Open Lands Rivers and Trails Advisory Committee

All meetings are open to the public, please click here to view the Advisory Committee meeting schedule.

Purpose of the Open Lands, Rivers and Trails Fund:

Keeping water in the Colorado River and other rivers for agriculture, ranching and outdoor recreation.

To the protection, conservation, and acquisition of agricultural lands, natural areas, scenic open lands, wildlife habitat, wetlands, and river access.

To the maintenance of hiking and biking trails.

Curious  to learn more about the impact the OLRT Fund is having in Grand County? Click here to read more.

Eligible Grant Applicants:

Grand County, incorporated municipalities located within Grand County, and qualified nonprofit land conservation organizations as defined at 26 U.S.C §170(h)(3) or as accredited to hold conservation easements by the Land Trust Alliance Commission may submit grant applications requesting funding for the following: less than fee interests in real property, fee simple or water rights acquisition.

Grand County, incorporated municipalities located within Grand County, and nonprofit organizations may submit grant applications requesting funding for the maintenance of hiking and biking trails. Funding for trail maintenance purposes is capped at 15% of the funds available for grant awards.

Partnerships with municipalities or County can also apply.

Please Read Before Applying:

To apply, please first review the Open Lands Rivers and Trails Bylaws dated December 4th, 2018. These bylaws include General Evaluation Criteria (Attachment II), which all grant applicants should review closely. In addition to reviewing the bylaws, please read the two Resolutions dated August 18th, 2016 and January 26th, 2017.

Open Lands and Rivers Grants Information:

The Open Lands, Rivers, and Trails Advisory Committee has developed grant ranking criteria for Open Lands and Rivers Grants. The Advisory Committee ranks each grant and then recommends funding to the Grand County Board of County Commissioners. Click the links below to view the grant ranking criteria:
Grant Ranking Criteria for Open Lands Grants
Grant Ranking Criteria for River Grants

Please review section VII.D. in the August 18, 2016 resolution carefully before applying.

Trail Grants Information:

Please review the information sheet on Trails grants before applying, which can be accessed by clicking here. 

The Open Lands, Rivers, and Trails Advisory Committee has developed grant ranking criteria for Trails Grants. The Advisory Committee ranks each grant and then recommends funding to the Grand County Board of County Commissioners. Click the links below to view the grant ranking criteria:
Grant Ranking Criteria for Trails Grants

When to Apply?

Spring 2020 Grant Cycle -- CLOSED
February 3, 2020: Applications posted
March 13, 2020: Applications due
April 28, 2020: OLRTAC makes recommendations to Grand County BOCC

Fall 2020 Grant Cycle
September 21, 2020: Applications posted
October 23, 2020: Applications due
December 8, 2020: OLRTAC makes recommendations to Grand County BOCC

Spring 2020 Grant Application 

Spring 2020 Grant Application--PDF
Spring 2020 Grant Application--WORD

Grant Reporting

If you received a grant award during the Fall 2019 grant cycle, you must submit a final grant report no later than October 23, 2020 (or as determined by the MOU with Grand County) to be considered eligible to apply for the Fall 2020 grant cycle. 

Click here to download the Grant Report.

Questions?

Contact Anna Drexler-Dreis (Administrator): aldrexler@gmail.com or (970) 531-1171.
Please email completed application(s) and grant report(s) to the Open Lands, Rivers, and Trails Advisory Committee at olrtac@co.grand.co.us. Receive updates by following us on Facebook by clicking here.