HomeMy WebLinkAbout09 Sept 2022 packetAgenda items are subject to change – Times are approximate and are also subject to change
Agenda | September 15, 2022
River Park Center
Second Floor Conference Room
123 Emma Road, Basalt CO 81621
TIME ITEM
Administrative Items
4:00 PM Board Comment Public Comment Additions/Deletions to Agenda Outreach/Education/Grants
4:10 PM Airborne Snow Observatory Snow Mapping in the Roaring Fork and Frying Pan
Watersheds – Water Year 2023 Grant Request– Jeff Deems, ASO, Inc.
4:45 PM Access and Parking Improvements at Penny Hot Springs-Seeking Input on a
Preferred Alternative- Liza Mitchell, Natural Resource Planner & Ecologist, Pitkin
County Open Space and Trails
5:15 PM Ecoflight Crystal River Wild and Scenic Stakeholder Engagement Through
Overflights, Film Production, and Storytelling- Jane Pargiter, Executive Director,
Ecofight and Lea Linse, Conservation Program Manager, Ecoflight
5:45 PM Open Discussion
6:15 PM Adjourn
1
Title:Airborne Snow Observatory Snow Mapping in the Roaring Fork and
Fryingpan Watersheds - Water Year 2023
Applicant:Airborne Snow Observatories, Inc.
Contact(s):Jeff Deems, ASO, Inc. -deems@airbornesnowobservatories.com
Request:$77,000
Project Concept
This proposed project will support two Airborne Snow Observatories, Inc. (ASO) snow mapping
flights during winter/spring 2023 in the Upper Fryingpan and Roaring Fork watersheds (Figure
1). This project, enabled by snow-free baseline data funded by the Colorado Water Plan, and
with strong support and financial contributions from other local water entities, will provide an
unparalleled inventory of the mountain snowpack that supplies the majority of runoff in the
Roaring Fork River system. The ASO monitoring capacity has been used to great success
elsewhere in Colorado and the western US to provide accurate knowledge of snow water
resources, improve runoff forecasting, and support water management decision-making.
Following on two successful pilot study flights in Castle and Maroon Creeks in 2019 (Figure 2),
this will be the first application of these data across the Fryingpan and Roaring Fork
headwaters, including all contributing areas to Ruedi Reservoir and to the Aspen stream gage.
These data, in conjunction with a parallel project in the upper Arkansas River basin, will provide
an accurate and timely accounting of snow water volume within the watersheds and above all
relevant diversions, gage locations, and reservoirs.
The standard practice for operational snowpack monitoring relies on a few scattered SNOTEL
(SNOw TELemetry) stations maintained by the Natural Resource Conservation Service. These
stations are limited in their extent and elevation range, and thus can provide only an index of the
snow volume contained within the watershed, rather than a full basin water volume. This index
capacity is used to statistically forecast April-July runoff volume by comparison with a prior
30-year period of record. However, this statistical forecast relies on the assumption that the
current year is similar to years in the past and that the stations reliably represent the snow
conditions throughout the watershed – recent changes in our hydroclimate and watershed
conditions render these assumptions increasingly tenuous, leaving water managers and users
under-informed for managing their systems.
ASO was founded to address this urgent data void. Over the past 10 years, initially at NASA
and now as a Colorado Public Benefit Corporation, ASO has combined state-of-the-art remote
sensing tools with snowpack modeling and fast data processing to deliver snow measurements
of high accuracy, high resolution, and full-watershed coverage. This unprecedented monitoring
capacity, building on the foundation of existing snow stations and integrating with new and
existing runoff forecast systems, provides the fundamental data on which to construct a
responsive and resilient water management paradigm.
2
Figure 1: Map of the Roaring Fork River basin (orange), with proposed snow-season flight coverage (green).
Figure 2: 3-dimensional rendering of ASO snow depth data in Conundrum and Maroon Creeks, April 2019.
3
Building on a legacy of ASO flights (funded by Colorado Water Conservation Board and other
local, regional, and federal partners), the Colorado Airborne Snow Measurements (CASM)
stakeholder group received Colorado Water Plan Grant funds to advance the ASO program
build-out. Snow-free baseline flights in 2022 will be funded through this grant including the
Roaring Fork (above Glenwood Springs) and the Arkansas River (below Granite). The proposed
work for winter/spring 2023 will include conducting snow remote sensing flights using the ASO
sensor package and data processing and utilizing the data to conduct ASO-informed streamflow
forecasting to provide decision-support data. The data products from this project will be freely
available to all interested stakeholders.
