Landlines by Colorado Open Lands

Protecting shortgrass prairie with Southern Plains Land Trust

In this episode, Landlines travels to Pueblo, Colorado to the home of Dr. Henry Pollock and Dr. Judith Westveer, the executive and associate directors of Southern Plains Land Trust. Southern Plains Land Trust (SPLT), which you’ll hear abbreviated as "split," has a mission to protect shortgrass prairie. SPLT owns and manages land in Bent, Baca, and Prowers counties in southeastern Colorado. They partner with Colorado Open Lands to permanently protect their land holdings through conservation easements currently totaling over 50,000 acres. We discussed how our partnership works, what’s special about the shortgrass prairie, the history of Colorado’s plains, and what secrets they reveal when one takes the time to observe them.

Riverscape Restoration with Riparian Reconnect

In this episode, Landlines talks to members of Riparian Reconnect, a partnership dedicated to restoring Colorado riverscapes. The conversation includes Jessica Doran of EcoWorks, Mark Beardsley of EcoMetrics, and Colorado Open Lands Restoration Program Manager Dirk Rasmussen. The three partners, along with host Leslie Volkar, discuss the need for restoration work on Colorado waterways, how it gets done, and why it's so important.

Spotlight on Outreach and Education

In this episode, Landlines talks to Colorado Open Lands Community Outreach and Education Manager Yvonne Schramm. Yvonne shares why it's so important to connect new communities with conservation. She also details COL's suite of programs that connect Coloradans of all ages and levels of experience with the outdoors.

Spotlight on Northern Colorado with Todd Olander and Carmen Farmer

In this episode, Landlines travels to Loveland, Colorado to visit Todd Olander of Olander Farms and Root Shoot Malting. Todd and his family protected their farm with a conservation easement in 2022. We’re also joined by Colorado Open Lands Senior Conservation Project Manager Carmen Farmer, who has been our resident expert on Northern Colorado land and water conservation since 2016. Todd and Carmen discuss the challenges for young farmers, regenerative practices on Olander Farms, and how to balance the need for growth with the need for a sustainable agricultural industry in Northern Colorado.

Spotlight on Colorado's San Luis Valley

In this episode, Landlines travels to Alamosa to speak with COL Conservation Project Manager Sally Wier and Land and Water Steward Seth Armentrout. These two staff members live and work in Colorado's San Luis Valley, and they share with us their experience with the local conservation values, partnerships, wildlife, and of course, the people that make this region so special.