft beer goodies basket; and participate in hands-on educational activities in each of the four 19^th century cabins located at the Park.

The educational theme of the 3^rd Annual Poudre Pour will be “The National Heritage Area: Discovering Your River.” The signature educational happenings of the day will include various speakers discussing the importance of water within the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area and how PHA informs the community, region, state, and nation through its projects and programs. The educational speakers will include Tim Cochran, Owner of Horse & Dragon Brewing; Matt Robineault, Executive Director of the Fort Collins Downtown Development Authority; Yufna Soldierwolf, former Director of the Northern Arapaho Tribal Historic Preservation Office; Julie Chacon, Executive Director of the Sangre de Cristo National Heritage Area; and Jep Enck, Executive Director of the Poudre River Trust.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Poudre Heritage Alliance, the 501(c)3 managing nonprofit of the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area. The Poudre Heritage Alliance works to PROMOTE a variety of historical and cultural opportunities, ENGAGE people in their river corridor and INSPIRE learning, preservation, and stewardship.

Jan 15

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Volunteer of the Month: Robert Ward

By Communications News

Photo: Robert Ward leads a Peadling the Poudre bike tour, sharing his extensive water knowledge with guests.

In 2005, Robert Ward completed 14 years as Director of the Colorado Water Resources Research Institute, located on the Colorado State University campus (CSU). In his research administration role, he served terms as President of the National Institutes for Water Resources and the Universities Council on Water Resources (UCOWR). His 35-year career on the CSU Engineering faculty involved teaching courses in systems analysis methods, water quality monitoring and management, and engineering design. His work on water quality management and monitoring sent him around the world, to places like New Zealand and The Netherlands. In January 2006, he also was awarded Honorary Life Membership in the Colorado Water Congress, recognizing his work in connecting university-based water research to the solution of practical day-to-day water management problems.

Besides consulting and professional society activities, retirement for Robert includes hiking, biking, reading, gardening, raising funds for the CSU Water Resources Archives, and serving as a current Heritage Culturalist Volunteer (and former Board Member) for the Poudre Heritage Alliance (PHA), a group that seeks to inform the general public about the development of western water law and technology, using the Poudre River as a classic example.

Robert supports PHA programs and events by leading Pedaling the Poudre bike tours and providing well-researched interpretation for PHA’s Heritage Trails initiative. Robert’s expertise and involvement with the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage is invaluable and very much appreciated!

Dec 18

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2019 Year-In-Review

By Communications News

Thank you for a wonderful year! The Poudre Heritage Alliance was able to reach thousands of people within the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area, promoting heritage and culture, engaging citizens in the river corridor, and inspiring learning, preservation and stewardship. We look forward to continuing this work in 2020. We hope you will join us in these efforts! To make a year-end donation to the PHA please click here.

poudre heritage alliance 2019 year in review

OUR MISSION: The Poudre Heritage Alliance serves the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area, providing current and future generations the opportunity to understand and celebrate the area by careful planning and facilitation of educational programs and related amenities in collaboration with residents, private sector and government entities.

Sep 09

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Poudre Heritage Alliance Honors Senator Wayne Allard and Dr. Richard Bond at 2nd Annual Emeritus Dinner

By Communications News

Senator Cory Gardner, Emeritus honorees Senator Wayne Allard and Dr. Richard Bond, and 2018 PHA Emeritus Richard C. Maxfield (Photo credit: Sara Capen)

The Poudre Heritage Alliance (PHA), managing nonprofit of the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area (CALA), honored Senator Wayne Allard and Dr. Richard Bond at the 2nd Annual Emeritus Dinner this past Saturday, September 7^th, for their outstanding service to the PHA and the National Heritage Area.

PHA Emeritus are selected from those individuals who have served the Poudre Heritage Alliance and/or the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area with distinction and excellence and considered deserving of this role for outstanding service. Board members emeritus may have been on the PHA Board of Directors or engaged in major volunteer or advocacy activities in his or her service to the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area.