Using the ASO lidar + spectrometer + camera sensor package to measure the basin-wide snow
depth, SWE, and snow albedo, this project will provide accurate, full-basin SWE accounting and
albedo mapping to benefit interpretation and production of water supply forecasts and to support
water management decision-making. Winter/spring snow-on surveys will provide these snow
data products on operationally-relevant timetables. This project will also benefit from
CWCB-funded deployment of NCAR’s WRF-Hydro platform that integrates the collected ASO
SWE and albedo data, and provides both seasonal runoff forecasts as well as 10-day flow
forecasts for selected gage locations or stream reaches. All data products and forecasts will be
freely available and distributed through the ASO online data portal.
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.
The proposed project, through an accurate and comprehensive accounting of snowpack water
resources in the Roaring Fork and Fryingpan watersheds, will provide a novel and unparalleled
monitoring capacity for these snowmelt-dependent river systems. This new capacity, and the
runoff forecasts based on it, will provide a new decision-support resource for water managers in
the basins, with direct benefits for in-stream flow and reservoir inflow prediction which in turn
support water availability and rights administration, flow volumes and temperature for aquatic
habitat, and recreation flows. All of these benefits directly advance of the goals and objectives of
the River Board.
1.This proposal seeks Healthy Rivers funds to contribute to conducting two ASO snow
mapping surveys during snow season 2023. ASO will deliver maps of snow depth, snow
water equivalent, and snow albedo from the survey data within 3 days of flight, followed
by regular snowpack and runoff forecast updates from integrated snowpack (Isnobal)
and hydrology (WRF-Hydro) models. Specifically this proposal asks for funding to cover
the costs of the second survey (see budget detail in section E below). Two other
stakeholders in the Roaring Fork basin (Colorado River District and City of Aspen) will be
contributing the balance of the full project cost.
4
2.The proposed project directly addresses or supports Goals 1, 2, and 3 of the Healthy
Rivers fund. Accurate and complete snowpack knowledge will support resilient and
responsive administration of water rights and reservoir management in the Roaring Fork
and Fryingpan system, with direct implications for minimum flows and sustainability of
multiple water uses.
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.
The proposed project has been designed following the typical scoping and planning procedures
used by the ASO team elsewhere in Colorado and the western US. The snowpack monitoring
capacity provided by ASO can and should be utilized every year to serve as a foundational data
source to steadily improve water management - indeed the full program build-out vision
articulated by the CASM workgroup (www.coloradosnow.org)involves 6-8 surveys per year for
each watershed in the state. The current phase of statewide program implementation rests on
funding and support from local entities (such as Pitkin County Healthy Rivers) to initiate survey
programs and to engage local decision-makers to explore the myriad benefits of these data
sets. This local funding model subsequently serves to demonstrate the breadth and depth of
stakeholder need and interest that demands state (and ultimately federal) support to enable a
sustained program.
1.An accurate accounting of the snowpack water equivalent throughout the Roaring Fork
and Fryingpan watersheds meets an important and essential need in quantifying the
water available for runoff, improving the generation and interpretation of runoff forecasts,
and supporting the numerous water management decisions governing the administration
of water rights within the system. The inaccuracy inherent in the standard, station-based
assessment of the snow water resource leaves the system vulnerable to under- and
over-forecasts of runoff volume, and the ensuing potential impacts, costs, and injuries.
2.The proposed project leverages snow-free baseline data acquired using Colorado Water
Plan Grant funding that was secured by the CASM stakeholder workgroup. The full cost
of the project will be met via collaboration with the Colorado River District (Community
Funding Partnership program) and the City of Aspen.
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;
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;
5
4.Demonstrates an appropriate need for public funding.
Public interest in the ASO program is high, as evidenced by participation in and response to
public presentations, print and online journalism, and social media content. Past presentations
in the Roaring Fork Valley (e.g., via Aspen Center for Environmental Studies and Wilderness
Workshop events) have been well-attended and feedback has been enthusiastic. The ASO
team and partner agencies will work to continue this outreach legacy to inform the public about
this ongoing project and data resource.
