Agriculture is crucial to quality of life on the West Slope.
Recreation and agriculture frequently overlap on the landscape. By engaging with both communities, West Slope Outdoors Alliance is building trust and relationships to ensure both can coexist and enjoy our exceptional landscapes.
Increasing Awareness
West Slope Outdoors Alliance has partnered with the AgriWest Initiative and Colorado State University Extension to install signs across the West Slope answering the question: Why is there grazing on this public land? And: What should I do if I encounter livestock while recreating? With funding from the CSU Food Systems program, the Agriwest Initiative started this project in 2025 and installed three signs on public land across Mesa County. In 2026, with funding from Great Outdoors Colorado and Colorado Parks and Wildlife, additional signs were installed in Delta and Montrose counties.
Modeling Good Behavior
After positive feedback on the multiple use signs and on trail courtesy signs installed across the region, WSOA partnered with CSU Extension and Mesa County Cattlewomen to take the education a step farther with a series of funny, educational videos demonstrating how recreationists can stay safe and respectful on the trail when recreating in areas also used for agriculture. This series is currently in-production with a release date expected for January 2027
Decreasing Unintentional Harms
In West Slope Outdoors Alliance’s 2025 survey, gates left open was a commonly cited example of recreation negatively impacting agriculture. To negate this, West Slope Outdoors Alliance partnered with the Bureau of Land Management and local trail and conservation groups to install two rollover gates in 2026 with funding from Great Outdoors Colorado and Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