Dr. Richard Bond was a former Board Member of the Poudre Heritage Alliance and was integral in the organization and creation of the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area, the first Heritage Area to be designated west of the Mississippi. Dr. Bond was introduced by 2018 PHA Emeritus honoree Richard Maxfield, also a former board member of the PHA.

With his sponsorship of the Cache la Poudre River Corridor Act in 1996, the precursor to the legislation that created the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area, Senator Allard was instrumental in the creation of the CALA. He was introduced by his former legislative aide, Senator Cory Gardner. Speaking about the CALA, Senator Gardner said, “We can protect our truly special places by working together with communities of different needs and different interests to bring them together, and with community input we can find a way to protect and preserve the most precious places among us.”

During his acceptance speech, Senator Allard said, “The Poudre River has a reputation. It appeals to all sorts of interests, recreational interests, hunters and fisherman, it appeals to the economies of Greeley and Fort Collins because the water there has contributed to their urban growth. And, also, because it has environmental concerns. And what they [PHA] are trying to do is to bring together a balanced effort and that’s one of the main reasons that I went on ahead and got involved with that particular piece of legislation.”

The event program for the Emeritus Dinner consisted of introductions by colleagues and friends of the PHA, with special awards being given to each of the honorees. The presentations and speeches were recorded for historical archiving purposes.

Several Larimer and Weld County business leaders and commissioners, Greeley, Fort Collins, Windsor and Timnath municipal leaders, and Colorado State University and University of Northern Colorado faculty and Board of Regents attended the dinner. Other leaders in attendance included Maria Secrest, Regional Director for Senator Cory Gardner, Sara Capen, Alliance of National Heritage Areas Chair, and the National Park Service’s Intermountain Regional Director of National Heritage Areas, Alexandra Hernandez. The emcee for the evening was Town of Windsor Open Space & Trail Manager and current PHA Board Chairman, Wade Willis. For the full list of PHA’s current Board of Directors please visit www.poudreheritage.org/board

For pictures and video from the event or for more information about PHA and CALA, please contact Megan Maiolo-Heath at the Poudre Heritage Alliance Office: 970-295-4851.

Sep 05

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Poudre Heritage Alliance Receives “Friends of Preservation” Award

By Communications News

The Ross Proving-Up House at it’s new location at The Farm at Lee Martinez Park in Fort Collins.

The Poudre Heritage Alliance was honored on Tuesday evening with a “Friends of Preservation Award” from the City of Fort Collins for “Outstanding Preservation of Historic Resources” for our work on the preservation of the Ross Proving-Up House, a project to stabilize, repair, paint and move the historic structure to The Farm at Lee Martinez Park (600 N. Sherwood) in Fort Collins. Other partners on the project included the City of Fort Collins Recreation Department, City of Fort Collins Parks Department, Ethan Cozzens, and Empire Carpentry.

James Ross just before leaving Scotland. (Image from the Fort Collins Archive #S01532.)

The house, constructed by Scotsman James Ross in 1891, was built to meet the size qualifications under the 1862 Homestead Act of 10 feet by 12 feet. The 1862 Homestead Act encouraged settlers to claim 160 acres of land owned by the U.S. government. The only stipulation was that the settlers live on and improve the land. After a minimum of five years, they could pay a small fee, apply for a patent and receive title to the land. This is how much of the vast United States prairie was settled.

Meg Dunn, a Historian at Northern Colorado History, writes, “Because of the tremendous amount of work that was necessary to put the land under cultivation, families often built a small, simple structure to live in until a point when they could spend more time and resources on building a larger house. This small building (Today we’d likely call it a shack.) was referred to as the “proving up” house because it was a step in proving up for the land.”

