[Narrator] These prairie oases nestled within Colorado's front range communities
welcome visitors from all walks of life, from near and far, to foster an appreciation for nature.
Here, time moves at nature's pace and wildlife have the right of way.
Lands once known for their agricultural and industrial uses are being repaired
and regenerated on Rocky Mountain Arsenal, the nation's premier urban wildlife refuge.
In 2021, your urban wildlife refuge is getting some big news
and a big boost. From our leaders in office to our leaders working hard on the ground,
the people who create true community at Rocky Mountain Arsenal are here to get excited with us.
[Martha Williams, Principal Deputy Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service] I'm thrilled to
announce that Commerce City's, Colorado's Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge is
the recipient of one million dollars annually to support their flagship urban wildlife conservation
program. This long-term funding increase will support a diverse conservation workforce,
climate core stewards, and inclusive opportunities for local communities to experience nearby nature,
so that we may all build back better.
[Noreen Walsh, Regional Director, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service] This new urban wildlife conservation program funding
will be an incredible asset and I am so proud of the recognition
that it brings to all the communities surrounding the refuge.
[Michael Bennet, U.S. Senator, Colorado] The Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge is a
treasured place in Colorado. Located less than 30 minutes away from the steps of our state capitol,
the refuge presents an incredible opportunity for people living in cities to see roaming buffalo or
flocks of migrating birds. These experiences help people see firsthand the benefits of wildlife,
conservation, and protecting public lands.
[Ed Perlmutter, U.S. Congressman, Colorado] Here we have this fantastic open space, with all sorts
of wildlife, right in the metropolitan area - especially Rocky Mountain Arsenal Wildlife Refuge.
We have thousands and thousands of kids who can benefit from coming out here to see the
open space, to see eagles, to see bison, to see deer and rattlesnakes, I've seen rattlesnakes
out here. It's just, it's amazing to have this right in the middle of the metropolitan area.
[Benjamin Huseman, Mayor, Commerce City, Colorado] We really appreciate having this
refuge here as part of Commerce City and it has been a great partnership between our city and
the Fish and Wildlife Service in order to provide opportunities for residents and people across our
state to come and experience wildlife that they are normally not going to see in their lifetime.
[René Bullock, President, Friends of the Front Range Wildlife Refuges] This is one of the largest urban refuges in the United States.
This is our diamond in the rough, where our children can come out here
and see what it's like to have nature right at its doorstep.
[Stacie Gilmore, President, Denver City Council] The refuge was one of those spots close to home
that we could actually take kids and their families to learn about it, and learn about
the history of conservation. I was a volunteer out here at the refuge with Eagle Watch and so my
passion has been fulfilled by making sure that we can protect this and open it up to the community.
[Joseph Cordova, Director of Youth Programs, Groundwork Denver] My first experience at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal
was with Groundwork Denver, part of our Green Corps program.
I was 18 years old, and my crew was focused on removing invasive species
and it was really interesting to be out here in nature,
not too far away from the city, and I had lived in
Denver my whole life prior to this and had never been to the Arsenal.
Working with Ranger Tom was really, really awesome and very educational.
I would say that my favorite part of my work is being able to introduce
youth into nature, as well as helping nurture that connection. For me, I had, you know,
a few people walk me along the way and, you know, kind of just take me through those
steps - and to be that person for someone else to inspire that connection is my favorite part.
[Monique Rivera, Biological Technician, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service] I started my career here at the Arsenal as an intern actually
with Student Conservation Association, working with other youth corps such as Mile High and Groundwork Denver.
It was interesting because, after that, I got a hiring authority and was able to really push myself
into this position and get those connections with people from not only diverse walks of life,
but who are also passionate about conservation as I am. I think working for the refuge means
directly conserving and preserving these beautiful public lands that people enjoy and also really
putting your heart and soul to it, because at the end of the day, these lands are here for
people to enjoy and you want to share that with the surrounding community. Watching the community
being able to come and enjoy your work, whether it be the habitat restoration work you did or
just releasing the bison to an area where they're able to see them more, seeing the community react
and get excited over the little things that you did really puts a smile on your face.
