HomeMy WebLinkAbout04 April 2022 packetAgenda items are subject to change – Times are approximate and are also subject to change
Agenda | April 21, 2022
River Park Center
Second Floor Conference Room
123 Emma Road, Basalt CO 81621
Time Item
•Outreach/Education/Grants
4:00 PM •Understanding Beaver Benefits & Challenges to Determine
Opportunities for Roaring
Fork Watershed - Jackie Corday, Corday Natural Resources
Consulting and Fay Hartmann, American Rivers
5:00 PM •Sustaining CO Watersheds Conference Grant Request and
Sponsorship Request: Water Education Colorado, Casey Davenhill,
Colorado Watershed Assembly, Julie Ash, Stillwater Sciences
5:15 PM •Watershed PenPals Program Grant Request - Megan Dean,
Roaring Fork Conservancy
5:30 PM •Post Fire Rain Gauge Monitoring Glenwood Canyon Grant
Request - Paula Stepp, Executive Director, Middle Colorado
Watershed Council
5:45 PM •Roaring Fork Watershed Collaborative Grant Request - April Long,
Ruedi Water and Power Authority
6:15 PM •Pipeline Installation Grant Request - Jim Auster, Red Mountain
Ditch
6:45 PM •Crystal Wild and Scenic Campaign Grant Request - Emily Kay,
Wilderness Workshop
7:15 PM •Open Discussion
7:30 PM •Adjourn
Upcoming Meeting Dates
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Pitkin County Healthy Rivers and Streams Board
2022 Grant Request
Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference October 11-13, 2022
Partnership request benefitting:
Colorado Watershed Assembly
Water Education Colorado
Colorado Riparian Association
Program Funding Request Description
Together, the Colorado Watershed Assembly, Water Education Colorado, and the Colorado Riparian Association are
submitting a joint grant funding request for 2022 in the total amount of $7,500 to Pitkin County Healthy Rivers and
Streams Board. This support will be used to help fund the 2022 Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference, which will
be held October 11-13 at the Westin Riverfront Resort in Avon, Colorado. Pitkin County Healthy Rivers will be
highlighted as a “Sustaining” benefactor-level sponsor for the event.
In 2021, we reconvened our community in person, with a hybrid option, to come “Together Like Never Before.”
Combining in-person and virtual attendance, we saw a near-record turnout, with engaging presentations that included
some new elements to the conference format, including a series of fireside chats.
As we look ahead to the 2022 conference, we plan to focus on “Bridging Connections: Learning from the Past, Investing
in the Future” as our theme. Some key highlights will be the 50th anniversary of the Clean Water Act, the major
investments coming from the federal Infrastructure Act, and the Water ’22 campaign, which is focused on engaging
more Coloradans as informed stewards who are lending their voices to determining the state’s water future through this
year’s Colorado Water Plan update.
The 2022 conference will re-focus on a compelling live, in-person event format, with a recorded virtual option made
available following the live event for those who are unable to attend in person.
Conference History and Purpose
The Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference is a highly popular event that has been held annually for the past 17
years, with the purpose of bringing together knowledgeable and engaged community members, scientists, ecologists,
water managers, educators, policy makers and regulators to discuss and collaborate on best practices in watershed
management. For the past 11 years, the partnership collaboration has included the Colorado Watershed Assembly,
Water Education Colorado, and the Colorado Riparian Association.
The Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference (SCW) expands cooperation and collaboration throughout our state
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for natural resource conservation, protection, and enhancement by informing community members, agencies,
nonprofit organizations, consultants, and legislators about current issues. There is also a focus on networking
opportunities during the event that helps to foster prospective partnerships, strengthen relationships, and encourage
much-needed conversation about water issues across Colorado and beyond.
2022 Conference Theme and Sub-Themes
In 2022, the conference will focus on coming “Bridging Connections: Learning from the Past, Investing in the Future.”
This conference theme combines a few important sub-themes:
(1) First, we are drawing connections between past, present and future. We inherit the systems and legacies of the
past, for good and for bad, and refer to past conditions and reference points as we look to the future we want to
see. What do we maintain, what can we build from, and what do we have to “fix”?
(2) Second, we must continue to make investments in the future to build resiliency, while recognizing the levers we do
and don’t have don’t have control over.
(3) Third, we need to be mindful of the social connections in our work. Restoration, for instance, is based on our vision
of what it should look like. The Colorado Water Plan update is reliant on visioning for the future, with broad public
involvement. And the Water ’22 campaign is about building an informed and engaged community, one that
understands watershed-scale connections and is willing to make investments in the future.
(4) Fourth, when we’re considering infrastructure investments, how are we “bridging” toward new, innovative
structures that mimic natural systems?
As always, within these sub-themes, the conference will cover a cross-section of topics ranging from forest health to
flood risk management, stakeholder outreach to climate change, streamflow protection to land use planning, river
restoration to storm water management, project permitting to water quality protection, and more. Presentations will
be solicited from the community through an open “Call for Papers” beginning in mid-to-late April.
Need for Support
There is no other conference like this in Colorado! Over the last few years, interest in the Sustaining Colorado
Watersheds conference has continued to grow, and we continue to attract attendees from across the state and beyond.
Even for 2020’s purely virtual event, we had more than 250 individuals in attendance. In 2021, we had a combined
turnout of 270 for our hybrid conference. In 2019, our last in-person year, we had more than 300 individuals participate
and we maintained a wait list after filling all available registrations. It’s important to the three conference partners that
we can continue to serve this incredible demand for our popular conference.
Support from community partners such as the Pitkin Healthy Rivers and Streams Board allows us to provide this
compelling and valuable experience at an affordable registration fee. Specifically, your support for the 2022 conference
will help us attain the following measureable goals:
Continue to attract a diverse audience of professionals from the private and public sector to share knowledge
and develop productive working relationships. Compared to conferences of similar scope and caliber, we
continue to be able to offer a registration fee below market value, thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and
grant partners. This ensures the conference is accessible by local elected officials, public agency staff, and
nonprofit leaders, and not just for organizational leaders, but also mid-level staff and other individuals newer to
the field and to their organizations.
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Target and grow attendance by younger participants to ensure learning and participation by upcoming
generations through scholarships. Grant and sponsorship support helps us to provide scholarships and
volunteer opportunities to students and young professionals. In 2019, the percentage of attendees under the
age of 35 was 20%. In 2020, it increased to 33%. In 2021, it was 31%. For the past three years we were able to
provide 25 full scholarships each year, and we are committed to providing at least 25 in 2022, with priority
given to students and first-time attendees from nonprofit organizations.
Program Budget
The conference relies on revenue from three primary sources: registration fees, organizational contributions, and
community grants and sponsorships. The revenue collected must cover expenses incurred to plan and implement the
conference, including direct expenses such as food and beverage, audio/visual support, speaker fees, and printing
and marketing, as well as indirect expenses of staff time supplied by each of the partner organizations who spend
hundreds of hours putting the conference together.
In 2021, the Conference Planning Committee successfully raised $61,505 in community grant and sponsorship support.
We have increased our goal to $65,000 for 2022, which would get us back to where we were pre-covid for the 2019
conference. We are approaching all grant supporters and sponsors from the 2019-2021 conferences as well as pursuing a
number of additional opportunities.
The following community partners were generous to provide grant and sponsorship support in 2021:
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2022 Conference Budget
Actual Budget
2021 2022
Income
Sponsorships 61,505 65,000
Registrations 48,900 50,000
Contributions - other 0 0
Total Income 110,405 115,000
Expense
Hotel Food & Beverage 48,470 49,750
Audio Visual 15,240 7,000
Speaker Expenses
Partner staff time
159
39,846
1,500
48,000
Supplies 930 1,000
Program 0 500
Graphic Design 0 1,000
Printing/Registration 0 250
Merchant cc charges 3,343 3,500
Hospitality 0 1,000
Giveaways (conference cups) 1,409 1,500
Total Expense 109,397 115,000
NET REVENUE 1,008 0
Measurable Goals and Results
Each year, the Conference Planning Committee distributes a survey to conference attendees. The committee gathers
and analyzes the results of these surveys to determine such things as: the types of knowledge that have been gained by
participants from the conference, satisfaction levels for topics covered and for all additional aspects of the conference,
recommendations and suggestions for future conferences, and any additional open-ended feedback.
What we learn from participants helps to inform future conference planning. We are encouraged by the positive feedback
we receive and we welcome all comments from attendees who take the time to identify areas for improvement as well as
suggestions for future topics. This helps us continue to identify varied and timely topics that challenge our attendees to
explore a variety of perspectives and to make new connections.
A brief summary of the survey results from the 2021 conference and a number of participant quotes is included
below. The 2021 SCW Conference agenda is also attached for your reference.
Altogether we hosted nearly 200 guests and welcomed over 70 virtual attendees for a total attendance of 270. The
“Together Like Never Before” Conference included 20 presentations from 52 speakers along with a variety of outdoor
experiences and field trips.
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2021 Conference Feedback Summary
Overall Value:
o 75% of respondents rated the overall conference value “Very High” or “High”
o 89% are “Very Likely” or “Likely” to recommend the conference to others
o 96% of respondents said the conference increased their understanding of challenges, best practices and
innovations in watershed and stream management to at least some extent.” 57% said to a “Great” or
“Very Great” extent.
o 96% of respondents said the conference increased their understanding of opportunities and practices for
engaging and communicating with stakeholders to at least some extent. 49% said to a “Great” or “Very
Great” extent
o 97% of respondents said the conference increased their understanding of opportunities for collaboration
with other disciplines on watershed issues to at least some extent. 59% said to a “Great” or “Very Great”
extent
Post Conference Field Trips
o 86% of those who attended the optional field trips rated them “Very Satisfactory” or “Satisfactory”
Networking:
o 95% of those who attended the conference’s networking opportunities rated them “Very Satisfactory” or
“Satisfactory”
Audience Demographics:
o Profession: The majority of respondents (31%) identify themselves “Government Staff.” The next two
largest categories were “Private Water Professionals” (30%) and “Water Educators” (23%), followed by
“Non-Governmental Organizations” (20%), “Interested Citizens/Ratepayers/Taxpayers” (10%), “Water
Rights Owners” (5%), “Students”, “Project Funders” and “Project Proponents,” (each 4%) and
“Elected/Appointed Officials” (1%). Note participants were able to select all that applied and there was
some overlap.
o Geography: Our registrations showed that attendees and speakers tuned into the conference from
throughout Colorado and from other states.
o Age: 51% of respondents were between the ages of 35 and 54; 31% were under 35; 18% were 55 and
older.
o Race/Ethnicity: 85% of respondents indicated they were of White/Caucasian ethnicity; 1% of respondents
were of Asian or Pacific Islander ethnicity; 1% were of Hispanic or Latinx ethnicity; 0% were of Black or
African American ethnicity; 11% preferred not to answer or preferred to self-describe.