To learn more about this historic building please visit this great blog post from NOCO History: https://www.northerncoloradohistory.com/james-ross-proving-up-house/

Aug 19

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Volunteer of the Month: Kenton Daubert

By Communications News

Our work would not be possible without the volunteers that donate their valuable time, talents and energy to making our programs successful. Thank you to each and every person that has become a part of the Poudre Heritage Alliance family through volunteering. Now, please meet Kenton Daubert, our Volunteer of the Month!

Hello to everyone! My name is Kenton Daubert and I reside in Greeley, CO. I got involved at Poudre Heritage Alliance as a Heritage Culturalist while attending a presentation at Farr Library in November 2016 about the Volga German – Russian immigration, which I am a descendant. There was a slip of paper on a table about PHA which I thought that I would enjoy being a part of. Jordan contacted me in April 2018 and asked if I would be interested in being a part of PHA. I replied “Yes I am”. I was fortunate by being given an opportunity to be an intern from May 17, 2018 until March 30, 2019. At that time Jordan informed me that PHA would be happy to have me continue as a volunteer. Since then I have been serving in this capacity.

Reasons I enjoy working with PHA are there is so much to learn concerning the culture of this area. Water is a very important concern to everyone in the world. I recommend that if a person can attend the West Slope and East Slope tours that Northern Water provides to do so. They are highly informational! I have attended many Pub Talks and have learned lots about the Poudre River from the early days of colonization on up to the present time. I enjoy meeting the people that I have met by being involved with PHA. Everyone has a history and many talents.

Take care everyone and enjoy life!

Your friend,

Kenton Daubert

To learn more about volunteer opportunities with the Poudre Heritage Alliance please contact Andy Auer, PHA Volunteer Coordinator, at programs@poudreheritage.org.

Jul 25

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Press Release: Buckingham Neighborhood Outreach Project Will Help to Preserve the History and Heritage of Historical Fort Collins Neighborhood

By Communications News

NEWS RELEASE

July 25, 2019

For immediate release; for more information, contact:

Megan Maiolo-Heath, Communications Coordinator

Poudre Heritage Alliance

Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area

970.295.4851

communications@poudreheritage.org

Buckingham Neighborhood Outreach Project Will Help to Preserve the History and Heritage of Historical Fort Collins Neighborhood

FORT COLLINS, Colo. – Working with volunteers from Colorado State University’s El Centro, and with support from New Belgium Brewing Company, the Poudre Heritage Alliance (PHA) is launching a coordinated effort to gather stories from residents living in the Buckingham neighborhood, located just northeast of Old Town, Fort Collins, an area with a rich history important to the City of Fort Collin’s story.

The Buckingham, Alta Vista and Andersonville neighborhoods were a product of the sugar beet industry, an economic empire that emerged in Colorado at the turn of the twentieth century. These neighborhoods supplied laborers to the sprawling sugar beet factory and the surrounding sugar beet fields. Germans from Russia (Volga Germans) and Latinx families lived in the Buckingham neighborhood and worked in the sugar beet fields and factory. Both groups faced forms of discrimination for many decades, even being denied service in some Fort Collins stores.

“All our voices matter, and we would appreciate capturing these stories,” said Dr. Guadalupe Salazar, Director of El Centro at Colorado State University and who grew up in the Buckingham Neighborhood. “We want to be inclusive and appreciate the diversity in this neighborhood. We have to accept this history so we can heal and move forward.”

To prepare Latinx and Volga German volunteers to canvas the Buckingham neighborhood on August 14, Erika Reyes Martinez (Director of Communications & Community Engagement at the Denver Public Library) will lead a training session hosted by PHA at New Belgium Brewing Company on August 8, 2019 from 9am-1pm.

The project will culminate in a neighborhood open house on September 19, from 4-7pm at the Fort Collins Streets Facility (625 9th St., Fort Collins, CO), where more stories will be collected and recorded while bringing together community members of diverse backgrounds.

