1800 ACRE CONSERVATION EDUCATION & RECREATION CENTER
OVERVIEW
The repurposed Conservation Recreation Center is 1800+ acres in Southern Yuma County, Colorado, on the
site of the former Bonny Reservoir and State Park. In October 2011, the Colorado State Engineer began
draining the reservoir to comply with a federal court order designating the water for compact compliance of
the Republican River water compact. The State of Colorado
officially, permanently closed Bonny State Park in October 2011. The
initial plan was to demolish the $9million in built assets comprised of
six (6) buildings, formal campgrounds with utilities, covered tables &
guest showers, outdoor Amphitheatre, visitor facility out buildings,
potable water treatment, sewer system infrastructure, electric
utilities, shooting range, main paved & outlying campgrounds,
camper fresh water & wash-out station, target shooting range, grass
landing airstrip, etc.
Yuma County Officials approached the Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife (DPW) with a proposal to
save and utilize the built assets, seek land title transfer from the Federal Bureau of Reclamation through the
State to repurpose the facility as a public Center of Excellence to serve citizens of the Tri-State region
(Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska) as a self-supporting, non-profit Plains Conservation Education & Recreation
Center.
Historically, the facility served 200,000 visitors annually, with current audience numbers of 43,000+. The
repurposed Conservation Recreation Center will again serve 200,000 visitors annually with the audience
additions of horseback riders, daily conservation education center visitors, bird watchers, campers, model
airplane enthusiasts, OHV family recreationists, and tourist traffic.
The Conservation & Recreation Center will present daily the following education outreach programs to
include: Live Plains animal education experiences such as eagles, owls, hawks; terrestrial mammals, reptiles,
or amphibians; by animal conservation groups from across the Region; Plains Indian historical lifestyle and
cultural presentations; Historical plains; Stories of safe energy harvest demonstrating the rural-urban
interconnect; in situ naturalist guided tours; Interpretation of agriculture conservation practices; along with
on-going interactive and multi-media presentation in the Visitor Center theatre.
The recent Audubon list notes large numbers for: Bald Eagles, Northern Harriers, and Rough-legged Hawks.
These species do not commonly have high numbers throughout the Region. The Bald Eagle numbers are
significant. Golden Eagles are also noticed at the site. Northern Harrier numbers are unusually high and
significant. The number of Redtailed Hawks is large. The numbers of Kestrels are significant, as populations
are thought to be declining in many other parts of the Nation. Along with other Plains bird species, the
Center is attractive to numerous bird watcher groups and individuals.
One
program
will focus on
the
vast
native
eagle,
hawk,
&
owl
population
of
the
Plains.
Raptor
demonstrat
ions in the
Visitors
Center; as
well
as,
multimedia
natural
science
education
presentatio
ns of the
Eastern
Plains and
naturalistled in situ
tours of the
flora, fauna
and land,
will
be
offered
daily.
Urban
–
Rural
outreach
programs
and
field
trips will be
a focus to
familiarize
urban
student
audiences
(intermingl
ed
with
rural
students)
with
the
rich natural
resources of the Plains. Several Front-Range animal conservation groups have offered both live animal
presentations; and multi-media interpretations of the Animals of the Eastern Plains. The Division of Parks
and Wildlife will offer animal conservation programs along with hunter education training.
Agricultural assets and accomplishments, as well as, the Plains Region contributions to America’s energy
independence through safe, careful harvest of both surface and subterranean energy resources will be
interpreted.
Presentation of the Music & Culture of the Plains Indians public programs has been offered by a local Native
American. The program is designed to bring a deeper understanding of the Plains Indians to novice and
advanced learners, beginning with music as an important element of daily life. The program advances from
the spiritual to the values of hunting and food preparation. It is a participatory presentation with much
audience interaction. The instructor emphasizes that the sounds and scents of the eastern plains brings the
past to life and bridges current residents over to understanding and melding of the soul with the early
settlers. The value of the eagle and other animals of the plains to Native Americans is explained and
discussed.
If the Republican River corridor is restored and maintained as a wetland instead of a reservoir, many species
will remain and some new species may arrive. Most of the input into a restoration like this would be in hours
by people/volunteers for planting and weeding.
MISSION and PURPOSE
Mission and Purpose for The Center is to serve as an education and outreach Center of Excellence for
presenting the ecological needs and benefits of the land, flora & fauna of the Plains in order to promote
stewardship of these natural assets to the betterment of current and future generations.
The New Center (as contracted by Yuma County) will be
operated as a non-profit, self-sustaining natural science
conservation education facility generating the necessary
revenues for operation through site admissions, user fees,
memberships, programs, concession & museum store sales,
and other revenue sources in order to continually present
the Mission goals. The non-profit model offers benefit in
fundraising, sponsorships, operations, and public
perception.
At this time, it is anticipated that The New Center will be operated by Three Rivers Alliance (TRA), an IRS
certified 501c3 non-profit plains conservation program (est. 2008) evolving from the demands of the water
compact compliance covenants of the Plains Region and the impacts on wildlife, landowners, and residents.
TRA is also involved in several current projects such as: Russian Olive tree removal, ranch planning, and dead
wood removal in riparian areas. TRA helps in forming partnerships that bring state and federal dollars to
landowners to put these and other projects on the ground.
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

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Provide education and information concerning the Republican River Basin
Assist with the science technology, and resources needed to conserve and preserve range conditions,
wildlife habitat, and riparian areas in the basin
Promote good stewardship of the Basin through funding projects and consensus-based partnership
Promote understanding and respect for agriculture and its critical role in conservation
Additionally, TRA in partnership with local conservation districts is hosting training on holistic resource
management. The training will strengthen landowners critical thinking and adaptive management
strategies to improve agricultural and business practices in the basin focusing on profitable grazing, farming,
and wildlife conservation.