Below is a sample of feedback from 2021 conference attendees, which continues to illustrate the need for and the
value in the Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference!
“This was my first conference but won't be my last!”
“You guys did a great job under the current circumstances. Was so happy to be back this year.”
“Great job! COVID obviously made this year's event harder, but it was executed well with obvious attention to
different comfort levels around covid. Thank you!”
“I made valuable connections and was able to discuss my research with professionals.”
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“I love this conference because it has a good amount of practical knowledge shared. Nearly everything discussed
and shared here is something that can be used or implemented. It's not too technical, too theoretical, or too fear-
inducing. It's a good balance to keep useful science moving.”
“I do very much appreciate this conference's focus on science-based topics with a good mix of the other necessary
steps it takes to make science successful (funding, outreach, equity, etc.)
“The information has given me a whole new outlook and ideas for career options.”
“We need more of a roundtable discussion and create more engagement within the presentations themselves,
versus presenting singularly for every single session. I found it to be very heavy on data and while I understand
there are a lot of technical minds in the audience, it would be a huge benefit to infuse more of the human
interest/engagement/real life application into the narrative. It gets lost, and I think people need to be reminded of
why we're doing all this.”
“I left wanting to know more about how we actually measure or assess our level of inclusivity and equity in
projects. It is hard to think about what equity means when your needs are met and your opinion is heard. I would
love more guidance on how to check we are moving towards equity in water resource management.”
“I think there could be more virtual options available in the future if they consider going down that route. I felt like
I missed a lot and wish I could have seen more. I did enjoy what I got to see!”
“Good networking opportunities in person, engaging group of presenters, diverse range of topics.”
“Overall great conference! I really enjoyed the riparian pieces of the conference. It was also nice that there was a
focus on equity and inclusion. It was interesting that it seemed like all the same people who have attended for 15
years and not a lot of people who usually wouldn't attend. One idea to try and broaden who is able to attend and
is included would be to target scholarships to younger generations who are working in water but don't have access
to this. Another point would be that the water profession is very difficult to break into because of this
legacy of people working in it for so long so maybe some of these more established professionals can actively find
some bright young people to bring to the table.”
This is typically one of my favorite conferences to attend around water in Colorado, and always feels like I've found
‘my people’ in terms of a growing community of people working to address some of Colorado's stickiest water
issues using the latest science and genuinely engaging stakeholders.”
“This conference is a great networking opportunity for water professionals, although I think it should be more
inclusive of small business owners, independent media outlets, ag community representatives, outfitters, young
adults, etc. if we're really going to forward the conversation.”
“Vail tour of the restoration project was my favorite part of the conference. We were able to learn, talk, and meet
others outdoors.”
“The Vail field trip was excellent. Technical stuff like vegetation, biology, flows, etc. But also lots of other stuff like
public outreach, enforcement, regulatory challenges, etc.”
Public Relations
Between the three nonprofit partners, we will reach tens of thousands of people across Colorado with information
about the 2022 conference. News and information about this conference will continue to have a deep reach across a
wide variety of audiences throughout Colorado and beyond. We will continue Marketing and Public Relations for the
2022 SCW Conference primarily including, but not limited to:
Ongoing email communications, including e-blasts and newsletters, to all supporters and members of the
three nonprofit partners, reaching thousands
Posts on Social Media from all three nonprofit partners (Facebook, Twitter, Blog Postings, Etc.), reaching
thousands
Information displayed prominently on all three partner websites
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Print information in partner materials and publications, reaching thousands
Other supporting partners around the state will be promoting the conference within their own channels and
networks, reaching thousands more
We will also take advantage of additional promotional opportunities as they develop between now and the
launch of the conference.
Impact of Support
The annual Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference is a trusted source of timely and useful information for
watershed groups, restoration professionals, environmental scientists, interested citizens, land use planners,
educators and more. The lineup of presenters, workshops and field trips are designed to provide opportunities for
partnership development and practical collaboration for the benefit of Colorado’s water resources. Community
support is vital for this conference and helps to keep registration costs significantly lower than they would otherwise
be, making this exciting event accessible. Your support is fundamental to the conference’s growth and
continued success.
We always have a strong presence of attendees from the Roaring Fork Watershed and Pitkin County, and we receive
great feedback year after year on the multiple sessions that teach attendees about conservation, restoration, and
other relevant topics within the Roaring Fork Watershed. You can see from last year’s agenda, how relevant the
workshops and sessions at this conference are to the great work the Pitkin County Healthy Rivers and Streams Board
already invests in!
Pitkin County Healthy Rivers and Streams Board has been a dedicated supporter of this conference in years past, and
we look forward to a continued partnership! We will work with the Pitkin County Healthy Rivers and Streams Board
to discuss what additional recognition for your grant support would be appropriate in addition to the following
benefits, which will be subject to adaptation depending on the final format the conference takes this year:
Opportunity to welcome conference attendees
Organization name or logo on conference lanyards
Full conference registration for up to 5 attendees
Guaranteed exhibitor space in a prominent location
Opportunity to provide “Sponsor video spotlight” to be played before first plenary session
Sponsorship highlighted with a special verbal call out throughout conference, including during conference kick off,
happy hour and conference closing
Your organization’s logo on dedicated signage displayed prominently at registration/welcome table, plus during
evening social events
Your organization’s logo displayed prominently on conference media screen during all conference sessions
Sponsorship recognized in all partner promotional emails for conference distributed to 6,500+ members and
highlighted in partner e-newsletters during the month following the conference
Your organization’s logo with “top billing” on conference registration web page
Thank you for the opportunity to request program support for the 2022 conference, and thank you for
your support of expanding awareness, knowledge and understanding of water in Colorado!
Proposal Contact:
Jayla Poppleton, Executive Director, Water Education Colorado, jayla@wateredco.org, 720-325-1448
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5:00pm-7:30pm
8:00am-12:00pm
7:30am-5:00pm
8:00-11:30am
Riverside Salon I&II
Hosted by Water Education Colorado
Water '22: A Year of Public Awareness
Riverside Salon III
ATTN: 9:00 START TIME!
Hosted by Colorado Watershed Assembly
Meet the Funders
Riverside Salon IV
Hosted by Colorado Riparian Association with CSU and CU
Understanding and Restoring Floodplains
11:30 - 12:45pm
1:00-2:45pm
Riverside Salon I&II
Empty
Riverside Salon III
The Interconnected Web of Water Quality
Moderator: Jordan Parman, Metro Water Recovery
Thriving Together with Colorado Ag: Growing Resilience for an
Equitable Future, Estella Moore, Colorado Water Quality Control
Division, and Christi Bode, Moxiecran Media
Optimal Corrosion Control Treatment –
Hanging Together So We Don’t Hang Separately,
Amy Conklin, Barr Lake and Milton Reservoir Association, Nicole
Poncelet-Johnson, Denver Water, Ron Falco, Colorado Water
Quality Control Division, Steve Lundt, Metro Water Recovery,
and Dan DeLaughter, South Platte Water Renewal Partners
Colorado Surface Water Quality Assessment Program, Skip
Feeney, Colorado Water Quality Control Division
Riverside Salon IV
Stream Monitoring and Communication Frameworks
Moderator: Brad Johnson, CRA Board and Johnson
Environmental Consulting
Connecting Through Crowdsourcing Data, Kira Puntenney-
Desmond, Colorado State University
Successful Communication for Adaptive Management,
Kelly Close, LRE Water
A Graphical Interface to Quantify and Visualize
Streamflow Depletion, Jessica Rogers, S.S. Papadopulos &
Associates, Inc.
