RiversEdge West Secures $20,000 Xcel Energy Foundation Grant to Strengthen Grand Valley Stewardship Program
[Grand Junction, CO – June 23, 2025] – RiversEdge West (REW) is honored to announce a $20,000 grant from the Xcel Energy Foundation to power its Grand Valley Stewardship Program. This generous grant will bolster REW's efforts to enhance riparian health, foster community stewardship, and expand environmental education initiatives within the Grand Valley.
“Xcel Energy’s continued support allows us to weave together science, community, and hands‑on action so the Colorado and Gunnison Rivers can thrive,” said Cara Kukuraitis, REW’s Director of Development and Communications. “With these funds we’ll maintain critical habitat, expand education programs, and keep the community at the heart of every project.”
The grant will support various programs and initiatives aimed at riparian restoration, community engagement, and environmental education:
1. Desert Rivers Collaborative (DRC): REW leads the DRC - a diverse partnership of federal, state, local, nonprofit, and private stakeholders—focused on restoring and maintaining native riparian habitat in Mesa and Delta Counties. Since 2014, the DRC has achieved over 989 acres of initial tamarisk and Russian olive removal, 1,000+ acres of re-sprout treatments, 307 acres of revegetation, and 1,627 acres of secondary weed control. This grant will fund continued habitat maintenance and monitoring across the Grand Valley, including nine weeks of vegetation treatment, with four weeks being on BLM lands to protect wilderness characteristics and support long-term restoration success.
2. Grand Valley River Corridor Initiative (RCI): RCI is a community-driven planning effort. RCI works to ensure the river corridor supports diverse values, from habitat and recreation to flood resilience and economic vitality. Grant funding will support the RCI Core Team in advancing a regional master plan, coordinating stakeholders, and developing sustainable, collaborative strategies involving the Grand Valley’s river corridor for the long term.
3. Environmental Education and Stewardship: REW's educational initiatives, including the Wellspring Project, classroom programming across D51, and stewardship events, will receive support to connect youth and adults to rivers and engage the community in stewardship projects at local parks and open spaces, e.g., Connected Lakes, Las Colonias.
4. Volunteer Stewardship: With the help of this grant, REW will host 10+ public workdays throughout the year, engaging an estimated 175 volunteers in 350+ hours of service. Activities will range from invasive species removal and native planting to trail maintenance and plant care across parks and open spaces such as Connected Lakes and Las Colonias.
5. Youth & Community Education: REW will expand its educational programming to connect youth and adults to riverside ecosystems. This includes leading the Wellspring Project for middle schoolers, providing classroom programs across School District 51, and offering experiential learning through community events like Grand Valley River Fest and Raft the River—collectively reaching more than 1,200 residents.
6. Citizen Science: A new initiative supported by this funding, REW will train and equip community members to participate in monitoring efforts—tracking water quality, tamarisk beetles, pollinators, and invasive species—empowering locals to contribute directly to river health and restoration.
"We are grateful to Xcel Energy for their generous support, enabling us to expand our reach and impact in the Grand Valley," added Cara. "Together with our partners and supporters, we are committed to creating resilient and thriving riverside ecosystems for generations to come."
RiversEdge West is a Grand Junction-based 501 (c) 3 nonprofit dedicated to the restoration of ecosystems for the benefit of both fish and wildlife as well as the economic, social, and cultural well-being of communities in the American West. Learn more at www.riversedgewest.org.
Xcel Energy is a major U.S. electricity and natural gas company operating in eight Western and Midwestern states. The company is committed to providing cost-effective, clean, responsible energy delivered with the highest standards for safety, reliability, and responsiveness. Xcel Energy supports communities in four important focus areas: STEM education, environmental stewardship, economic sustainability, and access to arts and culture.
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