County

CPW, Shell, Elk Foundation join in survey of area’s elk

RBC I The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and Shell Exploration and Production are jointly funding a project to study and better understand the behaviors and movement of elk that occupy habitat near areas of oil and gas exploration and development.
Past radio telemetry studies have shown that areas leased by Shell in the upper Williams Fork drainage area in Moffat County are very important winter and summer ranges, production areas and migratory corridors for elk and mule deer.
The three-year study seeks to help guide site-specific energy development projects aimed at striking a balance between resource recovery and wildlife conservation. While current VHF telemetry studies are useful in monitoring general movement and distribution of elk and mule deer, this study will utilize newer, state-of-the-art satellite GPS collars to provide more detailed data relevant to elk conservation in the face of potential impacts from energy development activities.
“Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation is extremely pleased to have initiated the cooperative support for this project that is so important to assure the preservation of sensitive habitat so critical to the vitality of their significant elk herd, each numbering in the 45,000 range in this area,” said Troy Sweet, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation’s regional director. “We are also proud to be working in association with Colorado Parks and Wildlife and pleased to continue our long-standing relationship with Shell.”
“The potential of increased energy development in the Williams Fork area adds a new dynamic to the sensitive balance of maintaining key and productive habitat for elk and mule deer,” said Bill de Vergie, area wildlife manager for Colorado Parks and Wildlife in Meeker. “This multi-year elk monitoring program is ideally timed to provide important data to allow the best decisions to be made to assure the vitality of these herds in relation to the need for prudent and balanced energy development.”
de Vergie added that “Colorado Parks and Wildlife greatly appreciates the collaborative support of RMEF and Shell on this project.”
“We know how important it is to understand potential impacts of our operations and also to plan for the proper migrations of those impacts, so we saw this project as a significant opportunity and need for Shell’s participation” said Carolyn Tucker, Shell’s Communications Business Advisor for the Rockies.
“Shell’s goal in all its operations is to avoid unnecessary impacts of our business, and to work cooperatively with key entities such as CPW and RMEF to assure balanced energy development while protecting the areas sensitive resources,”
Over the last 10 years, Shell has collaborated with CPW and RMEF on a number of projects in and around Northwest Colorado, including elk habitat improvement and ongoing support for sage grouse, mule deer and restoration/reclamation research.

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  • Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
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Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch.  See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
Jake Blazon at bat for the Meeker Cowboys. The MHS team brought home two wins against Olathe and lost two against the North Fork Miners. The location for this weekend’s games has not been announced due to weather and field conditions. Read the full story online at ht1885.com.
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It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 
🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week.
Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! 
We appreciate all your continued support!
It's that time again! Another edition of great local news stories is 🐰 Hopping 🐰 your way this morning! Catch up on everything thats 🐣 hatching 🐣 in Rio Blanco County this week. Need a copy? Signing up is fast and easy! Visit our website at ht1885.com/subscribe to get a copy sent to your door every week! We appreciate all your continued support!
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Mormon crickets have hatched near Rangely. They were all sighted on BLM land north of Hwy. 64 near the junction of CR 96 and CR 1, down a dirt road near the Moffat County line. The picture shown was taken yesterday by Mary Meinen from Rangely. She says the crickets are about the size of a ladybug (less than 1/2”). Some of them are actually yellow in color but most of them are darker. They are milling around and getting ready to start moving soon. Note: Photo is not to scale. Rio Blanco County and the White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts are still asking for your help to identify additional hatch-outs of crickets so that control efforts can be put in place. The success of the program will highly depend upon local landowners and the public helping to locate crickets as soon as they hatch. See last week’s paper for a list of ways to help or contact the County Weed & Pest District at 970-878-9670 or the Conservation District office at 970-878-9838 with any questions. Website: www.WhiteRiverCD.com
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