There’s a lot of fanfare around grant awards, but what happens after the ceremonial checks are presented and the reporters have published their articles? Our partners get down to business.
For over 30 years, GOCO has improved Colorado’s great outdoors with the help of Colorado Lottery proceeds. To date, we’ve invested more than $1.7 billion in 5,900 projects to improve the lives of Coloradans across the state.
After projects are awarded funding, grant recipients have about two years to make their projects happen.
Recently, 21 projects wrapped up, representing $2.4 million of GOCO investments in local communities across the state. Scroll to see if one’s near you:
City of Las Animas Recreation HUB
$26,803 grant to City of Las Animas
A Conservation Service Corps (CSC) grant helped the City of Las Animas partner with Mile High Youth Corps–Southern Front Range to enhance the Las Animas Recreation HUB. Over three weeks, crews improved the pond by removing debris, reshaping its edges, installing floating docks, and building a wooden fence. They also improved six sections of trail to build better connections throughout the park. This project helped expand outdoor recreation opportunities for residents and visitors in eastern Colorado.
Learn more about GOCO’s CSC program
East Big Thompson Invasive Species Removal & Mitigation
$34,505 to City of Loveland
The City of Loveland used a Conservation Service Corps grant to partner with Larimer County Conservation Corps (LCCC) to remove invasive species along the Big Thompson River in Willow Bend Natural Area. Over three weeks, crews removed Russian olive, Siberian elm, and tamarisk trees, which compete with native vegetation for water and other resources. This project helped improve habitat and enhance scenic views and visitor experiences ahead of Willow Bend’s public opening in 2025.
Learn more about LCCC
ECO Program - Organizational Advancement
$350,000 grant to Keep It Colorado
GOCO funding supported Keep It Colorado’s (KIC) Emerging Conservation Opportunities program, which helps strengthen land trusts and private land conservation across the state. The program helped KIC and Land Trust Alliance (LTA) support 21 land trusts through organizational development, leadership support, and training. Learning opportunities included direct consultation, webinars, and conference support. In addition, KIC and LTA awarded subgrants to 11 of the organizations to strengthen internal operations, expand community engagement, and pilot new approaches to conservation work. Some land trust partners also developed a tool guide to help design and evaluate community-centered conservation projects.
Learn more about KIC
Elkhorn Creek Forest Health Initiative: Integrating Stream Restoration for Water
$78,172 grant to Larimer County
A Conservation Service Corps grant helped Larimer County partner with Larimer County Conservation Corps to complete stewardship work in the Elkhorn Creek watershed. Corps crews restored forest and stream areas to reduce wildfire risk and improve habitat. The project is part of a long-term effort to restore Elkhorn Creek and the Cache la Poudre River following damage from wildfires, floods, and debris flows. By enhancing watershed health, the project helped to protect a vital water supply for over 300,000 people, and trained local corps members in chainsaw safety and stream restoration skills that will support future stewardship in the region.
Learn more about the initiative
Green Mountain Falls Trail Maintenance & Realignment Project
$71,437 grant to Town of Green Mountain Falls
With a Conservation Service Corps grant, the Town of Green Mountain Falls (GMF) partnered with Mile High Youth Corps–Southern Front Range to maintain trails in the town’s 20-mile trail system. Crews cleared overgrown vegetation, removed trees at risk of falling, and redirected a portion of the American Discovery Trail by building a new multi-use trail. This project created a safer route through town, providing an alternative route to an existing path along a busy road and improved access to nearby open space.
Learn more about GMF trails
Palmer Lake Riparian Restoration
$39,742 grant to the Town of Palmer Lake
Palmer Lake Parks and Trails Commission used a Conservation Service Corps grant to partner with Mile High Youth Corps to restore riverbank along North Monument Creek. Corps crews removed debris along the creek corridor and adjacent trail, built a new trail along the creek, and installed wayfinding signs. This project improved creek health and surrounding habitat and expanded recreational access for residents and visitors.
Learn more about Mile High Youth Corps
Pool Canyon Archeological Site and Trails
$44,190 grant to Ute Mountain Ute Tribe
A Conservation Service Corps grant helped the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe partner with Southwest Conservation Corps–Four Corners to restore the Pool Canyon Trail within the Ute Mountain Ute Tribal Park. Spanning 125,000 acres, guided tours at the park have historically been a vital source of revenue and cultural education. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the trail became inaccessible due to damage and the discontinuation of the park’s trail crew. Over four weeks, corps crews repaired the trail, reopening it for tours, restoring access to this culturally significant site, and gaining hands-on training from geologists and site guides.