2:45-3:00pm
3:00-4:45pm
Riverside Salon I & II
Empty
Riverside Salon III
Cultivating Uncommon Partners
Moderator: Karlene Thomas, CWA Board and Pinyon
Environmental
Engaging Stakeholders and Developing Projects with Multiple
Benefits, Lindsay Teunis, SWCA
Emerging Role of Urban Agriculture and Food Production to
Address Food Security and Water Resource Challenges,
Shannon Spurlock, Ochotona, LLC
(Un)Common Partners Come Together to Reach Shared Goals,
Hally Strevey, Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed, and
Sharla Benjamin, Boulder County Parks and Open Space
The Voluntary Flow Management Program, Coming Together
for a Common Good, Ryan Bouton, International Open
University Foundation
Riverside Salon IV
Watershed and Forest Health
Moderator: Chris Sturm, CRA Board and Colorado Water
Conservation Board
Wildfire-Ready Watersheds, Chris Sturm, Colorado Water
Conservation Board
A Landscape View of Partnering with Beavers, Jessica Doran,
EcoMetrics
Identifying Drought Indicators that Best Predict Regional Water
Shortages, Rachel Bash, Lynker
Economic Impacts of River Recreation Opportunities, Hattie
Johnson, American Whitewater, and Adam Wlostowski, Lynker
Technologies
5:30-6:30pm
6:30-7:30pm
7:30pm-8:30pm
Booth set-up in the Gondola Room
Registration check-in in the Hotel Lobby
Live Pre-Conference Workshops - In-Person Attendees Only
Sponsored Lunch (Grab and Go Lunch Boxes) in Maya Restaurant
Monday, October 4
Early registration check-in in the Hotel Lobby, and sponsor/vendor booth setup in the Gondola Room
Live Concurrent Sessions - In-Person Attendees Only
Sponsored Break - Visit Sponsors and Vendors in Gondola Room
Sponsored Happy Hour on Gondola Terrace
Fireside Chats (Guided discussions around outdoor firepits)
Lobby Terrace – Focus on planning for urban riverscapes (with case study on a framework that assesses social values alongside stream health with Brian Murphy, Colorado State University)
Lobby Terrace – Focus on restoring ecosystems and human health with nature-based solutions (with case study on a mycelium planting project engaging BIPOC families in Denver with Zuza Bohley,
Americas for Conservation + the Arts, Beverly Castaneda, AmeriCorps VISTA, and James Wieser, mycologist)
Maya Terrace – Focus on post-fire flood risk (with case study in Huerfano County with Eli Gruber, CDM)
Maya Terrace – Focus on wildfire resiliency (with a case study on the state’s work to advance “wildfire-ready watersheds with Chris Sturm, Colorado Water Conservation Board and CRA)
Gondola Terrace – Focus on celebrating watersheds through song (a good old-fashioned singalong with Casey Davenhill, Colorado Watershed Assembly)
Sponsored BBQ Dinner in Maya Restaraunt
2021 SUSTAINING COLORADO WATERSHEDS CONFERENCE
"Together Like Never Before"
October 4 - 7, 2021 at the Westin Riverfront in Avon, CO
With a Hybrid Option on Oct. 6, 2021
Tuesday, October 5
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7:00-8:00am
8:00-9:00am
9:00-10:30am
10:30-10:45am
10:45-11:45am
11:45 -1:00pm
1:15-2:45pm
2:45-3:00pm
3:00-4:30pm
4:30-5:00pm
5:30-8:00pm
7:00-8:15am
Wednesday, October 6
Sponsored Breakfast in Maya Restaurant
HYBRID CONFERENCE DAY (In-Person and Virtual Attendees): Together Like Never Before in the Riverside Ballroom
Welcome From Conference Partners and Kickoff Keynote
Congressman Joe Neguse
The Colorado Water Plan 2.0: Continuing the Way Forward Together
Moderator: Jayla Poppleton, Water Education Colorado
Colorado Water Plan 2.0, Russ Sands, Colorado Water Conservation Board
Stream Management Planning Five-Year Report, Nicole Seltzer, River Network
Public Education, Participation and Outreach for Water Plan Success, Bethany Howell, Colorado Department of Agriculture
Bringing Equity to the Water Plan, Sonja Chavez, Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District and State Equity Task Force
Sponsored Break - Visit Sponsors and Vendors in Gondola Room
Vail | Town of Vail Riparian Habitat Restoration
Guided by Pete Wadden, Town of Vail
9:00am - Meet at Ford Park Parking Lot in Vail
Del Norte | Five Ditches and a Park
Guided by Emma Reesor, Rio Grande Headwaters
Restoration Project
3:00pm - Meet in Del Norte, location TBD
Grand Junction | Grand Valley River Corridor Initiative
Guided by Joel Sholtes, Colorado State University
3:00pm - Meet at Pear Park in Grand Junction
Colorado Water Plan 5 Years In: Lessons From the Field
Moderator: Casey Davenhill, Colorado Watershed Assembly
Conejos River Partnership Project: Bringing New Perspectives Together Through Stream Management Planning,
Emma Reesor and Daniel Boyes, Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration Project
7A and the Road Ahead: Forging Collaborative Relationships for Success, Scott Griebling, St. Vrain and Left Hand Water Conservancy District
White River Integrated Water Initiative – A locally driven process, Callie Hendrickson, White River and Douglas Creek Conservation Districts
Thursday, October 7
Morning Snack Bags Available in Hotel Lobby
Field Trips - Open to In-Person and Virtual Attendees
Sponsored Lunch (Grab and Go Lunch Boxes) in Maya Restaurant
Fire on the Mountain: Adapting to the Era of the Western Megafire
Moderator: Julie Ash, CRA Board and Stillwater Sciences
Geomorphic Influences on River Corridor Resilience to Wildfire Disturbances, Ellen Wohl, Colorado State University
Using Watershed Processes to Plan For and Mitigate Fire and Flood Hazards, Katie Jagt, Watershed Science and Design, and Maya MacHamer, Boulder Watershed Collective
2D Rain-on-Mesh to Inform Post-Fire Restoration, Russ Anderson and Geoff Uhlemann, Michael Baker
Cameron Peak Fire Compounds Existing Water Quality Concerns in the Cache le Poudre Watershed, Chuck Rhoades, US Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station
Sponsored Break - Visit Sponsors and Vendors in Gondola Room
Including People Like Never Before For Better Solutions
Moderator: Jojo La, Colorado Water Conservation Board
Engaging Youth in Community-Driven Water Quality Improvement Planning, Swee Tee and Theresa Centola, Colorado State University
Creating a More Diverse Eagle River Watershed Through Community Outreach and Collaboration, James Dilzell, Eagle River Watershed Council
River Watch of Colorado: Enhancements for Our Next 30 Years, Luke Javernick, River Science/River Watch
Whose Environment Are We Conserving? Inclusively Quantifying the Potential Benefits of Land and Water Conservation, Diane Buzzard, RTI International
Closing Speaker and Conference Send Off:
Kelly Romero-Heany
Assistant Director for Water, Colorado Department of Natural Resources
Sponsored Poster-Social Event with Heavy Hors D'oeuvres in Gondola Room and Terrace
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2022 Sponsorship Request
Pitkin County Healthy Rivers and Streams Board
Water Education Colorado is a 501c3 nonproflt providing policy-neutral news and
informational resources, engaging learning experiences, and empowering leadership
programs. We work statewide to ensure Coloradans are knowledgeable about key
water issues and equipped to make smart decisions for a sustainable water future.
Our vision is for all Coloradans to have access to resources and educational programs
that empower them to participate in local, regional and statewide water resource
decision-making processes, and also to engage in more sustainable behaviors. Over
the past 20 years, we have developed a trusted reputation and have grown our
programs to reach tens of thousands of individuals across the state each year.
Thank you to the Pitkin County Healthy Rivers and Streams Board for your past
support. We rely on partners like you to make our work possible, and sincerely
appreciate your consideration of our 2022 sponsorship request for funding. Your
support for our mission and programs is vital!
We are honored to submit a request for a total of $5,000 in sponsorship support in 2022
for the programs outlined in this proposal. The Healthy Rivers and Streams Board’s
support will be recognized in WEco’s annual report, in addition to receiving the
following customized beneflts:
Project 1: $2,500
2022 Water Leaders Program
PROGRAM SESSION SPONSOR – SESSION 2
June 2-3, 2022 - Redstone, Colorado
Water Education Colorado’s Water Leaders program positively impacts the Colorado
water profession by developing a pipeline of dedicated, effective water leaders
across diverse flelds ready to chart the path forward to innovative and collaborative
water solutions in an increasingly complex world.
Participation is based on a competitive application process, in which 16 candidates
are selected each year. The program has trained more than 200 leaders since 2006.
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We are requesting that Pitkin County Healthy Rivers and Streams Board sponsor one
of our four 2-day program sessions, which will include the opportunity for a
representative to attend and speak at your sponsored session and distribute
organizational materials to participants, among other beneflts.
Program Session sponsors have the opportunity to:
Move beyond networking and build meaningful relationships
with tomorrow’s Water Leaders.
Position your organization as an industry leader committed to the
future of water in Colorado.
Bring value to your organization by supporting Colorado’s
premier leadership development program for the water sector.
Help WEco keep program fees low and make scholarships
available to qualifled applicants who otherwise would flnd
it difflcult to participate.
Program Session Sponsor Benefits include:
* Exclusive opportunity for one organization per session.
The invitation to attend lunch during your sponsored program
session and to speak during a time slot of your choosing
The invitation to distribute organizational materials to
participants at sponsored session
Brand recognition signage during full program session
Recognition on WEco social media channels, reaching 5,000+, in
conjunction with sponsored session
Recognition on WEco website, with a link to your website
Recognition in WEco communication to participants and all wider email promotions,
with a link to your website, reaching 5,000+
Organization logo on participant binder
Public recognition at flnal graduation ceremony
Organization recognized in an email to the 200-person Water Leaders alumni
network, welcoming the graduating class
2022 PROGRAM
Session 1
April 14-15
Silverthorne
Session 2
June 2-3
Redstone
Session 3
July 28-29
Salida
Session 4
September 15-16
Denver
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Project 2: $2,000
Annual River Basin Tour – Upper Colorado Basin and 100th Anniversary of
the Colorado River Compact
BUS SPONSOR
June 15-17, 2022
WEco’s tours are an opportunity for decision makers,
water professionals and interested citizens to see water
management in action and to get an up-close look at the
projects, challenges and opportunities in a given region.
Tours regularly hit capacity, and generally one-half of
tour attendees are individuals new to WEco. The
Colorado legislature’s interim water resources review
committee typically attends the annual multi-day river
basin tour each year, along with congressional staff,
water professionals and educators from across the state.
As part of recognizing the 100th anniversary of the Colorado River Compact, WEco’s 2022
tour will feature multiple Colorado Western Slope watersheds within the Upper Colorado
River system. The tour will be longer than in most years, with three full days of in-field
learning covering a broader geographic reach. While the tentative tour route does not
traverse up the Roaring Fork Valley, we will have the opportunity to discuss the Roaring
Fork watershed during our stop in Glenwood Springs.
The tour will focus on topics including:
Colorado River Compact and Law of the River
Climate and hydrology of sub-basins of Colorado River
Transbasin diversions
Collaborative Environmental Management (Endangered Species, Salinity Control)
Diversion monitoring and compliance
Agriculture & industry sustained by Colorado River water (East and West Slope)
Upper Colorado storage systems, relation to Lake Powell contributions
Tribal water settlements and their implementation
Drought Response Operations Plan
Research/fleld work on irrigation efflciency and conserved consumptive use
Tour Bus Sponsorship Benefits include:
1 free tour registration for your organization
Invitation to deliver remarks on bus
Organization logo plus ½ page full color ad in tour program
Organization logo on sponsor signage displayed prominently on bus throughout the
tour
Recognition on WEco’s social media channels 1x leading up to the tour
Organization logo included in tour promotional materials
Organization logo and website link included in promotional emails (reaching 5,000+)
13
Project 3: $500
Headwaters Magazine, Sustainable On-Farm
Management Practices for Water
SUPPORTING SPONSOR Summer 2022
Headwaters magazine is Water Education Colorado’s fiagship publication, covering the most pressing water issues with compelling, impartial reporting and storytelling. By providing timely, accessible coverage that considers diverse perspectives and value sets, Headwaters helps advance the dialogue and fosters innovative and collaborative solutions for Colorado’s water challenges.
No other publication in Colorado targets the broad cross-section of interested citizens, community members and professionals from the water management, conservation, agricultural and business communities like Headwaters
magazine. Each Headwaters issue has a distribution of 7,500+
through print copies and online reads, and each issue crosses multiple desks as it is
circulated within offlces and repeatedly referred back to. Headwaters is also handed out
at numerous conferences and events and is archived online and accessible indeflnitely,
so your sponsorship support lasts for years to come.
The Summer 2022 issue “Sustainable On-Farm Management Practices for Water” will
focus on the positive on-the-ground work that farmers and ranchers are doing to
sustainably manage their water-related operations. We'll look at producers of all sizes,
from around the state, who are improving water quality and supply reliability by focusing
on soil health, technology, and other innovative practices.
Your sponsorship support will go directly toward supporting the production and
distribution of this issue of the magazine in order to accomplish the educational
objectives of Water Education Colorado.
