Southeast Colorado Resource Conservation and Development

Southeast Colorado Resource Conservation and Development

Southeast Colorado RC&D developed this web site to provide important information concerning this area of Colorado. There is much to see and do within the six-county area. We are constantly changing the information to keep as current as possible on all aspects.

Congress officially approved the Southeast Colorado Resource Conservation and Development (RC&D) Council in 1992. Today it is one of more than 300 RC&D Councils authorized by Congress nationwide. In 1991, the Council incorporated and was designated a nonprofit, charitable organization.

The Southeast Colorado RC&D area is located in the southeast corner of Colorado and includes Baca, Bent, Crowley, Kiowa, Otero, and Prowers counties. It borders Kansas on the east and New Mexico and Oklahoma on the south. Adjacent RC&D areas are the Sangre de Cristo and the East Central RC&D's.

The Arkansas and Purgatoire rivers run through the area. Lands not close to the rivers are either rangeland or non-irrigated cropland. The eastern edge of the area covers the Ogallala Aquifer and supports irigated agriculture from wells.

Issues of concern in the area include the sale and transfer of irrigation water, development of local job opportunities, domestic water supplies, the quality and conservation of agricultural water supplies, alternative energy programs, solid waste disposal and recycling, development of recreational and tourism opportunities, and historical preservation.

Windmills in Baca & Prowers Counties.

Anemometers for Baca Green Project .

2006 Current Projects

Land Conservation:

Baca County Invasive Species Management Program
Lower Arkansas River Tamarisk Project (Wild Habitat Project)
Crowley County Revegetation
Juniper Control Project (Branson)

Water Management:

Bent & Prowers Counties Agricultural Drainage System
Bristol Drainage System
Arkansas River Basin Water Forum (on-going)
Lower Ark Valley Water Drainage Rehabilitation
Lower Arkansas River Basin Watershed Planning (in progress)
Environment Southeast Area Water Quality Projects

Land Management:

Plainsman Research Sorghum
Advancing Colorado's Renewable Energy Program
Wind Energy Projects - Wind Farm & Baca Green
Farmers Union Carbon Credit Program

Community Development:

Kiowa County/Jackson Historic Barn(in progress)
Commmunity Collaborative Rain & Hail Study (CoCoRaHS)(on-going)
Prowers County Fairground Improvements (in progress)
Bent County Museum (nearing completion)
Springfield Panels (EZ Wall)
Walsh Grocery Planning -- La Junta to Lamar to/from DIA

Page Development Credit: Southeast Colorado Network