The proposed project offers great opportunities for public engagement and education and
CASM and ASO staff will gladly support any opportunity to participate in outreach events.
1.ASO is the only technology and provider capable of producing the data products
generated under this project. The ASO data products are unique in their spatial
coverage and resolution, accuracy, and timeliness.
2.The benefits to the residents and communities in the Roaring Fork watershed are many -
from reducing risk of negative water management outcomes to generating a deeper
understanding and appreciation for the complexities of the mountain snowpack.
3.Results from the project will be communicated to stakeholders in real time, and ASO
staff will work with Healthy Rivers staff and partner stakeholders to engage local
journalists and educators for public outreach and education, including building on
existing relationships with Aspen Journalism, Aspen Center for Environmental Studies,
Roaring Fork Conservancy, and Wilderness Workshop.
4.While the CASM stakeholder workgroup is working to expand the ASO program
statewide via sustained state and federal funding support, at the current time the
program is reliant on funds from local and regional entities (such as those engaged in
this proposal), complemented by state and federal resources where available. The
support and buy-in from these local and regional stakeholders is demonstrating the
interest and need for these data that will be critical to establishing the sustained
program.
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.
ASO, Inc. has successfully deployed its technology in numerous other watersheds in Colorado,
California, and elsewhere. Jeff Deems, ASO co-founder and Chief Technology Officer, lives in
Carbondale and has actively communicated with the local community by way of local journalism
and community lectures over the past 10+ years. ASO, Inc. and the CASM stakeholder group
have worked closely with the Colorado River District to plan and implement the expansion of the
CASM/ASO program in a number of watersheds on the Western Slope.
E.Budget, Measurements and Accountability
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
6
which the project can be repeated in other locations such that it will not be limited to a
single event.
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.
1.The full budget for the proposed project is detailed in Table 1 below. ASO, Inc costing is
based on base costs and variable costs. Base costs cover product region preparation,
aircraft mobilization/demobilization, calibration flights and processing, and the first
survey + processing. Variable costs are dependent on the survey area, number of
surveys, and number of months across which surveys occur. These costs are specific to
monthly deployment and standby, flying, processing, and modeling. This proposal seeks
a contribution from the Pitkin County Healthy Rivers program to cover the costs of the
second survey, with the first survey and base costs covered by contributions from the
other identified local stakeholder agencies to enable the full project.
Table 1: Cost breakdown for the full 2-survey ASO program in the Roaring Fork and Fryingpan system for 2023. Cost
for the first survey (which includes base costs) is to be shared amongst collaborating stakeholders. This proposal
seeks funding to conduct the second flight.
7
2.The deliverables listed below will be hosted and disseminated via the ASO, Inc. website
(data.airbornesnowobservatories.com)
Deliverables
Survey products:
• Snow depth maps (3 m, geotiff format)
• Snow water equivalent maps (50 m, geotiff format)
• Snow albedo maps (50 m, geotiff format)
• Total basin report (text)
• Elevation stratification report (text)
• Survey product report (PDF)
Model products:
• Isnobal snow model update report (per survey)
• Isnobal snow model state report (biweekly between and after surveys)
• WRF-Hydro seasonal runoff forecasts (per survey, and monthly updates;CWCB-funded)
• WRF-Hydro 10-day flow forecasts (CWCB-funded)
3.Two surveys are planned for the Roaring Fork and Fryingpan headwaters (detailed in
Figure 1), notionally scheduled to capture peak snow water equivalent (near April 1st) as
well as a mid-snowmelt date (mid-May to early June), with the second survey often timed
to occur as SNOTEL stations melt-out. Exact dates will be finalized in coordination with
local stakeholders as the snow season evolves. The per-survey deliverables described
above will be delivered within 3 days of flight completion for maximum relevance for
decision support.
The River Board and other partner agencies will be included in the communications and
distribution list for project activity updates and data product delivery notifications.
Additionally, one or more representatives from the collaborating agencies will be asked
to participate in the regular CASM-hosted flight coordination meetings during the snow
season to contribute to the collaborative management and prioritization of ASO surveys.