“Supporting” Level Sponsor Benefits include:
12 copies of Headwaters magazine to distribute to your own networks
Logo on back cover of Headwaters magazine in print and online
Rights to reprint or reuse articles/graphics from Headwaters, subject to certain
limitations
THANK YOU TO PITKIN COUNTY HEALTHY RIVERS AND STREAMS BOARD FOR YOUR
CONTINUED SUPPORT OF WATER EDUCATION COLORADO!
Proposal Contact:
Jayla Poppleton, Executive Director, jayla@wateredco.org, (720) 325-1488
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Pitkin County Healthy Rivers and Streams Board
123 Emma Rd, Suite 204
Basalt, CO 81621
March 30, 2022
RE: Request for Support of Watershed Education Programs
Dear Board Members,
Please accept the attached documents as Roaring Fork Conservancy’s (RFC)
request to fund and elevate our watershed education programs. We are poised
to unroll several new education projects, all aimed at broadening our reach.
Revitalizing our education curriculum, increase teaching sites, and expanding
our programs will pump new life into environmental education, inspire
educators to develop meaningful student projects, and increase general water
fluency and interest across the Roaring Fork watershed.
RFC is requesting $33,000 in funds from Pitkin County Healthy Rivers and
Streams for a new Watershed PenPals Program, curriculum enhancement and
creation, teacher training, and program delivery at the River Center and
throughout the Roaring Fork Watershed.
Thank you in advance for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Megan Dean
Director of Education
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS
Pat McMahon
President
George Kelly
Vice President
Michelle Schindler
Secretary
Jennifer Sauer
Treasurer
Ted Borchelt
Stephen Ellsperman
David Knight
Jim Light
Rick Lofaro
Executive Director
Rana Dershowitz
George Kelly
Larry Yaw
Jeff Conklin
Diane Schwener
PROGRAM STAFF
Rick Lofaro
Executive Director
Heather Lewin
Watershed Action
Director
Christina Medved
Director of Community
Outreach
Megan Dean
Director of Education
Chad Rudow
Water Quality
Programs Manager
Sheryl Sabandal
Director of
Development
Elliott Audette
Office Manager
Alexis Hiterroth
Watershed Educator
Shaylun Austin
Science & Policy Intern
A
15
Roaring Fork Conservancy: Watershed Education Programs
Grant Request to Pitkin County Healthy Rivers Board
March 29, 2022
A. Goals of the Healthy Rivers Board
PROJECT SUMMARY
Roaring Fork Conservancy (RFC) requests $33,000 from the Pitkin County Healthy Rivers Board (HRB) to
update and enhance education programs. As our rivers encounter more pressure from expanding
populations, our goal is to expand educational opportunities, to the general public and K-12 school students.
This programming will provide watershed education to maintain and improve water quality and quantity
within the Roaring Fork Watershed. We aim to develop new and revitalized programming that incorporates
a Watershed PenPal Program to connect students in and beyond the Roaring Fork Valley to their
headwaters and watershed, creating current and future river stewards. Our request is broken into three
elements described below.
1. Update, revitalize, and create new curriculum to incorporate discovery of current water issues in
the Roaring Fork Watershed and Colorado River Basin using best instruction practices. Our current
programming accomplishes the goal of getting students outside and connecting them to our rivers,
but as student needs change, and the demographics of our valley change, we need to adapt, update
and create new programs. The ability to respond to teacher and school requests to make our
programs relevant and in sync with district goals insures the continued demand for RFC
programming. Updating current and popular programs will allow RFC to continue the goal of creating
current and future river stewards. Some of the changes that we want to make are creating activities
that are built around students having the ability to use visual aids and field tools to make discoveries
on their own. Practices that allow students to discuss, observe, and reflect on their experiences
through small group sharing and carefully crafted questions and visual aids will create deeper
understanding, ownership, and connection to the watershed. Students struggle to stay engaged if
there is a lot of teacher talk. Specific techniques and field resources can reduce the time students are
listening and increase the time they spend actively doing. Programs will also include developmentally
appropriate actions that students can use to create best practices in their communities, focusing on
positive change. Requesting $7,000. See details on pg. 6 ($3,200 Staff Training, $3,200 Program development,
$600 Creating Visual Aids and Field Journals)
2) Instruct education programs at the River Center and field sites throughout the valley, focusing on water
quality, water quantity, riparian habitat, and water use. Includes scholarship funds to reduce cost barriers
for classes facing tight classroom budgets. Increasing field sites gives students experiences at multiple
riparian sites and allows them to connect the complexity and diversity of our watershed. Offering multi-class
series at different locations helps students gain a deeper understanding of the need for water conservation
and protection. Increased coordination and communication with schools, program preparation, and
instruction, is also essential for successful watershed programs.
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RFC’s education staff will engage in site surveys throughout the Roaring Fork Valley to allow for increased
field instruction at sites close to schools so busing is not always required. Modifying existing programs and
increasing equipment kits allows for smaller group instruction and safer environments. Our general school
and adult education program offerings focus on watershed science, water rights, and usage, all of which help
the HRB accomplish its goals of advancing these issues. Requesting $11,500 see details on pg. 6. ($8,000 Program
delivery at scholarship rate, $3,500 administrative support such as coordinating, scheduling, tracking, program
development, training, etc.)
3) . Create a Watershed PenPal Program to connect water users on both sides of the Continental Divide to
their headwaters, promoting water fluency and conservation. This program aims to connect students in
Aurora, Colorado to students in the Roaring Fork Watershed. Basalt Middle School Students and Vista Peak
Exploratory Students will develop an understanding of where their water comes from while learning about
another 5th grader that lives in a very different cultural and geographical area. Student’s will be guided
through images, activities, videos, and prompts to understand what their shared headwaters look like and
how water travels to their cites from the head waters of the Roaring Fork Watershed. They will also learn why
it is important to value, conserve, and protect our rivers. Students will develop a relationship through old
fashioned letter writing by sharing information about their hobbies, interests, and personal connection to
water. As part of the program, students will get an opportunity to meet their pen pal through Google Meets.
Roaring Fork Conservancy (RFC) will design the shared Google Slides that each classroom will use to guide the
program. RFC will also establish and coordinate all required communications between the two schools. RFC
will travel to Vista Peak Exploratory in Aurora, Colorado to introduce the program to the 5th grade students
and cooperating teachers. This program could create an invaluable opportunity to shape and create river
stewards on both sides of the continental divide, showing through communication and positive relationships
that conservation is essential in water use. Requesting $14,500 see details on pg. 6 ($3,800 development of Google
Slides and programming, $3,500 coordination with teachers, schools and Aurora Water, $3,000 to fund rafting
experience for Basalt Middle School (BMS) 5th graders, $2,500 delivery of RFC classes to BMS, $1,700 Introduction to
Watershed PenPal Program to Aurora Students and Teachers)
B. Viability of the Project
A critical step in protecting water quality and water quantity in the Roaring Fork Watershed, is that of
educating the youth and the public. Knowledge is power and a populace that is aware of the demands on our
water and river systems is essential to achieving the goals identified by the HRB. RFC is a stable, proven
organization capable of completing the objectives laid out in this grant. We seek support from HRB to fulfill
our new potential and meet ever-increasing demands for relevant water education taught by highly qualified
staff. Viability of each element is provided below:
1.) Update and revitalize existing curriculum by incorporating skills highlighted in Best-Instruction
practices. RFC needs to create lessons that allow for students be actively engaged by making discoveries and
feeling ownership of their connections and ideas. An example of this is creating field kits that students use
during group work to assess the physical, chemical, and biological health of the river. Students then share
their findings and ideas with their classmates. Educators act as guides and experts for specific questions, but
do not lecture students or direct all of their actions. Creating separate and unique field kits for elementary,
middle, and high school allows students to go deeper into their learning as they move through grades.
Problem solving activities that leave students with a sense of empowerment will create positive actions in our
17
communities. Support from HRS would ensure that funds are available to support this work and supplement
part of the cost of the development, materials, and training.
2) On-site instruction at the River Center and field sites in the Roaring Fork Valley. RFC works hard to keep
our programming costs low for schools even as programming costs rise. Scholarships through grant funding
and private donations allows us to keep our rates the same each year despite inflation. Schools face staffing,
transportation, and funding challenges, RFC does not want lack of funding to prohibit students from
experiencing watershed education.
We seek financial support to lower barriers for school groups, increase inclusion, and encourage the public to
visit the River Center, conservation easements, and protected public spaces. Students often do not have safe
and supervised access to our rivers and riparian areas. Promoting water education and conservation in an
environment that showcases the ability to create healthy riparian areas within rural and urban settings is key
to creating positive public use and support. With support from HRB we can keep program fees affordable
and offer programs that guide participants through the beautiful riparian sites in our valley, creating
connection, value, and protection of the Roaring Fork Watershed.
3.) Create a Watershed PenPal Program to connect water users on both sides of the Continental Divide to
their headwaters, promoting water fluency and conservation. This project aims to connect water users to
their headwaters. It also creates relationships and communication between east slope and west slope water
users. Through shared experiences students and teachers will learn water ethics together creating a common
ground for conversation and connection to the importance of water quality and quantity. Many Aurora
students do not have access to riparian areas and rivers, this project will guide them through experiences
that illuminate why healthy rivers and headwaters are important. The personal relationship that they make
with their PenPal from BMS will create a concrete and real-world experience to someone else that depends
on the same water they do. RFC has partnered with Basalt Elementary, Vista Peak Exploratory (Aurora Public
Schools), and Aurora Water Environment Education and Outreach team.
C. Public Need, Accessibility and Appreciation
As our population grows and water supply shrinks, it is important to create communication, experiences, and
relationships that embrace water conservation. The programs included in this grant will be highly accessible
to all sectors of the public and expand our reach to a variety of populations as outlined above. Programs will
also be highly visible to the public, not only through media exposure and direct public communications, but
also to commuters through Basalt and users of the Basalt River Park trails, Old Pond Park, and the Roaring
Fork River. Students experiencing our programming are encouraged to share their knowledge with their
families and communities. Educating students and families on the front range who receive water from the
Roaring Fork Valley creates awareness of the need for water conservation.
All three elements in this grant promise to fill specific gaps identified in our education programming and all
benefit the youth, directly and indirectly through education, development, outreach, and accessibility. We
believe this is an appropriate and necessary use of public funds as education and connection are at the heart
of action. These efforts also coincide with goals of the Colorado Water Plan to increase water education for
the public, highlighting the importance of public funding for these projects. To that point, RFC has already
received funding and support for watershed education from private donors, Pitkin County Open Space and
Trails, Eagle County, and public schools. We will include information and recognition of HRB in programs and
publications supported by this grant. RFC has a strong base of supporters and established public relations
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including but not limited to press releases, social media, traditional media, e-mail, listservs, community
calendars, and printed newsletters.
