Welcome!
Every year, the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area (Cache NHA) provides funding to local and regional partners and schools in support of projects, programs, and events that benefit the community and further the mission of Cache NHA to:
Promote a variety of historical and cultural opportunities.
Engage people in their river corridor.
Inspire learning, preservation, and stewardship.
To be eligible for funding, the project or event must be within the Cache la Poudre River National Heritage Area.
Below you will see our current opportunities.
- You will need to create a free Submittable account or sign in with Google or Facebook credentials to submit to these forms.
- You can save a draft of your work if you would like to finish filling out the form at a later date.
- If anything changes with the information you submitted, please request to edit the submission
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- We will follow-up with you about your submission by email. Please be sure to safelist notification emails from Submittable and check the email you used to sign up for your Submittable Account regularly.
Check out the Submitter Resource Center for help videos and articles or to reach out to Submittable's Customer Support team with any technical questions.
Heritage Area Activities and Events- Our goal is to honor the history and culture of the Poudre and its people. We encourage partners to gather locals and tourist alike to celebrate all the river has to offer. Past events we've supported include the Children's Water Festival, Poudre Trail-a-thon, Bike to Work Day, grand opening ceremonies for new trails and attractions, the River Fest, Pub Talks on water and agriculture, the Poudre Forum and more!
Community Projects- Our goal is to honor the history and culture of the Cache la Poudre River and its people. The Community Projects program supports the preservation, interpretation, and development of the heritage area resources. The community projects grant guidelines can be found here.
The project must:
- preserve, interpret, or develop historical and/or cultural assets within/for the heritage area
- be aligned with one or more interpretive themes identified below
- secure at least equal contribution for the project from nonfederal sources
- be for public benefit
- be available for use and/or distribution by Cache NHA at the conclusion of the project (Interpretation & Development projects)
Interpretive Themes
1. Homelands: Northern Colorado is the ancestral homeland of the Ute and later the Arapaho people, as well as other historic tribes such as the Cheyene, Comanche, Apache, and Kiowa. Indigenous understanding of the environment and of native plants and animals offers a different way of knowing the Poudre.
2. Ancient Voices: People have been drawn to the life-sustaining waters of the river for over 12,000 years. Before it was known as the Poudre, Paleoindians and Folsom people called this river basin home. The Kaplan-Hoover Bison Kill Site - one of the largest bison kill sites ever found - provides a compelling local story.
3. New Roots: Germans, Russians, Hispanics, African Americans and others settled in the Poudre River basin to farm or work in the sugar beet factories and fields, establishing communities and bringing new cultural and religious traditions.
4. Following the Water: Fur trappers and traders, including diverse people of many cultures who traveled with them, hunted beaver and game animals along the Poudre’s banks, leaving behind their multicultural stories and legacy.
5. Rethinking Colorado Water Law: Early disagreements over the Poudre River led to the establishment of Western water law and the notion of “First in Time, First in Right.” As demand on the Poudre increases—combined with a hotter, drier climate—it is time to rethink this historical precedent.
6. Collaboration & Compromise: Water from the Poudre ends up in Northern Colorado’s taps, produce, beer, and more. Animals, plants, and competing interests share the river today. In addition to agricultural and industrial use, the Poudre offers a place of recreation, reflection, and observation. Collaboration and compromise ensure the Poudre’s health and a sustainable quality of life and future for Northern Colorado.
7: River of Life: Colorado’s rivers comprise less than 2% of the state’s ecosystems but the majority of Colorado’s birds, fish and wildlife depend on riparian habitat. The Poudre River watershed is key to the ecological health of Northern Colorado and is critical for biodiversity.
Original Themes:
1. Settlement tensions over use of water
2. Water laws, institutions, and allocation methods influenced the development of the West
3. Innovative irrigation techniques for diverting, delivering, and measuring water still endure
4. Debates over the appropriate use of the Poudre River's water continue today
Letter of Intent
All applicants are required to submit a Letter of Intent through the application portal prior to completing a full application so Cache NHA can learn more about your proposed projects. Staff may request a meeting to learn more about your proposed project or provide additional guidance for the application. Projects are subject to decline at this step in the processes or may go on hold until additional funding can be secured. Proposed projects that move beyond the letter of intent stage will be sent the full application for completion.