COMMISSIONERS’ CORNER—Earth Month in Adams County: Acting on What Matters to Our Community

By Lynn Baca, Chair of the Adams County Board of Commissioners

In Adams County, environmental protection isn’t a passing priority—it’s a shared value. We hear it from our residents all the time: clean air, safe water, natural spaces, land preservation, and climate resilience are issues that matter deeply to the people who live here. They matter to us as the Board of County Commissioners, too.

Throughout April, our county had the privilege of celebrating Earth Month, and it was an opportunity for us to reflect on how we, as a county, are responding to these concerns with real action—and why that work is so important. As a county, we’ve made it a priority to center sustainability in how we operate, plan, and invest in our future. Across departments, teams are stepping up to meet this moment—not because it’s trendy, but because it’s necessary.

Our Sustainability Program leads this effort by setting a vision and driving countywide initiatives that reduce environmental impact and build long-term resilience. Whether it’s integrating sustainability into capital projects, or spotlighting water conservation, energy efficiency, the importance of green spaces in communities, or one of many other initiatives, this team ensures our goals match the urgency our community feels.

Our Fleet & Facilities Management team has been instrumental in bringing more electric vehicles into our county fleet and building out charging infrastructure to support them. These aren’t symbolic gestures—they’re meaningful steps toward lowering emissions and modernizing how we serve residents.

Public health is another key part of the conversation. The Adams County Health Department works every day to ensure safe air, water, and food through programs that protect our environment and our residents. These efforts are often invisible, but they’re foundational to community well-being.

Environmental protection also shows up in our regulatory work. The Community & Economic Development team has led thoughtful, persistent efforts to monitor and manage land use and development, including oil and gas development, ensuring that health and safety for our residents comes first. This year, their work—alongside regional partners—helped lead to a major win at the state level: new air toxics rules that will better protect communities across Colorado. Read more here.

Meanwhile, our Parks, Open Space, & Cultural Arts team continues to be a model for stewardship—preserving natural spaces, restoring habitats, and making sure our open lands remain places of connection, joy, and respite for generations to come.

All of these efforts are connected. And they’re not limited to one department or program—every part of our organization has a role to play. Protecting the environment is core to how we ensure public health, economic resilience, and quality of life, and it shows up in so many areas of our work.

But this Earth Month, we’re not just rolling up our sleeves—we’re also rolling out the banners to celebrate alongside our community members and partners. This month, we co-hosted the region’s first Earth Day Celebration alongside five partner cities—a celebration of what’s possible when local governments, community members, and organizations work together for shared goals. Learn more here.

The work we do at Adams County continues every day, and the environmental challenges we face—locally and globally—require collaboration, innovation, and ongoing commitment. We’re proud of the steps we’ve taken, and we know there’s more to do. We want our residents to know: your concerns are heard. The things you care about—clean air, safe neighborhoods, access to nature—guide the decisions we make. And as a county, we’re investing in a future where the environment, and everyone who calls this place home, can thrive. 

We also want you all to know we see everything you’re doing to show you care about our planet, our climate, and our community. Caring is a team sport, and we’re so glad that when it comes to a game this important, we’re playing alongside the best community around. Earth Month is a reminder of everything we love about Adams County—the beauty of our community; the places we live, work, play, and learn; and the reasons that all of that is worth protecting. Earth Month is about showing up, and we thank you for trusting us with that responsibility, this month and every month.