RiversEdge West received a $20,000 grant from the Xcel Energy Foundation to power its Grand Valley Stewardship Program. The grant will bolster the nonprofit organization’s efforts to enhance riparian health, foster community stewardship and expand environmental education initiatives within the Grand Valley, RiversEdge West said in a news release.

“Xcel Energy’s continued support allows us to weave together science, community and hands-on action, so the Colorado and Gunnison Rivers can thrive,” said Cara Kukuraitis, RiversEdge West’s director of development and communications. “With these funds we’ll maintain critical habitat, expand education programs and keep the community at the heart of every project.”

The grant will support various programs and initiatives aimed at riparian restoration, community engagement and environmental education. Among them are:

• Desert Rivers Collaborative: This grant will fund continued habitat maintenance and monitoring across the Grand Valley, including nine weeks of vegetation treatment, with four weeks being on BLM lands to protect wilderness characteristics and support long-term restoration success.
• Grand Valley River Corridor Initiative: Grant funding will support the RCI Core Team in advancing a regional master plan, coordinating stakeholders and developing sustainable, collaborative strategies involving the Grand Valley’s river corridor for the long term.
• Environmental Education and Stewardship: RiversEdge West’s educational initiatives, including the Wellspring Project, classroom programming across School District 51, and stewardship events, will receive support to connect youth and adults to rivers and engage the community in stewardship projects at local parks and open spaces, such as Connected Lakes and Las Colonias.
• Volunteer Stewardship: With the help of this grant, RiversEdge West will host 10-plus public workdays throughout the year, engaging an estimated 175 volunteers in 350-plus hours of service. Activities will range from invasive species removal and native planting to trail maintenance and plant care across parks and open spaces.
• Youth and Community Education: RiversEdge West will expand its educational programming to connect youth and adults to riverside ecosystems. This includes leading the Wellspring Project for middle-schoolers, providing classroom programs across School District 51, and offering experiential learning through community events like Grand Valley River Fest and Raft the River.
• Citizen Science: A new initiative supported by this funding, RiversEdge West will train and equip community members to participate in monitoring efforts – tracking water quality, tamarisk beetles, pollinators, and invasive species – empowering locals to contribute directly to river health and restoration.