Central Great Plains Research Station, Akron, Colorado

• Scope of work under Recovery Act

Amount: $550,000

Repair of critical deferred maintenance including replacing system components in facility HVAC and fire alarm systems. Replace window systems to eliminate infiltration of water causing deterioration of structure and contents.

Milestones

September 2009 - Construction contract awarded for $109,166 for the repair of the fire alarm system

July 2010 - Construction contract awarded for $92,880 for the window replacement.

Construction Photos

Research at the Central Great Plains Research Station

Researchers at the Central Plains Resources Management Unit work to protect the environment during agricultural production while improving economic efficiency. They have developed drought mitigation strategies to help dryland growers decrease the risk of crop failure under drought conditions, maintaining profitability for producers while ensuring an ongoing supply of food products to consumers even during water shortages.

During the past century, the station's experiments have identified the crops best suited to the region, such as winter wheat, sorghum, millet, corn, triticale and sunflower. In addition, researchers found that ponderosa pine and Rocky Mountain juniper made the best shelterbelts to reduce erosion. Akron scientists also have helped improve yields of several crops, including winter wheat, by as much as 50 percent and have developed water-management techniques for maximizing crop growth.

Scientists at Akron have released new cereal varieties and developed water-harvesting techniques for reducing soil damage. They were also influential in pioneering conservation management techniques such as no-till, eco-fallow and stubble-mulch. Researchers are currently developing sustainable crop-rotation systems for cultivated drylands, semiarid croplands, rangelands and irrigated lands.

Project Photographs Before Construction