Following the conclusion of the project (after the snowmelt season), ASO staff will
appear before the River Board to present a summary and analysis of the project results,
impact, and future plans.
8
9
EcoFlight Application for Pitkin County Healthy Rivers Board 2022 Fall Grant Cycle
Organization: EcoFlight
Address:307 L AABC, Aspen, CO 81611
Contact:Jane Pargiter, Executive Director –jane@ecoflight.org,970-429-1110
Grant project title:Aerial Advocacy for protecting the Crystal River
Amount requested: $35,000
EcoFlight is requesting a $35,000 Pitkin County Healthy Rivers grant to continue overflights of
the Crystal River that educate stakeholders and the public, engage key target officials, and
generate press coverage in order to secure a Wild and Scenic River designation. EcoFlight will
finalize work on a professional-quality film production for use by the Wild and Scenic coalition
and campaign members that will use storytelling to highlight the necessity of, and grassroots
support for, a Wild and Scenic designation. EcoFlight is excited to continue working to ensure
that the Crystal River’s spectacular ecological, economic, and community values are protected
in a free-flowing condition for the benefit of the Crystal, Roaring Fork and Colorado watersheds
now and for the future. EcoFlight has proven over previous years to be a leader in this
campaign, and requests financial support to continue this important work.
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.
EcoFlight’s Crystal River overflight program will help secure a Wild and Scenic designation by
strategically engaging important stakeholders and decision makers on overflights, impressing
upon them the essential qualities of the Crystal that would be protected under a Wild and
Scenic designation, demonstrating grassroots and regional support to elected officials, and
helping to build and strengthen positive relationships between target decision-makers,
advocates and residents. Target passengers will include public officials, business owners,
ranchers and water-users, residents, advocates, young leaders, and experts. EcoFlight’s existing
relationships with many of these key actors and proven experience engaging public officials will
help ensure that these goals are met. The airplane is a neutral platform where stakeholders,
including those who have not yet formally stated support for a Wild and Scenic designation, can
learn, have meaningful conversations with grassroots supporters, and hopefully become
supporters of Wild and Scenic. Coalition partners will be on each flight to steer messaging and
values-based conversations about the watershed. The aerial perspective helps passengers fully
understand the benefits that the free-flowing Crystal River provides to the local ecosystem and
community, appreciate the scale of threats facing the river, and visualize how the landscape
307 L AABC, Aspen, CO 81611
Phone: (970) 429-1110
www.ecoflight.org
10
would be dramatically altered by dams or out-of-basin diversions. The experience of flight
leaves a lasting impression on passengers and elected leaders, equipping them with the
knowledge, relationships, and inspiration to take action and protect the Crystal River.
EcoFlight will continue elevating the Crystal in the public eye, to generate and demonstrate
strong local support to Colorado’s senators and elected officials at the city and county levels.
Accomplishments during the current grant period proved that EcoFlight’s flights, photos, and
video production will do just this. Flights provide images and content with positive conservation
messaging to the press, highlight the voices of grassroots supporters, and show an unparalleled
view of the river in its current free-flowing state. Through press passengers, that content is then
shared with a wide audience, informing and garnering broad support.
EcoFlight will use funds to complete a professional-quality video production showcasing the
Wild and Scenic values of the Crystal and the community that lives, works, and recreates in and
around the river. This film will be submitted to local and broader film festivals, and will be
available to be shared freely by coalition partners to advocate for the protection of the river.
What began as a project during the 2021-22 grant period to produce a brief informational clip
has grown into much more. We saw that at the heart of the idea to designate the Crystal as
Wild and Scenic is a group of river users and residents who come from different backgrounds
but all share a common appreciation for the river and a desire to keep it simply the way it is.
Their story is fundamental to understanding why the Crystal should be protected, and is a
powerful message that can be used to demonstrate unifying grassroots support for a Wild and
Scenic designation to county and state decision-makers. EcoFlight has captured interviews,
testimonials, and hours of footage highlighting the remarkable qualities of the Crystal River
Valley. This media will be used to produce a trailer and film that will be shared at film festivals
including the American Rivers Wild Rivers Film Tour, and for video testimonials to be shared by
the coalition for outreach purposes. An early version of the trailer can be found here.
This past year, EcoFlight has increasingly focused its local youth programming on the Crystal
River. EcoFlight has a long history of providing the inspiring experience of flight to local youth.