The goals of the project are to 1) Collect stories from families that have lived in this neighborhood for multiple generations; 2) Create audio and video documentation of the neighborhood’s history; 3) Create a gateway feature and historic marker along the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area’s Heritage Trail; 4) Preserve an important history from a community that has often been left out of the Fort Collins story.

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ABOUT THE CACHE LA POUDRE RIVER NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA & THE POUDRE HERITAGE ALLIANCE

The Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area (CALA) is one of 55 National Heritage Areas (NHA) in the United States. NHAs are places where natural, cultural, historic, and scenic resources combine to form a cohesive, nationally distinctive landscape arising from patterns of human activity shaped by geography. CALA stretches 45 miles along the curves and bends of the hard-working Poudre River from the eastern border of the rugged Roosevelt National Forest, down through the blossoming cities of Fort Collins, Windsor, and Greeley, until the vital water resource joins with the South Platte River in the Colorado eastern plains.

As the managing organization behind CALA, the Poudre Heritage Alliance (PHA) serves the local communities of Larimer and Weld County by building a deeper understanding of the Poudre River’s national significance as it relates to water law and water management. PHA and CALA bring together residents, private organizations, and government entities behind this common goal, while also enticing tourists with the recreational, environmental, and historical points of interest throughout the Heritage Area. PHA programs and initiatives that support these efforts include volunteer trainings, grant-funded projects, and outreach events that help educate people about water history and the importance of the Poudre River corridor today.

For more information about PHA or CALA, please contact Megan Maiolo-Heath, Communications Coordinator at communications@poudreheritage.org or 970-295-4851.

ABOUT EL CENTRO

The mission of El Centro is to provide support for the Latinx community at Colorado State University (CSU) and Fort Collins. We do this by encouraging student engagement, academic success, cultural pride, empowerment, and volunteer/leadership opportunities. We strive to promote an inclusive environment that focuses on awareness and understanding of the Latinx experience.

For more information please contact Dr. Guadalupe Salazar, Director, at 970.491.5722 or visit http://www.elcentro.colostate.edu/

Jul 11

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Guest Blog: Nothing comes from nothing

By Communications News

My name’s Andy Auer, and I’m the new volunteer coordinator for the Poudre Heritage Alliance. I’m 24, and my pronouns are they/them/theirs. I’m going to be helping Jordan out at the office and at various PHA tabling events – I hope to get to know all of our amazing volunteers, hopefully sooner than later!

I grew up in southern California, and moved to Colorado in 2013, when I started school at Colorado State University. I graduated in May 2017, with a BS in geology and a minor in history. During my time at CSU, I was highly involved in various student organizations, including Geology Club, Gender Identity Group, and Prism (a group for LGBT+ students), as well as serving as an ASCSU senator for the Pride Resource Center in my senior year. I value these experiences for how they’ve strengthened my communication skills, as well as enabling me to take on further responsibilities and opportunities.

After graduating, I’ve continued my involvement in the Fort Collins community, and am currently the president of the Fort Collins Running Club and on the board of NoCo Equality, as well as working in Fort Collins and Livermore, CO.

I completed Heritage Culturalist Volunteer training with PHA in 2018, and I’m excited to be contributing more to the organization in the role of Volunteer Coordinator.

The study and interpretation of history is really important to me. One of my history professors at CSU was fond of saying “nothing comes from nothing” – meaning that who and where we are today is built atop everything that’s come before. In geology, we took that rather more literally, but still found it to be true. The Poudre Heritage Alliance is an interesting place to work, because we are always trying to focus on how the history of the area has led to our present, and how best we can continue interpreting that history into the future.

The Cache la Poudre National Heritage Area is at the intersection of many different communities, and has been since before recorded history. I’m looking forward to working with the Poudre Heritage Alliance volunteers to expand the general public’s knowledge of the Cache la Poudre National Heritage Area. I’m also excited about learning more about its history and engaging with the National Heritage Area’s stakeholders as they discuss, debate, and make plans for its current and future management.