D. History of the Requesting Party
RFC is well-known locally and statewide as a watershed organization with proven success not only in water
planning, policy, research, and restoration projects, but also in providing high quality educational classes to
Roaring Fork Valley residents and visitors. In its 25th year, RFC is the only local organization focused solely on
water and watershed related issues, and prides itself on incorporating current water issues into its education
programs. In the year 2021, despite the continued challenges related to the pandemic, RFC taught 213
education programs making over 4,300 contacts.
RFC has twelve staff members and a strong network of contractors, associates, partners, interns, and
volunteers that collectively fulfill its mission to inspire people to explore, value and protect the Roaring Fork
Watershed. Megan Dean, the Director of Education, comes from a background in water resources and
science education. She has been an educator in the valley for 23 years. She worked as a classroom teacher
with RFC in the early years of its educational programs, consistently bringing RFC programs to her students.
As the Director of Education, she has been able to bridge the gap, enveloping the needs of students and
schools into RFC programming and education. Through long term relationships and contact with students,
staff, and administration, she incorporates a love for learning and rivers into positive programming and
activities that empower students of all ages. RFC is supported by individual contributions, program and
consulting fees, grants, special events, and in-kind support. RFC is a Colorado nonprofit corporation in good
standing with §501(c)(3) status.
Partnerships
RFC’s partners include local, regional, state and federal governments, private interests, nonprofits, school
districts, utilities, universities, and individuals. (Full list: www.roaringfork.org/about-us/rfc-partners)
RFC is an active member of Water Education Colorado (WECo) and the Water Educator Network. As
collaborators, RFC and WEC co-hosted workshops on the Western Slope and communicate regularly to
educate others across the state on notable issues in the Roaring Fork Watershed. RFC stays up to date on
national and state education issues through the Colorado Science Educator Network and regularly
participates and presents at the annual Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education conference. RFC
provided a review and feedback on the State Water Education Action Plan (SWEAP), Advises Colorado Basin
Roundtable Public Education Participation and Outreach (CBRT PEPO) for its efforts implementing the
Colorado Water Plan’s education goals. RFC also served on an advisory board for the Colorado State
University (SPUR) campus design and development.
Strong relationships exist between RFC and area schools, teachers, camps, towns, and agencies. These
relationships indicate both the caliber of our instruction and existing support and confidence in our future
successes. Locally, RFC mentors, informs, and partners with education groups including:
• Roaring Fork School District
• Aspen School District
• Independent Schools
• Pitkin County and Garfield County Libraries
• Aspen Center for Environmental Studies
• Roaring Fork Environmental Educators listserv
• Middle Colorado Watershed Council
• Eagle River Watershed Council
• City of Aspen, Town of Basalt, Town of
Carbondale, City of Glenwood Springs
• Pitkin County (Open Space and Trails,
Engineering Dept., Water Dept., and Healthy
Rivers)
• Youth Entity
• Basalt Library
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• Rafting companies and fly-fishing guides
throughout the valley
• Roaring Fork Young Professionals
• CORE
• Access Afterschool & Afterschool Enrichment
• Roaring Fork Audubon
• Roaring Fork Outdoor Volunteers
• Colorado River Watch
• Colorado River District
• Aspen Global Change Institute
• Colorado Mountain College
E. Budget, Measurements and Accountability
RFC requests $33,000 from HRB to support our watershed education programs (See Attachment 1: HRB
Watershed Education Program - Project Budget). RFC receives financial support from many partners for our
water education programs but foresees additional funds needed to balance the budget in 2022 (please see
Attachment 2: RFC Education Program Budget). We hope you choose to help elevate our watershed
education programs and expand our reach to new, critical audiences in the coming year.
RFC will provide a progress report to the HRB at or around the six-month mark and present a final report and
presentation at the one-year mark. This may include progress reports, statistics, financials, teacher feedback,
and the deliverables listed below.
20
Attachment 1: HRB Watershed Education Program - Project Budget
River Center Education
Programming
Details Total Cost Breakdown of Cost Deliverables/Measures of Success
1. Update and revitalize existing
curriculum to incorporate discovery
of current water issues in the
Roaring Fork Watershed using best
instruction practices ex: teachers
talk less, students talk and discover
more, create visual aids for new
language learners, school requests
Staff time, collaboration
with state-wide groups
and educators, site visits,
training educators on
new program
components and
methods.
$7,000 ▪ $3,200 Staff Training (40 HR)
▪ $3,200 Program development
(40 HR)
▪ $600 Creating visual aids
Updated list of RFC water education
programs, field journals, and visual aids.
New programs developed to highlight
current water and riparian needs along with
successful ways to conserve water.
2. Instruct education programs at
the River Center and field sites
throughout the valley, focusing on
water quality, water quantity,
riparian habitat, and water use.
Includes scholarship funds to reduce
cost barriers for classes facing tight
classroom budgets.
Coordination with
schools to ensure
programs are tailored to
meet their needs,
program preparation,
administration, and
instruction. Site visits for
increased field
instruction to provide
opportunity for students
to experience multiple
destinations in our
watershed.
$11,500 ▪ $8,000 Program delivery at
scholarship rate
▪ $3,500 Administrative support
(scheduling, tracking, site visits,
development, etc.)
Documentation of scholarship rates received
and at least 100 hours of instruction with
documentation of program details: Student
numbers, topics, hours. HRS logo on
scholarship program rates.
3. Create a Watershed PenPal
Program to connect water users on
both sides of the Continental Divide
to their headwaters, promoting
water ethics, fluency and
conservation.
Coordination with
Aurora Public Schools
and Aurora Water.
Creation of shared
google slide guiding
letter writing. In person
programing and
activities.
$14,500 ▪ $ 3,800 Development of Google
Slide and Instruction Program
(48Hr)
▪ $ 3,500 Coordination with
teacher partners, schools, and
Aurora Water (43Hr)
▪ $3,000 Rafting to experience
Roaring Fork Watershed for BMS
▪ $2,500 Roaring Fork
Conservancy led class programs
Documentation of number of participants,
number of classes, and pictures of programs.
HRS logo on Google Slides and Instruction
materials.
21
and class materials including a
Google Meet (30 Programs)
▪ $1,700 Introduction to
Watershed PenPal Program to
Aurora Public School (Vista Peak
Exploratory) in Aurora,
Colorado. RFC will deliver
introduction program to Aurora
students and do a short training
with teachers.
TOTAL $33,000
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Attachment 2: Projected RFC Education Budget, 2021
REVENUE
Funding Sources: AMOUNT
Bessie Minor Swift (pending) $3,000
Pitkin County Open Space & Trails $32,000
RFC Program Fees $38,000
Eagle County $20,000
Individual donors (pending) $170,000
Healthy Rivers Board (pending) $33,000
Total:
$296,000
EXPENSES
TYPE DESCRIPTION TOTAL
Human Resources (3 education staff and
support staff)
Staff time and administrative overhead for
programs: curriculum development, class
preparation, instruction, marketing, public
relations, transportation time to/from
program sites, professional development,
community programs, events, website
management, mileage reimbursement for
off-site and field programs. $218,900
Building Use, Overhead, Equipment &
Supplies
Building use and overhead, replacing,
replenishing, and translating education
materials, copies of handouts, printing, art
and science products, etc. $89,797
Publication and Educational Outreach
Biannual newsletter and website hosting
and management (hard costs), weekly
snowpack and river reports, general RFC
public relations, monthly e-newsletter. $23,837
Total: $332,534
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Middle Colorado Watershed Council
Paula Stepp, Executive Director
970-404-0162, pstepp@midcowatershed.org
Pitkin County Healthy Rivers Grant Request
Sponsoring Post Fire Rain Gauge Monitoring in Glenwood Canyon
Project Request
Since early 2021, the Middle Colorado Watershed Council (MCWC) has coordinated post-fire
monitoring equipment in Glenwood Canyon and a communication network to provide
immediate information to impacted communities and agencies in the Middle Colorado
watershed.
A rain gauge network was placed throughout the canyon with help from USGS and under the
guidance of CDOT, the National Weather Service out of Grand Junction, and the Colorado River
District with input from additional stakeholders. Water quality (WQ) monitoring equipment was
placed in the canyon and coordinated with sites in Glenwood Springs on various drainages to
track changes in water that could impact affected water-user communities in the region,
including downstream municipalities, the agricultural producers, and recreationists, along with
a series of interested cooperating natural resource agencies. The first year addressed the
immediate needs of building awareness of potential post fire flooding and debris flows and
setting up the right equipment to help mitigate the impacts of those kind of events that are
common occurrences after fires. Together with the USGS and the River District, MCWC acquired
funding for the first year’s activities, including the deployment of 7 rain gauges throughout the
Grizzly Creek burn area and the addition of a 6-parameter data sonde at the No Name water
quality monitoring station.
In the summer of 2021, the impacts from runoff were minimal due to a low winter snowpack,
but summer monsoons caused flooding, debris flows and highway damage in Glenwood
Canyon. Problems with flooding and debris flows from these canyon drainages are expected to
continue over the next 3 to 10 years
In 2022-2024, we are expanding data collection and analysis by adding soil moisture sensors
and additional in-channel water quality monitors and supporting continued operations of the
rain gauge network (which provides data to the NWS for flash flood and potential debris flow
conditions). This phase will also improve weather forecasting and early warning systems by co-
locating the new soil-moisture network with the existing rain gauge network. This will provide
valuable, accurate, and timely data for downstream users’ decision-making processes and early-
notification of potential debris flow events.
24
The state emergency management team has worked with CDOT and MCWC to set up a new
program for alerts and notifications regarding construction, debris and sediment in the river.
Funding Request
The Middle Colorado Watershed Council is requesting $5,000 in funding to support their work
with rain gauge monitoring and soil moisture program in Glenwood Canyon to be able to keep
an adequate information flow to communities in the region who will be impacted by
catastrophic events in the canyon.
Accountability and Measurements
Glenwood Canyon debris flows impact the Colorado River and the information from the rain
gauges influence decisions for communities, motorists, trains, and recreational river users. The
information from the rain gauges is a critical planning component for the myriad of travelers
through Glenwood Canyon both from a safety issue and a planning perspective. The effects of
the canyon closing are far reaching and impact multiple communities including those of the
Roaring Fork Watershed. Impacts stretch from Cottonwood Pass to Independence Pass and
Hwy 24 to Glenwood Springs and west to Hwy 13 north of Rifle and Northwest Colorado.
