CUSP was awarded the Collaborative Integrated Aquatic Stewardship Award by the U.S Forest Service in 2024 for work completed on the 11-Mile Dam Diversion Project and For Dedicated Stewardship Of Local Waterways
Carol Ekarius, Executive Director, was awarded the Phoenix Award by CUSP in 2019. This is recognition of her twenty years of dedicated service to the Coalition For The Upper South Platte and to our watershed and communities.
Jonathan Bruno, Chief Operating Officer, was awarded the 2016 Wildfire Mitigation Innovation Award by the National Association of State Foresters, International Association of Fire Chiefs, National Fire Protection Association, and the U.S. Forest Service. This is the highest national honor one can receive for outstanding work and significant program impact in wildfire preparedness and mitigation.
Carol Ekarius, Executive Director, was awarded the 2015 Excellence in Environmental Stewardship Award from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Water Quality Control Division Nonpoint Source Program.
CUSP was awarded a Special Recognition Award from the Colorado State Forest Service in 2015. This award recognizes those individuals or entities that help the Colorado State Forest Service “get the job done” on an ongoing basis while working on projects of shared interest with exceptional attitude and professionalism.
CUSP was awarded the 2014 Southern Colorado Conservation Award for positively impacting the land and the way members of our communities understand and respect their relationship to the land.
CUSP was awarded the Federal Emergency Management Agency Individual and Community Preparedness Award in 2014 for our work to reduce wildfire risk in our communities and prepare communities for post-fire flooding in the aftermath of the 2012 Waldo Canyon Fire.
Jonathan Bruno, Chief Operating Officer, was honored as a White House’s Individual and Community Preparedness Champion of Change in 2014 for innovating for positive change in our communities.
CUSP received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Schools to Work Alliance Partnership in 2014.
CUSP was awarded the Western Governors’ Association Outgoing Chairman Appreciation Award in 2014 by Governor John Hickenlooper.
CUSP received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Schools to Work Alliance Partnership in 2014.
Carol Ekarius, Executive Director, was honored by the South Platte Forum as a Friend of the South Platte in 2012 to recognize her exceptional contributions to the South Platte River Basin.
A team of partners, including South Park Ranger District; CUSP; Sportsman’s Paradise; Colorado Watershed Alliance; Fin-up Habitat Consultants; and Colorado Parks and Wildlife were awarded the U.S. Forest Service’s Aquatic Recreational Accomplishment Award in 2012 for the Happy Meadows River Restoration Project.
The Chief’s Award was presented by the U.S. Forest Service in 2012 as a collaborative honor for in-stream restoration in Happy Meadows and other regional projects.
CUSP was awarded the Colorado Springs Convention and Visitor’s Bureau’s Annual Tourism Hero Award, A Community of Heroes – Volunteer Hero Award, in 2012.
CUSP received a Recognition of Service for Commitment to Volunteerism and Dedication to the Improvement of Colorado Communities through participation in the Colorado Governor’s Commission on Community Service 12th Annual Colorado Cares Day from the state of Colorado in 2010.
CUSP received a State of Colorado Recognition of Service for Dedicated Service and Contributions to the Colorado Governor’s Commission on Community Service and the Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service in 2010.
The Woodland Park Healthy Forest Initiative was recognized as the Woodland Park Chamber of Commerce Project of the Year in 2009.
CUSP received the Regional Forester’s Honor Award as the Forest and Grassland Health Partner of the Year in 2009.
CUSP received the Colorado Springs Committee for International Visitors’ Certificate of Appreciation for outstanding commitment to excellence providing technical briefings and hospitality to international visitors in 2006.
CUSP was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from the Office of Lieutenant Governor Jane Norton in recognition of service to the state of Colorado in 2006.
CUSP was nominated for the Governor’s Volunteer Service in 2006.
CUSP was awarded a Certificate of Appreciation from the Town of Alma for help and support with street improvements in 2005.
Martha Campbell, CUSP Special Projects Coordinator, received the Teammate of the Year Award in 2005 from the the Colorado State Forest Service for making the Teller Community Wildfire Protection Plan a reality.
CUSP was awarded the Regional Forester’s Honor Award in the category of Caring for the Land Stewardship in 2005.
CUSP received the Colorado Group Volunteer Award as part of the State Earth Team Volunteer Awards in 2003.
CUSP received the National Natural Resources Conservation Service’s Earth Team Group Volunteer Award in 2003.
CUSP was awarded the National Forest Foundation’s Partners in Stewardship Award in 2003.
CUSP was awarded the Environmental Protection Agency Region 8 Watershed Protection Excellence Award in 2003, and was commemoratively selected as one of twenty inaugural national watershed initiative projects.
CUSP received the Regional Forester’s Honor Award for Cooperative Support and Community Connections in 2003 for exemplifying the importance of working together in a supportive way to serve and recognize the public.
CUSP was awarded the National Fire Plan Award for Excellence in Rehabilitation and Restoration from the U.S. Department of Interior and U.S. Department of Agriculture in 2002.