On Saturday, April 5, 2025, The Pikes Peak Group and over 3500 other Colorado Springs residents took to the streets downtown and joined 1200 nationwide protests. These protests had a message for the Trump Administration: HANDS OFF. 

Demands included protecting social security, stopping the mass firings of federal workers, protecting our national parks and public lands, and stopping mass deportations without due process. The program included several local speakers.  Aside from the message for the President and his co-conspirators, speakers touched on the PFAS issue in the South End of town, Veteran issues, the economy, and education. 

On March 22, 2025, The Pikes Peak Group joined the second in a series of protests organized at National Parks and Monuments throughout the country. The protests were in support of fired National Park employees and keeping public lands and parks protected. Around 60 people showed up at Florissant Fossil Beds, all dedicated to keeping America's best idea solvent and protected for all time. 

The State of Colorado recently enacted legislation (House Bill 2025-1040) changing the definitions of “clean energy” to allow nuclear energy to be treated as a source of clean energy.  Colorado Springs Utilities has announced plans to explore the use of small modular reactors to meet its clean energy goals.  Pikes Peak Group held a Zoom session on March 25th to discuss the push toward nuclear power at the state and local level, and how we can effectively make our voices heard.  Ramesh Bhatt, Chapter Conservation Chair, spoke on HB 25-1040, Jamie Valdez of Roots to Resistance spoke on the anti-nuclear movement in Pueblo.  Jim Lockhart and Jane Ard-Smith spoke on CSU’s plans to explore potential use of small modular nuclear reactors.  We believe that Utilities will seriously consider including nuclear power in its energy portfolio, possibly using it to replace other genuinely “clean” sources of power.  After the conference, Jim contacted participants and others interested in the issue to form a core group of people to monitor the issue.  The core group will have its first virtual meeting on Thursday, April 24 at 6 p.m.  If you are interested in becoming part of the core group or just in joining this effort, sign up at  Nuclear Power meeting  For more information, contact Jim Lockhart at  jlock@datawest.net or 719-385-0045.

For those of you who did not attend the event, you can view the slide deck from the webinar at Nuclear Isn't an Option (CO Springs) - Google Slides

We also encourage you to join Nuclear-Free Colorado and to attend their weekly virtual meetings. 

Sign up for Nuclear-Free Colorado Weekly Meetings here.

By Jim Lockhart, Conservation Chair

It has been a busy month for our Conservation Committee. Please follow the link below for updates from our Conservation Chair on all of our issue and priorities. 

April 2025 Conservation Report 

By Judy Shulman, Wildlife Chair

Wolves travel long distances to find food, mates and space to live. Wolf breeding season occurs once per year in February, and pups are born in April or early May.

Unfortunately one of our collared Colorado wolves traveled to Wyoming and was killed there.

"CPW biologists received a mortality alert for male gray wolf 2505-BC on March 16. The mortality took place in north-central Wyoming. 2505-BC was part of the group of wolves translocated to Colorado from British Columbia and came from areas where there is no overlap between wolves and livestock.  The United States Department of Agriculture, Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) in Wyoming was conducting livestock depredation mitigation in response to multiple livestock losses in Wyoming."

The monthly collared wolf activity map for Feb. 25- March 25 shows activity as far south as Salida, as far east along 285 as the border of Jefferson County, and past Grand Junction in the west.

Click here for a ‘Living With Wolves’ brochure.

The Friends of Red Rock Open Space organization is trying to determine whether it should support, oppose, or take a neutral position on a modification of the Red Rock Canyon Open Space conservation easements to permit the use of Class 1 e-bikes on all or some of the Red Rock Canyon trails. They are soliciting feedback from members and supporters.  If you would like to submit comments, you can do so by sending an e-mail to friends@redrockcanyonopenspace.org

Please welcome Ann Gadwah as the newest member of the PPG Executive Committee! Ann is a passionate and experienced environmental advocate, with a background in education and community organizing. She served in many capacities with the Sierra Club in her native Massachusetts, and for the last few months, she has been creating and editing our digital newsletter. In her application for ExCom, Ann noted "I firmly believe that the best way to improve the world around you is to help improve whatever you can in your neighborhoods and community. Local action is the way to combat the chaos of the larger world." Given the chaotic times we are experiencing, we are thrilled to have Ann join us as we work to protect our planet.

Monument Creek Cleanup 
Saturday, May 3 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

The Pikes Peak Group of the Sierra Club has adopted the Roswell Reach portion of Monument Creek and conducts cleanups of trash and litter three times each year.  We will be hosting our first cleanup of the year on Saturday, May 3rd at 10 a.m.  Participants should wear work clothing appropriate to the weather conditions, including long pants and sturdy footwear and bring work gloves.  Participants should wear sunscreen.  Sierra Club will conduct a pre-cleanup safety meeting and will provide information on items that should not be picked up but left for a special crew.  Participants should plan to meet at 10 a.m. at Roswell Park, 515 Polk Street. 

For details or to sign up, contact Jim Lockhart at 719-385-0045 or jlock@datawest.net.

Fountain Creek Cleanup
Saturday, May 17, 9:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m.

As part of Public Lands Day, May 17th, the Pikes Peak Sierra Club Group and Wild Connections invite you to join them for a cleanup of the Sierra Club’s Adopt-A-Waterway section of Fountain Creek adjacent to El Pomar Youth Sports Center along the Pikes Peak Greenway Trail in Colorado Springs.  This is an opportunity to help the environment and learn more about our waterways and their importance to wildlife and to wildlife movement.  Dress for the weather, including work gloves, long pants, and sturdy shoes or boots.  Wear sunscreen and bring drinking water.  Park in the northeast corner of the Kohl’s parking lot at 2725 Janitell Rd., Colorado Springs, where we will meet for a short safety briefing and provide information on items that should not be picked up, but left for a special crew. Pre-event registration is required.  Please sign up no later than Thursday, May 15th. 

For more info and to register, contact Chuck Donachy at 719-330-5580 or donachy834@aol.com.

The Pikes Peak Group will be holding a general member and supporter meeting on Tuesday, May 6, 2025 at 6:00PM. Please check your email for more information soon!