The High Plains rise gradually toward the Rockies in a vast sweep of shortgrass prairie, a land of immense sky and subtle beauty that most travelers cross without ever seeing. Beneath it lies the Ogallala Aquifer, an ancient reservoir of water that made the region an agricultural powerhouse and is now being drawn down far faster than the rain can refill it. Above ground, the grasslands still hold pronghorn, prairie dogs, and some of the fastest-declining birds in North America.
The groups working here protect the last intact grasslands, restore playa wetlands that recharge the aquifer, and partner with ranchers to keep prairie unplowed. In a landscape defined by the tension between water and time, their work is about keeping the plains, and the water beneath them, alive for the long haul.
Environmental Organizations in This Bioregion
214 organizations working across this landscape.
350 Colorado
350 Colorado is working locally to help build the global grassroots movement to solve the climate crisis and transition to a sustainable future.
Access Fund
Ensuring sustainable access and conservation of the climbing environment
Agroecology Fund
The Agroecology Fund is a multi-donor fund that supports just and sustainable food systems.
American Trail Running Association
Founded in 1996, ATRA’s mission is to promote trail running, mountain running, ultrarunning on trails
Bicycle Colorado
To advocate for all people who ride bikes.
Bicycles for Humanity
Changing the World Two Wheels At A Time
Big City Mountaineers
For over 30 years, Big City Mountaineers has provided transformative experiences in nature for youth from disinvested communities.
Big Green
Big Green believes that growing food changes lives. We provide financial and infrastructural support to frontline food growers, schools, and communities.
BikeDenver
To promote and encourage bicycling as an energy efficient, non-polluting, healthy, and enjoyable transportation alternative within the City and County of Denver.
Bike Fort Collins
Advocates for Safe and Enjoyable Cycling in Fort Collins, Colorado
Bikes Together
We want to get people on bikes and keep them there. We strive to foster bicycling in Denver as a viable means of transportation, and as a means to address wealth an...
Bird Conservancy of the Rockies
Our mission at Bird Conservancy of the Rockies is the conservation of birds and their habitats through an integrated approach of science, education and land stewards...
B Local Colorado
B Local Colorado brings together the over 131 Certified B Corps in the state to use business as a force for good.
Boulder Climbing Community
We envision a world where climbers are stewards of the crag, not merely users. Where land managers, climbers, and outdoor enthusiasts can come together to protect o...
Boulder Open Space Conservancy
Building community support and stewardship for the preservation of Boulder's wild public lands.
Bridges to Prosperity
Bridges to Prosperity provides isolated communities with access to essential healthcare, education and economic opportunities by using recycled materials to build f...
Cal-Wood Education Center
Cal-Wood's mission is to offer a unique outdoor educational experience to youth and adults. Our founding vision has guided our organization since 1982: to inspi
Cannabis Certification Council
The Council is a nonprofit standard holding body whose mission is to educate the industry and consumers about sustainable and quality practices . Through the Canna...
Carbon Cut Colorado
To improve home energy efficiency, conserve energy, promote health, increase comfort, and expand Coloradans' quality of life.
Catamount Institute
We cultivate young explorers & scientists by connecting thousands of kids to the outdoors each year. We harness their natural sense of wonder & curiosity th...
Center for Collaborative Conservation
The CCCC builds skills and resources among those working across boundaries to achieve great conversation, support livelihoods, and achieve well being.
Chef Ann Foundation
Ensuring that school food professionals have the support they need to provide fresh, health school food to positively impact children and the planet.
Cherry Hills Land Preserve
Quincy Farm is a 17.5-acre property that was graciously donated to the City of Cherry Hills Village by Catherine (“Cat”) Anderson. Quincy Farm is nestled among cen...
Clean Energy Credit Union
Public demand for clean energy is growing rapidly, but because clean energy products typically require a large upfront cost, there is a growing need for affordable ...
Clean Label Project
Clean Label Project™ is a national non-profit with the mission to bring truth and transparency to food and consumer product labeling. The foundation of food and cons...
Clean Trails
Clean Trails promotes harmony with the land by encouraging stewardship and by providing mechanisms to keep outdoor spaces litter-free. We bring together individuals ...
Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed
To improve & maintain the ecological health of the Poudre River Watershed through community collaboration.
Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center
The Colorado Agrivoltaic Learning Center educates our broad community about coupling agriculture within solar arrays for meaningful societal benefits.
Colorado Fourteeners Initiative
Colorado Fourteeners Initiative protects and preserves the natural integrity of Colorado’s 54 14,000–foot peaks —the “Fourteeners”— through active stewardship and pu...
Colorado Outward Bound School
To change lives through challenge and discovery. The Colorado Outward Bound School, founded in 1962 in Marble, Colorado, is a nonprofit educational organization th...
Colorado State University's Center for Protected Area Management (CPAM)
CPAM contributes to the conservation, planning, and management of the world's protected areas and the landscapes and seascapes that surround and connect them throug...
Colorado Water Trust
The mission of Colorado Water Trust is to restore water to Colorado's rivers.
Community Cycles
Our Boulder nonprofit organization is made up of people who ride bicycles, love bicycles, and support bicycle-based transportation.
Conscious Alliance
Conscious Alliance unifies bands, brands, artists, and fans to collectively support communities in crisis.
Conservation Colorado
We are the largest statewide environmental organization, with over 60,000 members and counting, and offices in Denver, Grand Junction, Durango, Carbondale, and Pueb...
Continental Divide Trail Coalition
The mission of the Continental Divide Trail Coalition is to complete, promote, and protect the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. The CDTC will do this by bui...
COSSA INSTITUTE INC
The COSSA Institute is a Colorado-based 501(c)(3) organization focused on accelerating the clean energy movement through community investment. The COSSA Institute pr...
Cottonwood Institute
Cottonwood Institute (CI) is an award-winning 501(c)3 environmental educational non-profit organization based in Denver, CO.
Denver Audubon
We inspire actions that protect birds, other wildlife, and their habitats through education, conservation, and research.
Denver Park Trust
The Denver Park Trust is the philanthropic partner for Denver Parks and Recreation, mobilizing support to fund projects to ensure every resident has a place to gathe...
Denver Urban Gardens
Denver Urban Gardens (just call us DUG) is one of the largest independent network of food-producing gardens in the country.
Denver Zoological Foundation
At Denver Zoo, conservation is a part of everything we do! We work with the Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA) to support animals through voluntary programs li...
Diploma in Climate Medicine
Building a climate-informed health professional workforce.
Douglas County Land Conservancy
The Douglas Land Conservancy is a non-partisan, non-profit land trust dedicated to the protection and conservation of the natural character, habitat, and open space...
Drylands Agroecology Research
DAR designs and researches agricultural systems that restore hydrological systems, biodiversity, and abundance to degraded lands in the arid West.
Ecosa Institute
To teach regenerative design and ecological principles that align human aspirations with nature’s systems—empowering students to create resilient, responsible soluti...