In November, we met with the ranchers who participated in Phase 1 of our Safe Soils/Climate Resiliency Initiative. Four key landscapes were analyzed by the lab at Cornell University, facilitated by Eco-Consulting firm Geosyntec. Soil samples were taken from forested woodland, shrubland, riparian/wetland and agricultural areas. We presented our ranchers the findings, which included analysis of the soil's physical, chemical and biological characteristics.

Our four partner landowners examined the results, soil types and composition to help inform future management practices. We are taking this insight to formulate prescriptive project recommendations for climate resilience and improved soil health. We will continue to work with our ranch partners to help them begin to implement projects in the summer and autumn of 2023.

Detailed reports from our eco-consulting firm Geosyntec finally arrived! We will meet with our four partner ranchers this month. Tom Koehler, our director of climate action, is carefully reviewing hundreds of pages of data to determine our best path forward.

We will identify specific prescriptions to benefit each ranch. All of our recommendations will be aimed at improving soil health, and the ability of these private lands to capture more greenhouse gases and positively effect climate change. We plan to target several projects in 2023.

After we meet with each rancher, we will share the findings and our recommendations with key stakeholders and the community at large.

From these pilot projects we hope to develop further programs to improve soil resiliency on public and private lands in the Lower Blue River Valley.

The FOLBR Climate Resiliency/Safe Soils Initiative will be ramping up significantly in the month of June. Scientists from our Eco Consulting firm Geosyntec will be gathering taking several soil samples at each of our four partner ranch, targeting the varied landscapes. If the weather cooperates, we will be in the field the week of June 13th. Once soil samples are taken, they will be analyzed. We will then be a step closer to meeting with all our partner ranchers to share information on soil health and the ability to capture greenhouse gases.

Our goal is to share a series of prescriptions to help landowners improve their properties in the Blue River Valley. Initially, we're focusing on private lands. But what we learn will also serve to benefit County, State and Federal lands. We will be completely transparent offering our data to anyone who wants it.

We continue to thank our ranch partners: Pass Creek, Blue Tree, Otter Creek and Blue Valley for their tremendous cooperation in this important initiative. We will continue to keep you posted as we progress.

Could mushrooms be another tool in our toolbox to reverse the effects of climate change? According to Sherry McGann, Founder of Mystic Mountain Mushrooms in Grand County, the answer is yes! Mushrooms (many of which are edible) are full of nutrients, promote healthy soil that retains moisture while simultaneously cleaning up our environment. Mystic Mountain Mushrooms, located in Grand Lake, is a woman-owned, organic commercial mushroom producer that began in 2019. It produces USDA certified organic gourmet exotic mushrooms from spore to fruit, consciously cultivating each species.

The company is working closely with the Colorado Mycology Watershed Institute. The CMWI is on a mission to educate and organize programs with local agencies, conservation districts and state agencies to implement a range of projects throughout Colorado. They are creating a model that can be replicated worldwide to re-balance soils and watersheds. CMWI is simply stepping in to direct what has been going on for billions of years. Fungi can remove toxic compounds and harmful pollutants found in the environment. Numerous studies have shown fungi are a natural, effective, and economical way to decontaminate and restore watersheds and soils. Mushroom byproducts can also be introduced to a burnt forest to help bring it back to life by stimulating new growth.