Measurable Deliverables
Quarterly reports on progress of the various components of this post-fire Glenwood Canyon will
be shared with all participating funders. We also plan monthly community newsletters from May
through October. We will be coordinating with CDOT for emergency notifications of canyon events
that will lead to canyon closures and impacts to the surrounding community. We can include Pitkin
County Healthy Rivers in this notification plan so they are aware of changes in the canyon, as well
as other interested business or municipal entities in the region.
Other Funding Partners
• Funding for the 2022 through 2024 has also been awarded funding from CWCB and CDPHE
for most of the equipment and monitoring components of this project for installation in
2021 and for equipment and monitoring for the next three years of the project (2022-
2024). Water quality monitoring will allow for an emergency notification system to mitigate
impacts to river users and newly-installed soil moisture monitoring in the canyons will lead
to better predictability of flooding from rain events in both post fire and non-post fire
environments.
• The USFS is also funding post fire operations in the Grizzly Creek burn scar area.
• CDOT has added two rain gauges to the monitoring effort.
• The Colorado River District Partnership Funding helped with purchasing equipment and
monitoring in 2021. We are applying for additional help from the Colorado River District to
use toward reporting and long-term analysis of this project in relation to other fire scarred
areas to add to the scientific study of what to expect and how to mitigate post fire damage
from additional catastrophic events.
Middle Colorado Watershed Council
200 Lion’s Park Circle, Rifle CO 81650
25
Ruedi Water and Power Authority
P.O. Box 565
Basalt, CO 81621
Pitkin County Healthy Rivers and Streams Board
Grant Application:
Revitalize the Roaring Fork Watershed Collaborative
Submitted By:
April Long, Executive Director
Ruedi Water and Power Authority
March 31,2022
Requested Amount:
$14,875
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Ruedi Water and Power Authority
P.O. Box 565
Basalt, CO 81621
Project Statement
To refresh and renew the previously established Roaring Fork Watershed Collaborative as an
opportunity for professionals and community members interested in the topics of water
resources and watershed health to regularly convene, learn, share, discuss, plan, and collaborate
on matters that impact water resources in the Roaring Fork Watershed.
Background, Necessity, and Alignment with HRSB
The Roaring Fork Watershed Collaborative (Collaborative) was established in 2002 “to bring
municipalities and counties together to try to think as a watershed. All decisions were being
made with local communities here and counties over there. We made an effort to start thinking
as a watershed instead of our own unique municipality or county.” – Andrea Holland-Sears, USFS,
White River National Forest, Introduction to the Roaring Fork Watershed Plan, 2012.
The Collaborative began as an informal gathering of local officials, planners, resource managers,
and interested citizens that concluded that water, as one of the critical resources common to the
entire valley, deserved special attention. This led to the formation of a Water Committee in 2005.
The Water Committee, in turn, began formulating the outline of a Watershed Plan aimed at
surveying and assessing the condition of our local water resources and recommending actions to
preserve those resources. This grass-roots effort led to production of the State of the Roaring
Fork Watershed Report in 2008 and the Roaring Fork Watershed Plan (Watershed Plan) in 2012.
Ruedi Water and Power Authority (RWAPA) and Roaring Fork Conservancy (RFC) sponsored the
development of these plans, led the effort to update the Watershed Plan in 2018 (which
culminated with a Watershed Summit attended by stakeholders of the original plan) and agreed
to further foster implementation of the Watershed Plan*.
Beyond the effort in the production of these important documents, the self-selecting loose-knit
group called the Watershed Collaborative continued to meet several times each year, when and
where necessary to tackle actions from the Roaring Fork Watershed Plan and to focus on current
events, topics, problems, or opportunities. These meetings were envisioned, planned, and
executed by a small steering committee of dedicated volunteers, until 2018, when plates got too
full, participation began to wane, and no one had time to offer towards something beyond their
already full job description.
*This request, if granted, would fulfill one of the over 250 actions within the Watershed Plan that has a medium priority: RWM
B1g. Revitalize the Roaring Fork Watershed Collaborative as a focal point for regional cooperation and communication.
27
Ruedi Water and Power Authority
P.O. Box 565
Basalt, CO 81621
Over the past few months, the Ruedi Water and Power Authority (RWAPA) has engaged staff
from its participating jurisdictions (City of Aspen, Town of Snowmass Village, Town of Basalt,
Town of Carbondale, City of Glenwood Springs, Eagle County, and Pitkin County) to understand
what our communities need in order to continue to make progress on the Watershed Plan, the
Regional Water Efficiency Plan, and all of their other responsibilities related to water resource
management and protection. In all of those conversations, staff requested or indicated that it
would be extremely helpful to more closely coordinate with, learn from, and combine efforts
with their colleagues and neighbors in the valley. Additionally, there were many topics of interest
and needs that overlapped, such as:
Educating elected officials and decision makers
Educating visitors, new residents, and part-time residents
Following, understanding, and securing state and federal funding opportunities
Optimizing releases from Ruedi Reservoir
Data collection, accessibility, trends
Incorporating progressive water management practices into comprehensive or
community plans
Communication on state and federal regulations, policy, and legislation
Protection of riparian areas in light of recreation boom
While all topics are within RWAPA’s scope of work, RWAPA’s current funding cannot support the
staff time necessary to provide this service. Therefore, RWAPA is seeking assistance from the
Pitkin County Healthy Rivers and Streams Board (HRSB) in an endeavor that has proven success
and value, that will benefit the entire watershed, and that also aligns with HRSB’s goals and
objectives as detailed here:
1. Maintain and improve water quality and quantity within the Roaring Fork watershed.
The topics planned for Collaborative meetings would all relate to this goal from how to
secure funding for riparian restoration projects to how to create messages about outdoor
water use that reach and resonate with second homeowners.
2. Purchasing, adjudicating, changes of, leasing, using, banking, selling, and protecting
water rights for the benefit of the Roaring Fork watershed.
3. Working to secure, create, and augment stream flows in conjunction with non-profits,
grant agencies, and appropriate State and Federal agencies to ensure ecological health,
recreational opportunities, and wildlife and riparian habitat, promoting water
conservation.
28
Ruedi Water and Power Authority
P.O. Box 565
Basalt, CO 81621
Other topics planned for discussion include collectively releasing our water stored in
Ruedi to control temperatures in the lower Roaring Fork, understanding the risk water
rights in the Roaring Fork valley face in compact compliance, and legislation, policies, and
case studies of creative water leasing for the benefit of recreational and environmental
flows.
4. Improving and constructing capital facilities that contribute to the objectives listed above.
The staff specifically requested discussion amongst others in the watershed to
understand, collaborate, strategize, and partner in effort to secure funding for projects.
Project Details – Tasks, Budget, Measurements, and Accountability
RWAPA is requesting HRSB funding assistance for the execution of seven meetings to occur in
the second half of 2022 and throughout 2023, hopefully once every three months. RWAPA will
plan and secure all aspects of the meeting, including time and date, location, agenda, topics,
speakers, materials, etc. RWAPA will create an email list of contacts specifically invited to
meetings and will further grow list with those interested in continuing attendance and
correspondence. RWAPA will advertise meetings publicly, as well as through all outlets offered
by participating jurisdictions. General topics ripe for discussion include but are not limited to:
Outdoor water efficiency, Water Efficiency Plans, and unified watering restrictions
Funding opportunities and strategies for water at the Regional, State, and Federal level
Forest health and wildfires
Watershed Biodiversity Initiative outcomes
208 Plan Updates
Water Quality standards – status in our basin, what to expect in next 10 years, how/when
to participate
Data – snotel sites, CASO, soil moisture, etc.
Ruedi releases for temperature control
Recent advances in creative water management policy, legislation, case studies
Task Time per meeting Total at $85/hr for
7 meetings
Task 1 – Meeting Prep
Background Research, Agenda, Speakers 8 $4,760
Logistics – set the date, secure the location 2 $1,190
29
Ruedi Water and Power Authority
P.O. Box 565
Basalt, CO 81621
Invitation and advertise 2 $1,190
Task 2 – Meeting Execution
Room and Meeting Prep 1 $595
Host, facilitate, take notes, assign actions 2 $1,190
Task 3 – Meeting Follow Up
Send out notes, information 2 $1,190
Follow up on action items 8 $4,760
Total
25 $14,875
RWAPA will notify and request participation of the Healthy Rivers and Streams Board directors
at all upcoming Collaborative meetings and will supply the Board with notes following each
meeting as well as a full report of the success of the project, including any measurable success
in terms of number of attendees and accounts for any projects, programs, policies, or actions
born of the Collaborative meetings, after the completion of the seven meetings. RWAPA will
also keep careful account of hours and expenses accrued in preparation, execution, and follow-
up of Collaborative meetings in Executive Director monthly invoices and provide a financial report
upon request and at the next HRSB meeting following completion of the seven meetings.
History of RWAPA
Ruedi Water and Power Authority: Mobilizing resources and influence to benefit the waters and
communities of the Roaring Fork Valley.
Ruedi Water and Power Authority (RWAPA or the Authority) is a regional council on water for the
Roaring Fork watershed offering planning, coordination, and technical assistance to its members;
coordinating and administering programs and planning at a regional level; and providing
communication between local governments and other regional, state, and federal agencies. Our
direction is provided by a Board of Directors (the Board) comprised of an elected official from
each of the jurisdictions within the watershed: Aspen, Snowmass Village, Basalt, Carbondale,
Glenwood Springs, Pitkin and Eagle Counties. Pitkin County’s current Director is Greg Poschman.
RWAPA was founded in 1981 in response to an opportunity to develop hydropower at Ruedi
Reservoir. Public Service of Colorado (now Excel Energy) had filed for a permit to develop a
forebay at Ruedi to provide peaking power. That plan would have resulted in the inundation of
another two miles of the Fryingpan Valley downstream of the existing dam and would have led
to other fundamental changes in Ruedi operations and management. RWAPA was formed to
30
Ruedi Water and Power Authority
P.O. Box 565
Basalt, CO 81621
block that effort by taking advantage of the federal ‘municipal exemption’ which would have
allowed RWAPA to pre-empt the PSC application. As it turned out, the municipal exemption could
only be exercised by an actual municipality. Therefore, Aspen and Pitkin County formed a Joint
Hydropower Department to gain the permit and develop the hydropower plant. In the meantime,
the intergovernmental communication and cooperation that were fostered by the first few
meetings of the RWAPA Board proved to be sufficient reason to maintain the Authority.
An Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) between the participating entities, as well as the
Authority’s bylaws, details RWAPA’s purpose, scope, authority, operations, and management.
RWAPA has an annual operating budget of approximately $45,000, which provides for 30-40
hours per month for an Executive Director as well as other expenses and services such as financial
and legal consultation and general administrative expenses.
For this project RWAPA agrees to provide the in-kind service of the Executive Director in
background knowledge and preparation of topics and interests ripe for discussion at 8 hours per
meeting or approximately 60 hours for the course of the project.
31
3/29/22
From
Red Mountain Ditch Co
Jim Auster, RMD Manager, jimauster@hotmail.com, 9706187692
Tam Scott, RMD President/attorney, bigfishscott2@gmail.com 9706181084
To
Pitkin County Healthy Rivers
APPLICATION FOR HEALTHY RIVERS FUNDING TO COMPLETE PIPING OF RED MOUNTAIN DITCH
2001 Red Mt Ditch Company’s capital improvement project has replaced with piping and reduced length
of its entire 12 mile open ditch system built in 1886, and has realized tangible objectives and benefits to
RMD share owners and to the public: (see RMD map below)
1. eliminate high seepage and evaporation transmission losses to increase low flow water supply
2. replaces 6 miles of leaky RMD Lower Lateral with pressure delivery lines directly to Lower
Lateral share owner irrigation systems from completely piped Upper Lateral
3. eliminate ditch blowouts from leaks and beaver dams that caused destructive landslides and
environmental damage on steep slope of Red Mt.,
4. eliminate flood damage liability risk to homes in Red Mt Ranch, Erickson Ranch, McClain Flats,
and Starwood
5. eliminate maintenance cost,
6. eliminate thistle and other weed seed contamination
7. create 30’ brush-free fire break
8. create fire equipment access road over pipeline across Red Mt and in Starwood
9. create popular hiking trail over pipeline across National Forest connecting to Sunnyside Trail
10. eliminate damage to aspen trees from beavers that were following open ditch from Hunter Cr
Pipe project is 85% complete at $3,800,000 RMD share owner expense. Elimination of seepage and
evaporation losses has increased low flow supply, reduced normal RMD diversions, and increased
Hunter Creek stream flow by 5-6 cfs at no cost to public agencies. RMD share owners have realized 2x
increase in low flow water supply but may not need additional water saving. At 2021 annual meeting
they did not approve budget for completion of piping that may benefit the public more than RMD.
32
.RMD needs grants from CRD, NRCS, and Healthy Rivers to complete piping of remaining 3600’ open
ditch and reduce losses by an additional .5-1 cfs.
RMD is applying to Colorado River District grant program and USDA NRCS EQIP grant program to fund
80% of three year pipe project starting October 2022 – May 2025 but will need up to
$42,728/yr x 3 years from Healthy Rivers to cover 10- 20% balance.
Cost to install 30” ADS pipe is $180/ft x 1200’/yr = $216000 x 3 years = $648000.
If CRD approves 80% x $648000 = $518400, additional $42768/yr x 3 years = $129600 will be needed to
complete 100% RMD piping.
.
RMD also is applying for grant funding to install SCADA technology (supervisory control and data
acquisition) to enable remote flow monitoring and remote head gate control.
https://oleumtech.com/what-is-scada
24/7 remote monitoring of real time RMD usage and remote adjustment of main head gate diversion
will deliver actual amount being used by share owners, minimize excess diversion, reduce wasted tail
water, increase stream flow, save travel time, and reduce fuel use.
Cost for head gate gage level sensor, tail water overflow sensor, head gate actuator, power supply, and
wireless internet connection is $25,000, 80% =$20000 funded by CRD and NRCS grants, 20% Healthy
Rivers = $5000.
Total RMD 2022 Healthy Rivers application is for $42,728 + $5000 = $47,728
Grant Criteria
Completion of Red Mt Ditch piping and installation of remote monitoring/control system will most
effectively, economically, efficiently, directly, and permanently achieve all objectives of Healthy Rivers
1. proposed grant request/project meets the stated goals, objectives and on-going
projects/priorities of the River Board by reducing Red Mt Ditch diversion from Hunter Creek by
.5-1.0 cfs and increasing flow in Hunter Creek, Roaring Fork River, and downstream by .5-1cfs
2. By providing grant funding public agencies will become participants in RMD’s successful 21 year
pipe project for only 15% of total cost.
3. Increased stream flow will be permanent without addition expense
4. Increased stream flow will be measurable by USGS Hunter Creek at Aspen gage and can be
compared to historical gage records
5. Project viability is proven by reduction in RMD diversions from Hunter Creek in proportion to
length of completed piping
6. There are no technical or engineering issues to complete RMD piping, specs, engineering, and
construction methods are established that have worked for 20 years of pipe installation with no
leaks or problems.
7. Increased streamflow in Hunter Creek and Roaring Fork will be visible and enjoyed by fish,
fishermen, and hikers on Hunter Creek Trail and Rio Grande Trail
8. Increased streamflow will benefit kayaking and rafting on Roaring Fork
9. Hunter Creek gets very low after snowmelt is finished when flow becomes dependent on
amount of rainfall, but normal summer afternoon thunderstorms have been decreasing.
10. With Climate Change Hunter Creek average snowpack has been decreasing and end of high flow
snowmelt and spring runoff is happening as much as one month or more early in July rather
than historically in August. Several years ago low flow in Hunter Creek was beginning of July
rather than mid-August
33
11. Reducing transmission losses by piping all of Red Mountain Ditch will increase streamflow level
12. RMD share owners will vote on pipe project if grant funding is approved at 6/20/22 annual
meeting
13. RMD Grant Application to Colorado River District will be reviewed by CRD Board of Directors at
July, 22 annual meeting.
14. RMD Grant Application to USDA EQIP will be reviewed for funding in 2023 that would help cover
completion of 2022 piping before ditch is on May 23.
15. Progress of project and length of completed piping will be reported to Healthy Rivers Board
RMD PIPING AND CONTROL SYSTEM PROJECT REALIZES GOALS OF RIVER FUND
1. Completion of RMD piping and SCADA tech will increase stream flow in Roaring Fork Basin.
2. Completion of RMD piping will support meeting existing minimum stream flow decrees junior to
senior decrees of Red Mt Ditch.
3. Healthy Rivers grant to RMD will directly support program objectives and supplement grant
funding by Colorado River District and NRCS
4. Reducing RMD transmission losses by piping increases in-stream flow at an affordable price and
is equivalent to the purchase of senior water rights that are not otherwise available at any price.
Red Mt Ditch map, piped(dashed blue line), open ditch (solid blue line), dried up lower lateral (red line))
Remaining 3600’ open ditch sections (solid blue)
Remaining 3600’ open ditch (solid blue line)
34
!
“Going wild since 1967”
Federal Tax ID Number 74-1900412
Printed on 100% post-consumer recycled paper.
March 31, 2022
Pitkin County Healthy Rivers Board
530 E. Main St Ste 301
Aspen, CO 81611
Dear Pitkin County Healthy Rivers Board grant review committee:
Thank you for the opportunity to submit our grant proposal to the Pitkin
County Healthy Rivers Board. Wilderness Workshop Respectfully requests
a grant of $35,000 to support our campaign for the protection of the
Crystal River with a Wild and Scenic River designation.
Wilderness Workshop is dedicated to educating, advocating, and
connecting with our community on important issues affecting our wild
places. We are deeply grateful for your time and consideration of our
grant application.
Please do not hesitate to contact me with questions at 970-963-3977 or
emily@wildernessworkshop.org.
Sincerely,
Emily Kay
Philanthropy Director
emily@wildernessworkshop.org
P.O. BOX 1442
CARBONDALE, CO 81623
TEL (970) 963-3977
FAX (970) 963-8447
www.wildernessworkshop.org
info@wildernessworkshop.org
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
ALLYN HARVEY
President
LINDSAY GURLEY
Vice President
ANDY WELGOS
Treasurer
DENALI BARRON
Secretary
MARY DOMINICK
CICI FOX
CHARLES HOPTON
PETER LOORAM
CRAIG MACKEY
MICHAEL MCVOY
ARON RALSTON
JILL SOFFER
MICHAEL STRANAHAN
KARIN TEAGUE
PETER VAN DOMELEN
ELIZABETH VELASCO
TED ZUKOSKI
FOUNDERS
JOY CAUDILL*
DOTTIE FOX*
CONNIE HARVEY
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
WILL ROUSH
*Deceased
!
!
!
!
!
!
!35
Wilderness Workshop
2022 Pitkin County Healthy Rivers Grant Proposal
Wilderness Workshop Campaign for a Wild and Scenic Crystal River
Grant Request to the Pitkin County Healthy Rivers Board
March 31, 2022
Organization: Wilderness Workshop
Mailing Address: PO Box 1442, Carbondale, CO 81623
Phone Number: 970-963-3977
Contact information: Emily Kay, Philanthropy Director
Email: emily@wildernessworkshop.org
www.wildernessworkshop.org
A. Goals of the Healthy Rivers Board
The extent to which the proposed grant request/project meets the stated goals, objectives and
on-going projects/priorities of the River Board.
1. Must be complete, clear and concise, with specific dollar amounts in total and for each
element of the project;
2. Must fulfill the intent of the ballot language.
Wilderness Workshop respectfully requests a grant in the amount of $35,000 from the Pitkin
County Healthy Rivers Board to support our campaign for the protection of the Crystal River
with a Wild and Scenic River designation. A Wild and Scenic River Designation would provide
durable protections for the Crystal River by ensuring that no dams or out of basin diversions
could be built, and that the river is managed to preserve the amazing recreational, ecological
and scenic values of the river corridor. Wilderness Workshop will be working to protect 39
miles of the Crystal River from its headwaters in the Maroon Bells Snowmass Wilderness to a
point just above the first major agricultural diversion–the Sweet Jessup irrigation canal below
the confluence of Avalanche Creek.
The Crystal is one of the few remaining undammed rivers in Colorado. The Colorado Water Plan
indicates a need for development of 400,000 acre-feet of additional water storage to meet
increasing demand, or roughly a 45% increase from current water storage in the state, making
the Crystal River a major target for water developers. This threat means that we may see
proposals for dams and/or out-of-basin diversions to siphon off the Crystal’s flows. And the
possibility remains for existing irrigation water rights to be bought up by water developers,
agricultural lands dried up, and existing river flows to be further diminished if transferred to
storage rights in reservoirs.
