What’s Happening in August
Organizations and Associations
Seed Collection with WRV
Jennie joined Wildland Restoration Volunteers for a seed collection event in the Bonner Peak Ranch area. Wildlands Restoration Volunteers (WRV) is a Colorado nonprofit 501(c)(3) that organizes thousands of volunteers each year to complete more than 150 conservation projects throughout Colorado.
The seeds they gathered will be cleaned and distributed at the NoCo Native Seed Swap on November 16th at the Gardens on Spring Creek.
WRV and volunteers were able to identify and collect a variety of native species, including the only two native Clematis species found in Colorado [Clematis ligusticifolia (Virgin’s Bower) and Clematis scottii (Scott’s Sugarbowl)]!
Field Updates
Reclamation Monitoring
Reclamation monitoring is one of EcoPoint’s most systematized services, continuing to be a consistent offering for most EcoPoint customers, as well as supporting departmental growth.
This season, reclamation monitoring has been completed for customers on both sides of the Rockies in Colorado, demonstrating the need for this service in the oil and gas industry in multiple geographic regions.
Currently, the reclamation monitoring has been completed for customers on both sides of the Rockies in Colorado, demonstrating the need for this service in the oil and gas industry in multiple geographic regions.
Currently, the Qualitative Reclamation Monitoring being completed for EcoPoint’s largest customer on the Front Range is approximately 90% complete, with only 200 locations remaining. Jennie Hardy continues to support scheduling, logistics, client communication, and all other project management for reclamation monitoring as her crew shifts their priorities to complete Quantitative Reclamation Monitoring.
On the West Slope of Colorado, Cindy Adams coordinated the field data collection to complete reclamation monitoring for one of EcoPoint’s newer customers with assets in proximity to the Rifle Administrative office.
Industry News
EPA Signs Joint Statement of Cooperation with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to Help Protect Endangered Species and Support Sustainable Agriculture
The recent Joint Statement of Cooperation between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) marks a significant step toward aligning pesticide regulation with wildlife conservation goals. This collaboration ensures that pesticide use can coexist with, and even support, efforts to protect endangered species and their habitats.
This statement demonstrates strategic coordination for habitat protection. By synchronizing EPA’s endangered species risk assessment processes with FWS’s consultation under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the agencies are streamlining how conservation measures are integrated into pesticide approval and usage. This improves efficiency in regulatory processes while still upholding strong environmental safeguards.
Importantly, this coordination preserves agricultural access to essential pest control tools, ensuring that effective pesticide use remains a part of sustainable agricultural practices that can indirectly benefit habitat quality when pest pressures are managed appropriately.
Multi-chemical and habitat-focused approaches are the driver for these agreements. The Joint Statement references EPA’s section 7(a)(1)/7(a)(2) Plan, which includes the development of multi-chemical strategies such as the Herbicide Strategy. These approaches aim to reduce population-level impacts on endangered species by optimizing how multiple pesticides are used in tandem.
Such efforts are particularly important for maintaining ecological balance in agricultural landscapes, where careful pesticide application can help control invasive species and support native plant recovery, which in turn enhances habitats for wildlife.
This seems to be a win-win for agriculture and conservation. This partnership not only strengthens compliance with the ESA but also offers greater regulatory predictability and flexibility for the agricultural community. Landowners benefit from a more stable framework for pesticide use, while wildlife habitats receive the proactive protection and recovery support they need.
Overall, the agreement reflects a modernized, conservation-forward approach to pesticide management, demonstrating that when guided by science and cooperation, pesticides can be part of a positive environmental strategy.