Students are our future leaders for the valley, and it is important to educate young adults on
conservation issues in their backyard, and importantly, the broad scope of issues that affect
them from their valuable fresh drinking water to the big-picture perspective of how a
free-flowing river positively affects climate. The proposed Wild and Scenic designation is a great
opportunity to introduce students to land designations, drought and water management, and
public legislative processes. These lessons reach faculty and become incorporated into program
curriculums, helping to build local awareness for the Wild and Scenic effort and the importance
of civic engagement. Importantly, student flights also provide a key hook to engage press and
provide them with positive conservation messaging around the Wild and Scenic effort. For
example, flights with local high school students were widely shared in this recent article by The
Aspen Times.
307 L AABC, Aspen, CO 81611
Phone: (970) 429-1110
www.ecoflight.org
11
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.
This is a viable project, as demonstrated by the outcome of the flights conducted in the 2021-22
grant period and EcoFlight’s past work on landscape protections such as the Thompson Divide
and other Wild and Scenic river campaigns in the Western U.S. Importantly, Crystal River
overflights have provided a platform to engage critical stakeholders like Gunnison County
Commissioners, Town of Marble trustees, and decision makers who have not publicly stated a
position, educating them about the importance of this designation, helping clarify
misconceptions, highlighting diverse interests in support of Wild and Scenic, and providing
positive takeaways which they will bring to the table at the formal stakeholder process.
Continuing to engage these important target stakeholders is viable, as EcoFlight has been in
contact with officials at local, state, and county levels - including Colorado’s Senators and
current and incoming Gunnison County Commissioners - who would like to participate in flights
but whose schedules or election cycles have thus far prevented them from doing so. EcoFlight is
also regularly communicating and coordinating with the Wild and Scenic coalition and partners
including the Crystal River Valley Caucus, Wilderness Workshop, Pitkin County, Roaring Fork
Chapter of the Sierra Club and other conservation advocates on targeted invites to strategic
passengers.
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;
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.
Since EcoFlight began Crystal River Wild and Scenic overflights for this current 2021-22 grant
period in November 2021, western drought conditions have only intensified under a warming
climate. The need for permanent protection of the Crystal River, one of the state’s few
remaining free-flowing rivers and an inevitable target of water developers in this drought era,
has become ever more pressing. The Colorado River Basin is faced with the unprecedented
challenge of stretching dwindling water supplies to meet a growing population while also
preserving the ecological integrity, water quality, and in-stream flows of our river systems.
307 L AABC, Aspen, CO 81611
Phone: (970) 429-1110
www.ecoflight.org
12
Developing solutions with this in mind demands collaboration, communication, and
understanding among river users and managers, relationships which are fostered through the
shared experience of flight. EcoFlight is excited to continue bringing stakeholders from all sides
together in order to permanently protect the Crystal River and preserve the integrity of the
ecosystems and communities that rely on it.
EcoFlight’s work and content will be readily visible and useful to the public. EcoFlight will
produce high quality digital media that will be freely accessible to the public and press on
EcoFlight’s website, and will work to include press on flights in order to ensure that our work
and positive Wild and Scenic messaging is shared with the broader Roaring Fork Valley
community and beyond. Passengers on each flight will also receive a post-flight follow up with
photos from the flight, information and positive conservation messaging.
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.
EcoFlight’s mission is to educate and advocate for the protection of remaining wild lands and
wildlife habitat using small aircraft. This year marked EcoFlight’s 20th year in conservation
aviation, providing a platform to connect diverse stakeholders and make a difference in local,
regional, and national campaigns. EcoFlight has an excellent relationship with Colorado’s
elected officials and press, and as such, is successful at ensuring the best possible passengers
are on board each and every flight. EcoFlight’s founder, Bruce Gordon, has over 40 years
experience flying for conservation advocacy, and Jane Pargiter has almost 20 years of
experience in the conservation field, working with EcoFlight, and both have built trust and
recognition with passengers targeted in the Crystal River campaign. EcoFlight’s small and nimble
staff bring expertise and experience in environmental policy, communications, film and media
production, place-based conservation work, public engagement, and grassroots organizing.