[Cynthia Martinez, Chief, National Wildlife Refuge System, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service] Through our Urban Wildlife Conservation Program
we strive to inspire the next generation of outdoor enthusiasts
by working alongside communities in high population areas, like your Mile High City,
to better understand local conservation issues and how they affect your community.
We will be able to expand racial equity through living wage opportunities for youth,
improve infrastructure to provide more accessible recreational opportunities, and work alongside
your community to address the many environmental threats that impact both wildlife and people.
[Ed Perlmutter] The Challenge Grant that this Wildlife Refuge has received,
and well deserved, is a million dollars. That is going to make this place more accessible
to the Denver Metropolitan Area, and especially to minority students and
communities that have been underserved for a long time.
[René Bullock] Equity in conservation means that all the people that live around this
area will be able to come out here and equally enjoy it. There are a lot of populations that
will never see this if it wasn't for that equity in conservation.
[Stacie Gilmore] When you have access it means that you have more folks getting out, they share
the information with their neighbors, you start to really develop that conservation stewardship,
and when people care about something they want to protect it, but they also want to make it better
and they want to share that love and that passion with others, and that's really how we continue to
build the conservation movement across the United States, but we do that with communities of color
and others who maybe have been excluded and when you talk about biodiversity and
how important it is for the environment, it's the same thing - we need to be inclusive and
have that diversity of people so that we can do more and increase that conservation stewardship.
[Joseph Cordova] I envision the future for refuge partners and
our group as having more youth out here to the Arsenal to visit and build that connection with
nature. There's not as much access to open space and wildlife in the inner city, and this being
right here in the heart of the city is a perfect opportunity for youth to come and start building
that bond and carrying that, you know, back to the mountains and back to their backyards,
and getting a lot of great work done in the process.
[Benjamin Huseman] You know, another great benefit of the refuge being here is the health impact that
it has on our community members. I'm standing here on a brand new trail that was opened up
that allows our residents to hike, bike, walk, do whatever it is that they want in order to
get some exercise - and there's no better setting to get that exercise than right here on a refuge
where you don't know what kind of wildlife you're going to encounter. You know, today you may see an
eagle, tomorrow you may see a coyote, maybe deer, you know, there's so many opportunities here - as
well as the Black-footed ferret, I mean this, you talk about a success story, when they reintroduced
the Black-footed ferret to this refuge they had no idea was going to be as successful as it is,
and it's an opportunity to come out here and maybe see wildlife like that that you're never
going to see anywhere else in your lifetime, so it's really just great; the health impacts,
and the environment, and just the surroundings, you can't beat a visit to the Wildlife Refuge.
[Monique Rivera] I really hope that the community sees our work as meaningful and necessary.
For example, I know sometimes when we do prescribed burning, if people aren't familiar with
what fire does for native plant communities and how it can restore those, it can come off as
daunting or sometimes portrayed in a different way than intended to and I think that could
really be changed with this funding; we can push more community engagement and really
connect with our visitors and let them know what we're doing and that our work here is meaningful.
[Narrator] Propelled by public and private partnerships, refuge stewards
at Rocky Mountain Arsenal, Two Ponds, and Rocky Flats National Wildlife Refuges
will use this funding, and these relationships, to restore wildlife habitat. With continued support
from our neighbors, we will connect people with wildlife, and the land, for generations to come.
[Michael Bennet] The funding the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge
is receiving this year is testament to the work they do to advance urban conservation.
Their efforts ensure that our kids, and our grandkids can enjoy the public lands and wildlife
that are so integral to Colorado's heritage, regardless of where they live.
[Martha Williams] The work you've already done has earned this significant support.
Congratulations to your refuge and your community.
[René Bullock] If it wasn't for the staff of Fish and Wildlife,
none of this would get done so I want to thank them, and
really thank them because if it wasn't for them, we wouldn't have this funding. Thank you again.