From Weeds to Wildlife:
Workshop on Practical Steps to Restore Your Riverside
Watch the full workshop recording here! View presentation slides using the link in the schedule below.
*FREE*
Join us for the final workshop in our 2025 Workshop Series!
Workshop Presentations: Thursday, October 2nd, 2025 | 5:30 PM – 8:00 PM
***LOCATION CHANGE*** - Day 1 of the Workshop will now be held at the CSU Western Colorado Research Center!
(no longer held at the Confluence Center)
Join us at the CSU Western Colorado Research Center for a free dinner and to learn more about invasive plant species management techniques for common riverside species such as tamarisk, Russian olives, and herbaceous weeds. We’ll also discuss native revegetation efforts to improve wildlife habitat and share funding sources that can help with this project work.
This workshop is open to private landowners, land managers, farmers, partners, and anyone else interested in learning more about this. We will have 3 guest speakers in addition to RiversEdge West’s presentation: Mesa Conservation District, Mesa County Noxious Weed & Pest Management, and Western Colorado Conservation Corps.
📅 Thursday, October 2, 2025 | 5:30 – 8:00 PM
📍 CSU Western Colorado Research Center - 3170 B 1/2 Rd, Grand Junction, CO 81503
Schedule at a Glance:
- 5:30-5:40 PM – Welcome and Introductions
- 5:40-6:40 PM – Christa Brown, RiversEdge West – Riverside Wildlife Habitat Restoration
- 6:40-7:00 PM – Bailey Goldberg, Western Colorado Conservation Corps – Understanding Invasive Species and The Methods to Control Them
- 7:00-7:20 PM – Ryan Surad, Mesa County Noxious Weed & Pest Management – Introduction to Herbicide Application & Noxious Weeds
- 7:20-7:40 PM – Camryn Riddell and Joely Anysz, Mesa Conservation District - Conservation in Action: Noxious Weed Threats and Mitigation Resources
- 7:40-8:00 PM – Panel with all speakers
Plus, we’re offering an optional second-day site visit of a local private land’s riparian area at Avant Vineyards in Palisade - space is limited!
Site Visit: Friday, October 3rd, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
If you join for our workshop, you also have the option to attend the second-day site visit of a local riparian area for hands-on learning (space is limited to 20). We will walk around the property to discuss plant identification, application of the techniques, and brainstorm how continuous restoration work can be implemented at this site. Please know that this site has moderately serious hiking required and plan to wear closed-toes shoes, appropriate hiking clothes, bring water, and sun protection.
You can bring your own food to enjoy after the hike, but small refreshments will be offered by RiversEdge West in the morning before we hike to the riparian area. Attendees are welcome to stay at Avant Vineyards post-site visit to eat and enjoy wine tastings for $15 for 5 wines of your choice and there will be a 10% discount on any bottle purchases.
📅 Friday, October 3, 2025 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
📍 Avant Vineyards– 3480 E Rd., Palisade, CO 81526