Steamboat Pilot & Today

Spring is in full swing, along with the high-flowing waters and the fast-growing weeds.

The Routt County Conservation District sells polyacrylamide to help prevent seepage of water out of ditches and ponds. The district also offers rental equipment including pull sprayers, a sprayer mounted on an ATV, a rock picker, an aerator and a renovator - but the district recently has sold its grass seed drill and flatbed trailer. Thank you to all those who placed a bid, and especially to Neil and Clint Chew, who won the bid.

District officials currently are examining the feasibility of purchasing a new grass seed drill. Contact the district for more information on any of these items at 970-879-3225, ext. 3, or at 1475 Pine Grove Road, Suite 201A.

In other conservation district news, the 2009 Hay Day is from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. June 30 at Sidney Peak Ranch. All are invited to the event, which includes agricultural equipment demonstrations, speakers on agricultural topics and booths from vendors across Colorado. Speakers will present on poisonous plants, wind row grazing, protein content of hay, introducing legumes into grass hay, organic fertilizers and a weeds update. The conservation district still is looking for sponsors for the event. If you would like your banner up that day at the ranch, and your company's name and/or logo on brochures and flyers, or if you are interested in booth space, call the conservation district.

Also, the district recently has received a weed grant. The sign-up time to receive reimbursement for weed treatment is over for this year, but district officials plan to apply for the same grant next year, if it's available. This year, the district focused on meadow knapweed, tamarisk, leafy spurge, dalmation and yellow toadflax, houndstongue and musk thistle. Landowners who have a weed problem are being reimbursed for the cost of herbicide, rental equipment and labor in their efforts to control or eradicate weeds. We are hoping to assist about 18 projects.

Finally, congratulations to all of Routt County's recent graduates. The district is very proud of all who completed a high school or college degree. To help local high school seniors, the district awards two grants: the Glenn Werner Memorial scholarship and the Routt County Conservation District grant. This year, Kimberly Rossi, who graduated from Soroco High School, was awarded the Glenn Werner Memorial scholarship. Steamboat Springs High School graduate Jasper Gantick was awarded the conservation district's scholarship. Congratulations to both, and thanks to all the other high school students who submitted an application. District officials had hard choices to make this year.