We’re Thankful for You!

Have a very happy Thanksgiving!

We are so very thankful for each of you. Whether you sit on the outside looking in, quietly cheer us on, shout our names from the rooftops, are a member, sponsor, volunteer, or a board member, you are a very important piece of DARCA's story. We appreciate you and we are so thankful for your support. 

 

We hope you have a great holiday!

Did you hear about our coloring contest? We are so excited to have a fun educational activity and contest over the next week. While you are on a break this week and spending time with family, we have created this fun coloring sheet for you and those awesome kiddos in your life! Send us a picture or post it and tag the DARCA page by December 1st to be entered to win a prize. Our age ranges on the gifts are 2-5, 6-9, 10-13, 14-18, 19+. For the coloring pages, head over to our social media pages or our website!

Visit Site

A connection of ours is looking for a ditch company who may be interested in the following. This group has created a costing tool that someone could take to a project and get rough estimates.  

In general, we are looking for feedback and validation on the current functionality of the tool. We’d also work with them to identify areas of modernization planning where they’d like help, and we’d use that feedback as we develop new functionality.

One of the biggest considerations would just be an organization that is willing and able to work with us. The ideal district would also be interested in some of the use cases I’ve outlined below.

 Our current functionality includes:

  • Hydropower estimation
  • total construction cost estimates
  • Water estimates
    • Seepage estimates
    • Water lost to invasive weeds
    • Water lost to evapotranspiration
  • ROI / Break even – Estimates ROI using construction const estimates with revenue gained through reduction in maintenance and potential revenue of selling conserved water

 Some of our potential functionality includes:

  • Developing a master plan, including (but not limited to)
    • Quantification of Risk in project prioritization
    • Identifying which projects align best with which funding programs
  • Estimation of Constructed Wetlands on water quality
  • System-wide analysis to identify optimal hydro-power placement
  • Cost and benefits of installing metering

TAX CREDITS NOW AVAILABLE FOR RESERVOIRS,

Written by Mike Strugar

 

Thanks to a legislative initiative by members of the Colorado conservation and water communities, certain reservoir owners and water entities are now eligible to receive Colorado conservation easement tax credits.  Prior to this new legislation, ditch/reservoir companies, and water conservancy districts, were not eligible for such credits. This is now a true win-win program. Entities that donate a conservation easement will receive a tax credit of 90% of the value of their donation. Reservoir shoreline and adjacent properties can be protected (thus preserving water quality) and at the same time, the donor receives nearly full market value for their donation in the form of a transferable tax credit, up to $5 million.  These funds can then be used to meet other pressing needs of the reservoir owner or water conservancy district.  In addition, funds are available to support transaction costs. 

 

In a conservation easement transaction, the reservoir owner selects a land trust or government open space program to hold the easement. The Conservation Resource Center (the nonprofit that was primarily involved in drafting the new legislation) is currently partnering with the Colorado Cattleman’s Agricultural Land Trust as a potential party to hold these new conservation easements, but other options exist as well.  It is anticipated that there will be high demand for conservation easement tax credits in 2021 and 2022 due to their recently increase valuation from 50% to 90%. If you are interested in the program, please contact Mike Strugar at the Conservation Resource Center, (303) 818-3952, mike@taxceditexchange.com.  He can share further details of the program and help you decide if earning tax credits might help you advance your organization’s goals.

 

140 W. 29th St. #339 Pueblo, CO 81008

Share on social

Share on FacebookShare on X (Twitter)Share on Pinterest

Visit us!