Congratulations to Our September 2026 Environment & Conservation Grantees!

Conserving Colorado lands while finding innovative and effective ways to protect and take care of the environment as a whole continues to be an important part of our mission. We would like to congratulate the following organizations for doing just that, and we are excited about the intersection of some of their recent and upcoming projects with places and spaces we know and love. Our September 2026 grantees are:

Colorado Water Trust: The Colorado Water Trust, since its founding in 2001, has restored 31.9 billion gallons of water to 814 miles of Colorado’s rivers and streams. They have grown into the state’s leading nonprofit for water transactions that benefit the environment, developing dozens of tools for streamflow restoration while working hand-in-hand with rural and urban communities whose water rights make it all possible.

Colorado Open Lands: Over the past 45 years, Colorado Open Lands has helped permanently protect more than 727,000 acres across Colorado. In the past fiscal year along, they have completed 21 conservation projects, protecting 16,000 additional acres of land.

High Line Canal Conservancy: The High Line Canal Conservancy has been around since 2014 working to raise fund and mobilize volunteers to enhance and permanently protect the canal. The Canal Conservation Corps is one facet of the Conservancy —a coalition of over 1,000 volunteers who lead hands-on efforts to strengthen the canal’s resiliency and ecosystems through trash clean up, brush removal, tree care, addressing invasive species, and planting native species.

Mile High Youth Corps: Mile High Youth Corps’ Land Conservation Program is a triple impact program that positively impacts youth, the community, and the environment. The program employs approximately 110 youth at a time working on a variety of conservation projects throughout the year. To date, MHYC has served over 5,530 Corpsmembers and delivered 2.3 million hours of service to the community. They have constructed and improved over 550 miles of trails and rivers, helped build over 1,485 affordable housing units, and retrofitted over 34,180 low-income homes for energy and water savings. Alumni from years past are now forest rangers, wildland firefighters, electricians, community non-profit leaders, and advocates for the environment.