Learn more about Southwest Conservation Corps
Prairie Lakes Open Space Wildlife Habitat
$19,041 grant to the City of Brighton
A Conservation Service Corps (CSC) grant helped the City of Brighton partner with Mile High Youth Corps to restore wildlife habitat at Prairie Lakes Open Space. Corps crews removed invasive Russian olive, tamarisk, leafy spurge, and thistle across the 127-acre area. The project supported native plant and wildlife habitat, enhanced the space for public recreation and enjoyment, and contributed to an overall healthier ecosystem.
Learn more about the CSC program
Purgatoire-Cucharas Collaborative Forest Health & Stewardship Project - Phase 4
$28,383 grant to the City of Trinidad
The City of Trinidad used a Conservation Service Corps grant to partner with Mile High Youth Corps–Southern Front Range on a fourth phase of forest health and recreation improvements in Las Animas and Huerfano counties. Over three weeks, crews reduced wildfire risk on 1.5 acres, improved 1.5 miles of recreational trails, and enhanced one acre of wildlife habitat. This project supported outdoor recreation, improved watershed and ecosystem health, and provided hands-on training for corps members and community participants.
Learn more about Mile High Youth Corps
Rainbow Trail: Snag tree removal and erosion control
$26,165 grant to Chaffee County
A Conservation Service Corps grant helped Chaffee County, in partnership with Salida Mountain Trails and the U.S. Forest Service’s Salida Ranger District, to work with Southwest Conservation Corps–Los Valles on addressing hazardous trees and trail erosion along a popular stretch of the Rainbow Trail near Salida. Over two weeks, crews removed hundreds of dead, fallen, or damaged trees impacted by the 2019 Decker Fire and repurposed the wood to reinforce drainage areas and slow runoff, preventing further soil loss. This work improved safety for trail users, protected waterways from debris runoff, and reduced future maintenance needs.
Learn more about the Rainbow Trail
Ralph Price Reservoir Protection Project Phase 1
$69,358 grant to City of Longmont
The City of Longmont used a Conservation Service Corps grant to partner with Larimer County Conservation Corps to reduce wildfire risk, improve forest health, and protect a critical drinking water source at Button Rock Preserve. Corps crews worked across the 3,000-acre watershed, which includes the Ralph Price Reservoir and provides drinking water for more than 110,000 residents in Lyons and Longmont. Crews removed vegetation that could spread fire into the treetops, trimmed low-hanging branches, and created space between trees. This project helped reduce the potential impacts of future wildfires and built on restoration efforts completed on nearby acreage in 2023.
Learn More about Button Rock Preserve
Red Rocks New Trail Construction and Social Trail Restoration
$116,956 grant to City of Boulder
The City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks used a Conservation Service Corps grant to partner with Mile High Youth Corps (MHYC) for trail improvements at the Red Rocks complex. Over 13 weeks, corps crews repaired 500 feet of steep and eroded trail by installing a timber staircase, and closed and restored a 120-foot segment of unofficial user-made “social trail.” This project strengthened designated trails, improved safety for visitors, and supported a healthier habitat at this widely used outdoor destination.
Learn more about MHYC
Riparian Restoration at the Purgatoire River Preserve
$53,646 grant to Southern Plains Land Trust
Southern Plains Land Trust used a Conservation Service Corps grant to partner with Mile High Youth Corps-Southern Front Range to remove invasive species and restore habitat at the Purgatoire River Preserve. Crews treated and removed invasive tamarisk, Russian olive, and Siberian elm from 30 acres of riverbank and 30 acres of grassland. This project helped prepare the preserve for future restoration work, including planting native willow and cottonwood trees and reseeding former agricultural fields with native shortgrass prairie.
Learn more about Southern Plains Land Trust
Rock N Roll Connector Trail Construction and Existing Trail Maintenance
$20,064 grant to the Town of Buena Vista
The Town of Buena Vista used a Conservation Service Corps grant to partner with Southwest Conservation Corps-Los Valles to build a new wooden staircase connector between the Rock N Roll and Walton Loop trails at Buena Vista River Park. Over two weeks, crews built the connecting staircase, creating a more continuous trail system that linked nearby natural areas and improved access to hiking, walking, and fishing. This project improved the park’s trail system, supported local tourism, and helped protect sensitive natural areas by directing foot traffic to designated trails.