EcoFlight’s past work has included flights over threatened and contested landscapes across the
West and in the Roaring Fork Valley. For example, flights were integral to engaging stakeholders
and demonstrating grassroots support in the effort to protect the Thompson Divide. Flights over
other Wild and Scenic river proposals have also proved to be a successful campaign tool,
contributing to victories such as the designation of the East Rosebud River in Montana as Wild
and Scenic.
Protection and restoration of the West's remaining healthy rivers has become an issue of
elevated importance in EcoFlight’s recent work. EcoFlight has brought together federal resource
managers with Tribal governments to manage the dam removal effort on the Klamath and
Snake Rivers, generated excitement and momentum for the grassroots effort to protect the
Yampa and Dolores Rivers, and informed Wild and Scenic campaigns on the Gila and East
307 L AABC, Aspen, CO 81611
Phone: (970) 429-1110
www.ecoflight.org
13
Rosebud Rivers. EcoFlight brings a wealth of experience to the Crystal River Wild and Scenic
campaign.
EcoFlight has a long history of flying to protect the Crystal River, with previous incremental
successes. The Crystal River, one of the Roaring Fork Valley’s most wild, prized, and threatened
gems, has been a focus of EcoFlight’s work since the organization’s inception in 2002. Flights
over the Crystal River and Carbondale’s source of drinking water were successful in generating
support for securing interim protections for the Crystal, protection of Maroon and Castle Creeks
and protections for the Thompson Divide. When Wild and Scenic river discussions were in their
infancy, EcoFlight flew residents and local stakeholders over the river, providing them with
knowledge and tools to successfully advocate for a Wild and Scenic proposal. EcoFlight’s current
involvement builds on these past successes. In the 2021-22 Pitkin County Healthy Rivers grant
period, EcoFlight has flown eighty passengers since October 27th, 2021, engaged with dozens of
stakeholders on the ground through interviews and testimonials that will be included in the
film, and connected with several additional future passengers including incoming and current
Gunnison County Commissioners, Senator Bennet and Senator Hickenlooper, and Town of
Marble representatives. EcoFlight spent substantially more on this campaign in the 2021-22
grant period than the amount awarded, and is requesting an additional $5,000 for the
upcoming grant year.
E. Budget, Measurements and Accountability
The extent to which the proposed grant amount is appropriate to the project scope and
includes other
appropriate sources of funding. The extent that the project includes specific measures for
success and
reporting of progress and results to the River Board.
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.
EcoFlight will track progress and success using the following indicators:number of passengers,
number of earned media articles/images with positive conservation messaging, number of
video views, number of engagements with targeted elected officials, testimonials from
passengers and partners, and ultimately, resolutions from towns and counties.These metrics
will be reported to the Healthy River Board. In addition, EcoFlight will engage in regular
discussion with Wild and Scenic campaign partners such as Pitkin County Healthy Rivers Board,
Pitkin County Commissioners, and other members of the Wild and Scenic Coalition and CORE
Team in order to ensure target passengers are being identified and flights actively advance
ongong Wild and Scenic campaign activities. EcoFlight will produce image and video galleries
307 L AABC, Aspen, CO 81611
Phone: (970) 429-1110
www.ecoflight.org
14
that will be shared with our conservation partners and network for use in printed or digital
communications and will be available to the River Board, the media, and the public.
Itemized expenses:
DESCRIPTION AMOUNT
Staff time
Strategy, outreach and communications and messaging w/
partners
$6,000
Flight planning, coordination & logistics $6,000
Post-flight follow up outreach and messaging, distribution $6,000
Video production and editing (in-house videographer)$7,000
Pilots $6,000
Total Staff expense:$32,000
Flight expense
Airplane fuel $10,000
Fixed airplane expenses (insurance, maintenance,parking)$6,000
Ferry flights $3,000
Total flight expense $18,000
TOTAL COST $50,000
Funds or in-kind donations available for project:
SOURCE AMOUNT
Wyss Foundation (secured)$4,000
Local individual donations (pending)$3,000
General operating fund (secured)$8,000
Pitkin County Healthy Rivers Grant (requesting)$35,000
TOTAL FUNDS AVAILABLE (B)$50,000
307 L AABC, Aspen, CO 81611
Phone: (970) 429-1110
www.ecoflight.org
15