Jul 02

Love0

Guest Blog: Life is a journey that leads us to parts unknown

By Communications News

by Vanessa Villegas Selwyn, PhD

I grew up in a southwest border town less than an hour drive from Juarez, Mexico. Las Cruces, New Mexico, is an area is rich with Latinx (Mexican) and Native American history and culture. As a child, I was exposed to my mothers Mexican and Native American heritage alongside my father’s Jewish and German heritage. Being multicultural with several intersecting identities has led me to champion diversity. Recently, I have served as president to Todos Juntos (Latinx Graduate Group), a founding member of Graduate Students of Color, a Diversity Coordinator for the Colorado State University Graduate School, the advisor to QWEEN (Queer Women Engaged in an Encouraging Nexus) and taken part in a plethora of multicultural events. Throughout my journey, I have striven to promote and support diversity while initiating inclusive policies.

Fort Collins became my home in 2011. I came to Fort Collins to pursue a PhD at Colorado State University. My interest in science and learning lead me to gain a Bachelor of Science in Biology, a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, a Master in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Multicultural Education and Secondary Science Education. My drive to better understand our world lead me to successfully pursue a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology with an emphasis in Molecular, Cellular, and Integrative Neurosciences. My love of science is not limited to the microscopic, it encompasses the full range of nature and humanity.

My time in the community has led me to appreciate the impact of the Cache la Poudre River on the culture of Fort Collins. I’m eager to learn more about the Cache la Poudre River and surrounding areas in my position at the Poudre Heritage Alliance. Additionally, I’m excited to join the Poudre Heritage Alliance’s project to enriching our knowledge of the Cache la Poudre River with the histories of the diverse local community. I am grateful to join the Poudre Heritage Alliance to have the opportunity to bring my passion for diversity, keen inquiring mind, and love of Fort Collins together.

We are really excited to welcome Vanessa to the Poudre Heritage Alliance (PHA) staff! She will be with us through 2019, helping PHA with administrative tasks, marketing and communications, as well as translations. You can reach Vanessa by email at intern@poudreheritage.org.

May 12

Love0

4 Fun Mother’s Day Adventures in the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area

By Communications News

Take your mom on a Mother’s Day adventure she will never forget! (Photo by Gabriele Woolever)

Happy Mother’s Day to all the beautiful mommas out there! It’s a wonderful time of year in Northern Colorado to get outside and enjoy the outdoors as a family. The Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area (CALA) has some incredible natural, cultural and historical resources that make a Mother’s Day Adventure possible for the entire family.

Check out some of the ideas we have put together for your family this Mother’s Day:

Bike the Poudre Trail! PHA’s Pedaling the Poudre program has some great self-guided routes that are appropriate for all skill levels!
Get wet in the river or take a stroll down the Poudre Trail, while remembering to Play It Safe.
Head to Picnic Rock for a beautiful family lunch on the river.
Take mom to River Bluffs Open Space for a nature hike and some birding. Bring your binoculars! The Poudre River Trail at River Bluffs Open Space connects to 21 beautiful miles of trail running southeast through wildlife areas and parks.

About Poudre Heritage Alliance

The goal of the Poudre Heritage Alliance (PHA) is through interpretive and educational programming and media to build a deeper understanding of the Poudre River’s national significance including its role in influencing water development, water law, and water management.

May 02

Love0

Poudre Heritage Alliance Collaborates to Improve Poudre River Ecosystem Health

By Communications News

A new fish ladder (left side) on the Poudre River at the Bellvue-Watson State Wildlife Area & Watson Lake will reconnect more than 2 miles of the Poudre River, improving ecosystem health and fish habitat (Photo by Jordan Williams).

On May 1, 2019, Poudre Heritage Alliance (PHA) staff joined with partners and community members at a ribbon cutting ceremony for the completion of a new fish ladder at the Bellvue-Watson State Wildlife Area and Watson Lake. The new structure helps to connect fragmented sections of the Poudre River and improve aquatic habitat for fish.