A 2016 Crystal River Management Plan shows the Crystal River has extensive existing
adjudicated water rights. These legal water rights allow for diversions that occur during the
irrigation season between the months of May and October. While the existing rights to water
diversions are large, during spring runoff the Crystal’s flows exceed these diversion rights.
Historically from May to mid-July (as gauged by the USGS above Avalanche Creek near
Redstone), peak flows extensively exceed the existing rights to water diversions. These un-
36
Wilderness Workshop
2022 Pitkin County Healthy Rivers Grant Proposal
adjudicated flows are what new water development proposals are likely to target and of
greatest concern to any entity attentive to the ecological health of the Crystal River. This threat
to these ecologically critical high flows is what is of greatest importance to the overall health of
the Crystal River. Any new outflows of water from the basin or dam proposals would likely
target these flows and impact the health of the river, the myriad of species that depend on it,
and the lifestyles of the surrounding communities.
B. Viability of the Project
The extent to which the proposed grant request/project is practical, will be completed as
proposed and/or may require other resources to be fully completed, and the extent to which the
project can be repeated in other locations such that it will not be limited to a single event.
1. Must address an essential need;
2. Demonstrates collaboration and/or partners with other agencies.
A Wild and Scenic designation for the Crystal River would permanently protect the main stem
of the Crystal from dams and out-of-basin diversions, ensuring current and future generations
are able to benefit from the clean water, wildlife habitat, recreation opportunities and scenic
beauty of the Crystal Valley. It also ensures the Crystal Valley won’t be flooded by future dams
and seasonal flows won’t decrease to a trickle by out-of-basin diversions.
Over the last year, Wilderness Workshop completed critical foundation building to launch this
campaign, including website design, campaign rebranding, coalition building, and organizing.
This year, we are well positioned to increase engagement and support for a Wild and Scenic
Crystal River and build in the important momentum of the grassroots movement to support this
campaign.
We have a long history of working collaboratively with the Forest Service, state agencies, local
governments, ranchers, recreation interests, communities and other stakeholders in the region.
For example, our decade of work to protect the Thompson Divide from oil and gas development
has earned us strong relationships and credibility with the local ranching community as well as
our members of Congress who will be instrumental in securing protections for the Crystal River.
We also collaborate regularly with national and local conservation partners and have already
begun coalition-building around a Crystal River campaign.
Additionally, we are currently participating in a stakeholder process working to achieve Wild
and Scenic designation for Deep Creek, near Dotsero. Our experience in this process gives us
expertise, innovative ideas and lessons learned that we will apply to our work on the Crystal
River.
C. Public Need, Accessibility, and Appreciation
The extent to which the proposed grant request/project will be seen, appreciated and/or used
by the public.
1. Does not duplicate existing services or programs;
37
Wilderness Workshop
2022 Pitkin County Healthy Rivers Grant Proposal
2. Must serve and be appreciated by people who live and/or work in Pitkin County and
the Roaring Fork watershed;
3. Includes a specific Public Relations strategy;
4. Demonstrates an appropriate need for public funding.
The threat of dams and out-of-basin diversions on the Crystal River would impact private
landowners, wildlife and recreation enthusiasts throughout the communities in the Crystal
River Valley. We will contribute to the robust community-driven effort to secure Wild and
Scenic River designation for the Crystal by bringing our expertise and capacity for community
organizing and grassroots engagement to the campaign.
Specifically, we will help build out a more robust set of communication tools including longer
term storytelling assets and updated messaging content for the coalition. We will ensure Wild
and Scenic advocacy has a presence and visibility in the community by hosting or attending
community events and tabling opportunities. We will continue to leverage community
organizing activities, including focused communications, sharing photos and hosting field trips
to affected areas, to educate community members on the benefits of a Wild and Scenic
designation for the Crystal River. Permanent protection for the Crystal River will serve people
who live and work in Pitkin County by ensuring current and future generations are able to
benefit from the clean and abundant water, recreation opportunities, wildlife and scenic beauty
of the Crystal Valley. Our local communities value protecting public lands in our backyard for
these reasons, and we will focus our messaging on that shared value and on the diverse set of
stakeholders that have come together to protect the Crystal River.
Over the past year, we invested heavily in the Crystal Wild & Scenic campaign, and laid critical
foundation for a long-term effort. We helped develop the Crystal Wild & Scenic Coalition,
hosted Celebrate the Crystal in Marble, built a new website for the campaign, launched a public
petition that has over 500 signatures, engaged key partners and stakeholders, and centered the
Crystal campaign in Wilderness Workshop’s communications, organizing and outreach. Next
year, we will continue these efforts focusing on the following activities:
• Providing the public with opportunities to engage in the campaign, such as public
• meetings and action alerts;
• Host informational and action-oriented events that educate and engage local
community members;
• Securing new and updated statements of support from local organizations and entities;
• Outreach to conservation, recreation, private land owner, and other community
• partners to participate in advocacy efforts;
• Activating diverse allies to write letters to the editor and op eds, meet with
decisionmakers
• and otherwise speak up on behalf of the proposal and support a fair and productive
stakeholder process;
• Implement robust grassroots and grasstops organizing campaigns;
• Earn local and state-wide media attention on our efforts;
38
Wilderness Workshop
2022 Pitkin County Healthy Rivers Grant Proposal
• Continue to build on the extensive list of supporters for a Wild and Scenic designation
for the Crystal River and leverage that list for calls to action.
A renewed grant from the Healthy Rivers Board would specifically fund the following:
• Lead the Crystal Wild & Scenic Coalition, including facilitating meetings and maintaining
campaign assets;
• Host 2 events to energize public support for Wild & Scenic designation;
• Secure statements of support from local organizations;
• Build out communications assets for the campaign, including messaging toolkits for the
coalition, supportive LTEs, and story-telling elements for the website.
D. History of the Requesting Party
The extent that the requesting individual/entity has been successful in other projects or efforts
and is known in the community.
Founded in 1967, Wilderness Workshop’s mission is to protect and conserve the wilderness and
natural landscapes of over 4 million acres of public lands in western Colorado. We work directly
with the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, and a number of local and national
groups to protect public lands from industrialization like fossil fuel development and logging,
reduce carbon emissions from public lands, create equity in public land management and
access, and advocate for responsible recreation and land stewardship throughout our region.
Many of our local residents are familiar with Wilderness Workshop’s work to protect the
Thompson Divide. It provides hundreds of thousands of acres of mid-elevation habitat, federal
grazing allotments for local ranching operations, and amazing and undeveloped recreation
opportunities. Over a decade ago, Wilderness Workshop catalyzed efforts to protect this
landscape. Today WW continues to lead the campaign to protect the Thompson Divide from oil
and gas development. The campaign has achieved several important successes. Most notably,
after years of administrative and legal advocacy by WW, BLM canceled 25 illegally issued leases
in the area— the first time BLM had ever canceled so many leases over the objections of
leaseholders. Based on broad-based public support for protecting the area, the U.S. Forest
Service also administratively protected about half the area in a recent land use plan.
Due in large part to our efforts and those of our partners, the CORE Act recently passed in the
House and is awaiting a vote in the Senate for the third time. With the new Biden
administration, and a political climate that is focused on climate change as a threat to national
security, we remain hopeful that the CORE Act will be passed once and for all this year. We
expect a similar community-based effort to achieve permanent protection for the Crystal River.
The work for these two projects will be led by Conservation Director Juli Slivka and Campaign
Manager Michael Gorman, and overseen by Executive Director Will Roush. Our
communications director, field coordinator and director of community organizing will
contribute significantly to our work on this campaign. This team has decades of experience in
39
Wilderness Workshop
2022 Pitkin County Healthy Rivers Grant Proposal
protecting public lands, including through proactive designation efforts and defensive legal and
policy work.
E. Budget, Measurements and Accountability
1. Demonstrates financial stability and presents accurate budgets and financial reports,
measurements and accountability;
2. Specific measures of progress and success;
3. Reporting plan to the River Board/others.
Wilderness Workshop is seeking to create a lasting, permanent impact on the Crystal River
Valley, its citizens, land owners, wildlife, and the entire community in the Roaring Fork Valley.
We receive financial support from numerous organizations throughout western Colorado,
national nonprofit funders, individual donors, and private family foundations. But, in order to
do the work that must be done to designate the Crystal River as Wild and Scenic, we must
obtain enough funding to ensure we can carry out our plan thoroughly and effectively.
To date, we have received one commitment of $25,000 and another $15,000 gift to support our
work on the Crystal River. We have also requested an additional $20,000 in funding from a
private family foundation, and we are in talks with the Pew Charitable Trusts to help fulfill the
budget requirements for this work. While this is not the entire funding required to complete
the campaign (see attached budget), it will play a huge part in enabling our work for a Wild and
Scenic Crystal River.
The short answer to how we evaluate success is the extent to which our efforts result in
legislation which in turn will protect the Crystal River from dams and out-of-basin diversions.
Here are some metrics we use along the path to achieving that permanent protection: number
of community contacts made through newsletters, email alerts, social media contacts, public
presentations, etc.; number of public comments and letters we generate on important issues;
earned media amplifying our messages and/or in favor of our issues; and support and
collaboration from elected officials including resolutions, introduction of bills, public statements
and official letters to decision-makers.
Progress to the Board can be submitted on an annual or semi-annual basis, and we are flexible
based on the desires of the Board and requirements of its grant recipients.
40
Wilderness Workshop
2022 Pitkin County Healthy Rivers Grant Proposal
Wilderness Workshop – 2022 Project Budget
Wild and Scenic Designation on the Crystal River
Expenses
Description Amount
Staff time (salary & benefits)
Campaign Manager $22,435
Conservation Director $11,431
Community Organizer $15,444
Communications Director $18,176
Field Coordinator $14,898
Executive Director $11,990
Total Salary $86,926
Hard costs
Travel $2,500
Overflights for media, members of Congress $2,000
Mapping and graphics $7,500
Advertising $5,000
Branding and marketing $5,000
Events and Organizing $5,000
Total Hard Costs $27,000
Total Expenses $113,926
Revenue
Source Status Amount
Anonymous Committed $25,000
Anonymous – Private Foundation Requested $20,000
Private Foundation Committed $15,000
Pew Charitable Trusts in discussion* $15,000
Pitkin County Healthy Rivers Fund Requested $35,000
General Support (unrestricted gifts to WW) Received $3,927
Total Revenue $113,926
*Wilderness Workshop has shared the details of the project for a Wild and Scenic Crystal River with our
contacts at the Pew Charitable Trusts. While we don’t yet have confirmation of funding, we expect to
hear from them regarding a funding commitment in early April 2022.
41