Learn more about Buena Vista’s trails
Russian Olive Eradication at Fox Ranch Preserve
$38,644 grant to The Nature Conservancy
A Conservation Service Corps grant helped The Nature Conservancy (TNC) in Colorado partner with Weld County Youth Conservation Corps (WCYCC) to remove invasive Russian olive trees from Fox Ranch Preserve’s riverbank. The preserve is home to a globally rare riverbank habitat that supports migratory bird species across the Great Plains and is heavily impacted by invasive plants. This project marked the first collaborative effort between TNC, WCYCC, and other conservation corps as part of an ongoing partnership to protect and enhance the preserve and other lands in eastern Colorado.
Learn more about TNC and Fox Ranch Preserve
Southeast Colorado Enterprise Development Fellow
$84,935 grant to Southeast Colorado Enterprise Development
A GOCO Fellowship grant helped Southeast Colorado Enterprise Development (SECED) hire a fellow to advance regional recreation planning and outreach in southeast Colorado. The fellow worked with local partners to identify regional gaps in recreation access and opportunities and supported projects that protected and enhanced local outdoor recreation spaces. The fellow convened monthly meetings to gather community input, strengthen local connections, and promote the value of caring for the outdoors. SECED operates as part of the Southeast Council of Governments, serving Baca, Bent, Crowley, Otero, Kiowa, and Prowers counties.
Learn more about SECED
Stirrup Bar Ranch Conservation Easement
$925,000 grant to the Trust for Public Land
Trust for Public Land used a Land Acquisition grant to partner with Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust to protect 3,277 acres and senior water rights of Stirrup Bar Ranch (pictured above) in Montrose County, benefitting agriculture, downstream communities, and wildlife. It marks the first phase of an effort to protect the ranch’s entire 9,261 acres. The ranch has wetlands, grasslands, and forests that provide habitat for elk, Gunnison sage-grouse, and bald eagles. The project also supports the local ranching economy by maintaining grazing land and resource sharing with neighboring operations, while building on the family’s long-standing conservation efforts across nearby lands.
Learn more about the Trust for Public Land
The Nature Conservancy Fellowship Program
$300,000 grant to The Nature Conservancy
A Fellowship Program grant helped The Nature Conservancy hire three fellows to support land protection, stewardship, outreach, and conservation efforts. This funding supported the launch of TNC’s inaugural Conservation Fellowship program, focused on diversifying the conservation workforce by providing emerging professionals with mentorship, professional development, and hands-on experience. Fellows contributed to high-impact conservation projects, strengthened partner relationships, and planned community events, creating a model for future fellowship cohorts.
Learn more about The Nature Conservancy
Town of Eagle 2025 Open Space Wildlife and Wildfire Projects
$21,611 grant to the Town of Eagle
A Conservation Service Corps grant helped the Town of Eagle partner with Rocky Mountain Youth Corps to remove 1.5 miles of unmaintained barbed wire fencing and repair and maintain 3.1 miles of existing fence on local open space. These efforts supported wildlife migration and protected sensitive areas from cattle. Crews also seeded grass across nearly 50 acres, reducing wildfire risk, restoring native vegetation, and promoting healthier wildlife habitat.
Learn more about Rocky Mountain Youth Corps
Wheat Ridge Greenbelt Restoration
$40,617 grant to the City of Wheat Ridge
A Conservation Service Corps grant helped the City of Wheat Ridge partner with Mile High Youth Corps-Denver to restore areas along Clear Creek, Tabor Lake, and nearby parklands in the Wheat Ridge Greenbelt. Crews replanted native trees and shrubs along creek banks and planted new trees to create shade and help reduce water temperatures. This project aligned with the City’s 2023 Open Space Management Plan by improving water quality, protecting wildlife habitat, and supporting the long-term health of local natural areas and community outdoor spaces.
Read the plan
Wildlife Habitat Enhancement and Wildfire Mitigation on Conserved Lands in Western Colorado
$52,330 grant to Colorado West Land Trust
Colorado West Land Trust used a Conservation Service Corps grant to hire crews from Western Colorado Conservation Corps on projects that reduced wildfire risk on protected lands near National Forests in Mesa and Delta counties. Crews completed forest health and invasive species work, treating 31 acres of forest and 2.1 acres of riverbank.
Forest health plans were set by Colorado State Forest Service, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, Bureau of Land Management, and the U.S. Forest Service to protect forest and water resources while enhancing wildlife habitat. The work also aligned with the goals of local partnerships and organizations like the Grand Mesa Watershed Resiliency Partnership and Two Rivers Wildfire Coalition.
Learn more about Colorado West Land Trust