This fish ladder will help the following species:
· Longnose dace
· Longnose suckers
· White suckers
· Brown trout
· Rainbow trout

“Outside of the benefits to aquatic life, this project is important as it showcases the feasibility of fish passage at these large diversion structures and will hopefully further momentum for these types of projects,” said CPW Aquatic Biologist Kyle Battige. “It also serves as an example of the collaboration and team effort from multiple entities that these large-scale conservation projects will have to have in order to be successful in today’s world.”

Kathleen Benedict, Executive Director of the Poudre Heritage Alliance, helps to unveil the new fish ladder at Watson Lake.

PHA will provide a grant to fund the interpretive signage at the site of the fish ladder to help tell the story of water management in the area and how diversion structures still have many uses today, including for agricultural users like project partners Morning Fresh Dairy and Noosa.

Signage and interpretation is an important educational program of the Poudre Heritage Alliance. By supporting facility enhancements along the trails, the Cache la Poudre River NHA will continue to be a premiere local and national attraction as the trail corridor truly becomes a cohesive Heritage Trail.

We hope this will be the first of many fish ladders along the Poudre River that can help to improve the health of the river’s ecosystem.

This project was made possible by Colorado Parks & Wildlife (CPW), along with funding partners noosa yoghurt, Northern Water, Morning Fresh Dairy, Poudre Heritage Alliance and Trout Unlimited.

For more information about PHA and this project please contact Megan Maiolo-Heath, Communications Coordinator, at communications@poudreheritage.org.

Poudre Heritage Alliance

Press Release: 11th Annual Poudre River Forum Innovations and Trailblazers Shaping the Poudre River Watershed

National Endowment for the Humanities Funding Cuts Rock Colorado Humanities Statewide

Colorado Humanities Organizations Scramble in Wake of Lost National Endowment of Humanities Funding

Local Impact of Funding Cuts

Good News

Save Your Heritage

More Information

Left or Right; Do National Heritage Areas transcend political divides?

Frequently Asked Questions

Capture the Cache Exhibition Event Summary

Emeritus Honorees

Cache & Cocktails Event Summary

Capture the Cache Winners

Grand Prize Winner | By John Bartholow

History Along the River Corridor

Outdoor Community Culture

In Motion

Emeritus Honorees

Volunteer of the Month: Deborah Shulman

Poudre Heritage Alliance Hosting 3rd Annual Poudre Pour: An Educational Celebration of the Poudre River

Volunteer of the Month: Robert Ward

2019 Year-In-Review

Poudre Heritage Alliance Honors Senator Wayne Allard and Dr. Richard Bond at 2nd Annual Emeritus Dinner

Poudre Heritage Alliance Receives “Friends of Preservation” Award

The Ross Proving-Up House at it’s new location at The Farm at Lee Martinez Park in Fort Collins.

Volunteer of the Month: Kenton Daubert

Press Release: Buckingham Neighborhood Outreach Project Will Help to Preserve the History and Heritage of Historical Fort Collins Neighborhood

Guest Blog: Nothing comes from nothing

Guest Blog: Life is a journey that leads us to parts unknown

4 Fun Mother’s Day Adventures in the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area

Take your mom on a Mother’s Day adventure she will never forget! (Photo by Gabriele Woolever)

About Poudre Heritage Alliance

The goal of the Poudre Heritage Alliance (PHA) is through interpretive and educational programming and media to build a deeper understanding of the Poudre River’s national significance including its role in influencing water development, water law, and water management.

Poudre Heritage Alliance Collaborates to Improve Poudre River Ecosystem Health

A new fish ladder (left side) on the Poudre River at the Bellvue-Watson State Wildlife Area & Watson Lake will reconnect more than 2 miles of the Poudre River, improving ecosystem health and fish habitat (Photo by Jordan Williams).

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