Chaffee Common Ground

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Salida, CO
Chaffee Common Ground

Quality of life is valued so much that many of us continue to make sacrifices just to be here.

Chaffee Common Ground supports collaborative programs and projects through a transparent process that leverages tax dollars to achieve the highest impact for improved forest health, sustainable agriculture, and managed recreation in Chaffee County, CO. With clean air and water, beautiful landscapes, vibrant small towns, fantastic recreational opportunities and friendly people, our community shares

a compelling vision for this place we call home. Yet the community faces landscape-scale challenges as we grow and change. County population is increasing and will continue to expand as Colorado adds an expected 1.5 million new residents by 2030. Declining forest health is also critical, with risk of severe wildfire a top concern among residents. These challenges are highlighted through Envision Chaffee County, a planning initiative that engages citizens to create the future the community wants as the county grows. Voters supported solutions to three significant challenges by passing a 0.25% sales tax in November 2018 (Ballot Issue 1A). Revenues creating the Common Ground Fund are earmarked for (1) strengthening forest health and reducing wildfire danger; (2) conserving and supporting working ranches, farms and rural landscapes; and (3) managing the impacts of growth in outdoor recreation. Through Chaffee Common Ground, Chaffee County strives to support locally based, collaborative programs and projects through a transparent process that leverages tax dollars to achieve the highest impact. A Citizens Advisory Committee develops program guidelines and partnerships to make funding recommendations to the Chaffee Board of County Commissioners. The Common Ground Fund is helping to protect our community’s unique character, because quality of life matters the most.

05/15/2024

The BoCC approved more than $1.6M in grants today to 16 local groups and organizations for wildfire resiliency, sustainable agriculture and outdoor recreation management. Congrats everyone! Details: https://chaffeecommonground.org/news/1-6m-invested-in-forests-recreation-and-rural-landscapes-in-2024/

08/11/2023

A permanent story walk and learning loop is complete at McPhelemy Park in Buena Vista! The project, headed by the library, brings ecology-themed stories and education to the social trail that loops around the lake.

07/18/2023

The Rec Adopters are out in force, and since it's , seems its appropriate to clean up the forest! The Game Trail HOA residents cleaned up the North Cottonwood area this morning, making sure firepits were appropriate sizes, removing trash and excessive ash and just making sure our forest stays healthy! Want to know more about being a Rec Adopter? Visit https://www.chaffeerecadopters.org
(Chaffee Rec Adopters is a community volunteer initiative in partnership between GARNA, Envision Chaffee County and our local land agencies: USFS, CPW, BLM)

05/09/2023

The BoCC approved nearly $1.5M in grants today to 18 local groups and organizations, for wildfire resiliency, sustainable agriculture and outdoor recreation management. Details: https://chaffeecommonground.org/news/nearly-1-5m-invested-in-spring-2023-funding-cycle/

01/12/2023

A new grant cycle opens today! Approximately $900K will be allocated for conservation work related to forest health and wildfire resiliency, sustainable agriculture and outdoor recreation management. Details:

Chaffee Common Ground offers competitive grant programs for: Strengthening forest health and reducing wildfire danger Conserving and supporting agricultural lands and rural landscapes Managing the impacts of growth in outdoor recreation Funding opportunities encompass projects and planning work. To....

11/14/2022

Great project in the works!

06/02/2022

Thanks for helping to keep it clean!

The most scenic porta-potties on earth are now available at 11 popular recreation sites in Chaffee County thanks to Chaffee Common Ground and in partnership with AHRA, USFS, the State Land Board and Now This is Colorado.

05/13/2022

Congrats to 14 local groups and organizations receiving funding for forest health, rural landscapes and recreation management during the Spring 2022 grant cycle. Learn about the programs and projects: https://chaffeecommonground.org/news/common-ground-gives-890k-for-forest-health-rural-landscapes-and-recreation-management

03/10/2022

We have exciting news to share about Central Colorado's latest permanent conservation success! In late February, the Centerville Ranch conservation easement closed. That means 650 acres of historic ranch land in the heart of Chaffee County protected forever. Anyone who's traveled along the Collegiat...

01/20/2022

Spring 2022 Grant Cycle to open Feb. 7! Visit the Grantee Info page for important dates and more.

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01/14/2022

Ballot Initiative 1A — a quarter-percent sales tax — passed by county voters in 2018 has raised almost $4 million for the Chaffee Common Ground Fund. Your tax revenues have been leveraged by outside cash and in-kind support to bring more than $20 million worth of valuable programs and projects to our community. Get the details on these investments by reviewing the program’s 2021 annual report:
https://chaffeecommonground.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/2021-CCG-Annual-Report_10JAN2022.pdf

12/14/2021

Congrats Chuck Cichowitz, a Common Ground mini-grant partner recipient for the Healthy Horn Fork project in the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness!

Buena Vista resident and founder of Noah's Ark Rafting & Adventure Co. Chuck Cichowitz has received a National Wilderness Partnership Award from the

Address

Salida, CO
81201

Telephone

(719) 539-2218

Website

http://chaffeecommonground.org/

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Protecting Chaffee’s unique character

With clean air and water, beautiful landscapes, vibrant small towns, fantastic recreational opportunities and friendly people, our community shares a compelling vision for this place we call home. Quality of life is valued so much that many of us continue to make sacrifices just to be here.

Yet the community faces landscape-scale challenges as we grow and change. County population is increasing and will continue to expand as Colorado adds an expected 1.5 million new residents by 2030. Declining forest health is also critical, with risk of severe wildfire a top concern among residents.

These challenges are highlighted through Envision Chaffee County, a planning initiative that engages citizens to create the future the community wants as the county grows. Voters supported solutions to three significant challenges by passing a 0.25% sales tax increase in November 2018 (Ballot Issue 1A). Revenues creating the Common Ground Fund are earmarked for (1) strengthening forest health and reducing wildfire danger; (2) conserving and supporting working ranches, farms and rural landscapes; and (3) managing the impacts of growth in outdoor recreation.

Through Chaffee Common Ground, Chaffee County strives to support locally based, collaborative programs and projects through a transparent process that leverages tax dollars to achieve the highest impact. A Citizens Advisory Committee develops program guidelines and partnerships to make funding recommendations to the Chaffee Board of County Commissioners. The Common Ground Fund is helping to protect our community’s unique character, because quality of life matters the most.