Roaring Fork Conservancy

1996
November	Roaring Fork Conservancy founded by Town of Basalt and Roaring Fork Club; Shane Harvey elected first President of the Board of Directors
December	Receive 501(c)3 status
1997
March	Articles of Incorporation adopted
April	Jeanne Beaudry hired as first employee (Executive Director)
July	Scientific study completed of three mile Basalt stretch of Roaring Fork River
October	Become part of the River Watch Network, overseeing 24 local water quality monitoring sites in the watershed (1997-present)
1998
September	Field program created to establish better relationship with outfitters
May	Development Director hired; first newsletter published; annual campaign established
July	Education program begins under direction of Leigh Gillette
August	Roaring Fork Conservancy helps create Basalt River Days festival (1998-2010)
December	Heron Point conservation easement becomes the first Roaring Fork Conservancy easement, protecting seven acres of riparian habitat along the Roaring Fork River
1999
March	Roaring Fork Conservancy helps the Town of Basalt adopt a minimum set-back from rivers and streams within the town limits.
May	First Annual Fryingpan River Cleanup organized (1999-present)
June	Receive Environmental Stewardship Award from the Town of Carbondale
July	Roaring Fork Conservancy receives $36,000 from the State of Colorado under Section 319 of the Clean Water Act for the Basalt Education and Stormwater Study
August	Park East conservation easement adopted, protecting eight acres of riparian corridor and hillside
2000
January	Rivers Council formed as a fundraising arm of Roaring Fork Conservancy
February	Cattle Creek Confluence conservation easement adopted, protecting 54 acres of riparian corridor along the Roaring Fork River and Cattle Creek near Glenwood Springs
February	Crystal River Confluence conservation easement adopted, protecting six acres of riparian wetlands along the Crystal River near Carbondale
March	Participate in Town of Basalt Master Plan round-tables
June	Emma Open Space conservation easement finalized, protecting 74 acres of migration corridor and wetlands near Basalt
July	First annual River Rendezvous fundraising event established (2000-present)
2001
September	Basalt Stormwater Evaluations and Recommendations Report completed
Fall	Help found the Roaring Fork Watershed Collaborative to bring diverse water interests together
November	Help pass the Basalt Open Space and Riverfront Parks initiatives which creates a $3 million fund for land acquisition
December	First State of the Rivers Report published, outlining the current health of the Roaring Fork Watershed rivers
2002
April	Launch of expanded and improved website www.roaringfork.org
May	First River Guide School training conducted with local fishing and rafting guides (2002-present)
June	Fryingpan Valley Economic Study completed
July	Summer drought conditions prompt Roaring Fork Conservancy to push for new temporary instream flow donation legislation in Colorado legislature through a Rippy-sponsored bill during 2003 session and a Curry-sponsored bill during 2005 session.
September	Introduce new Watershed Education Programs designed to help students better understand water-related issues and resources
October	Blue Creek Ranch Conservation Easement finalized protecting 20 acres of riparian cottonwood forest along the Roaring Fork River
November	Filoha Meadows Open Space Conservation Easement adopted, protecting 50 acres of riparian habitat, beaver ponds, and critical winter range along Crystal River
December	A Voice for Our Rivers video about Roaring Fork Conservancy completed after five years of filming
2003
January	Roaring Fork Conservancy helps establish Roaring Fork Watershed Collaborative Water Group
March	Glenwood Springs Stormwater Assessment and Education completed
June	Fryingpan/Roaring Fork Fisheries Study completed
July	Harry Teague Architects selected to design future River Center
July	Selected to represent environmental interests on Colorado Basin Roundtable of Colorado’s Statewide Water Supply Initiative
September	Fryingpan/Roaring Fork River Macroinvertebrate Report completed
September	First edition of the Roaring Fork Watershed Inventory published
Ocotber	Selected as host watershed group for the 2003, 2004 and 2005 Colorado Watershed Assembly annual conference
December	Roaring Fork Conservancy adopts revised mission statement: “To inspire people to explore, value, and protect the Roaring Fork Watershed.”
2004
January	Diane Schwener becomes second President of the Board of Directors
February	Blue Creek Ranch donates two acres for future field study center along Roaring Fork River
April	National Association for Interpretation Program Director Lisa Brochu helps staff and board create interpretive themes for future River Center
June	First annual River Float down lower Roaring Fork River attracts over 140 people (2004-present)
July	Stream Flow Survey project commences to model flows in Roaring Fork Watershed
August	Emma Overlook project along Emma Trail near Basalt completed
2005
January	Jeanne Beaudry steps down from Executive Director position after eight years with organization
February	Fryingpan Valley & Ruedi Reservoir Visitor’s Guide completed
April	Partnership with Pitkin County Open Space & Trails established to provide interpretive and educational programs on Pitkin County Open Spaces (2005-present)
May	Roaring Fork Conservancy moves and expands offices in downtown Basalt
May	Rick Lofaro hired as second Executive Director
June	Roaring Fork Conservancy purchases land for future River Center in downtown Basalt
July	Watershed Adoption Program commences to raise funds for program-specific work of Roaring Fork Conservancy
December	Burry conservation easement adopted, protecting eight acres of riparian corridor along the Roaring Fork River
2006
January	Roaring Fork Conservancy begins celebration of its 10th anniversary year
February	Stream Flow Survey report published
August	First annual High Mountain Masters benefit fly-fishing tournament held (2006 & 2007)
October	Roaring Fork Watershed 2006 Water Quality Report published
November	Roaring Fork Conservancy turns ten!
2007
January	Roaring Fork Watershed Collaborative initiates State of Watershed Report. Roaring Fork Conservancy is lead consultant, RWAPA is lead sponsor
February	Release of RFC study of Bureau of Reclamation's Coordinated May 2006 Release from Ruedi Reservoir
March	Roaring Fork Conservancy unveils new logo and look as a result of year-long branding process
September	Organization commissions coordinated study of major mudfloe on Seven Castles Creek in August
September	13-acre Grange River Conservation Easement established to protect riparian habitat on Roaring Fork River
September	13-acre Fourmile Creek Conservation Easement established
November	2-acre Powerhouse Conservation Easement on Crystal River near Redstone established
December	16-acre Grange Riverfront Conservation Easement on Roaring Fork River near Basalt established
2008
April	10th Annual Fryingpan River Cleanup
May	RFC and Miller Ecological publish report on Seven Castles/Fryingpan River mudfloe that occured in August 2007
October	Roaring Fork Watershed Plan Phase II guidance document "Why the Roaring Fork Watershed Plan Matters" published
October	1-acre Gerbaz Bridge Conservation Easement established allowing public river access to Roaring Fork River
November	State of the Roaring Fork Watershed Report published
December	Partners with Pitkin County on 9-acre Grange Loadout conservation easement near Filoha Meadows
2009
March	River Stewards friends network established
June	Roaring Fork Conservancy begins water quality baseline sampling in Thompson Divide area
September	Roaring Fork Watershed Collaborative hosts public meetings to gain input on Roaring Fork Watershed Plan
October	Energy efficiency study on River Center design completed
December	First annual Midwinters Evening of Art benefit (2009-present)
2010
January	University of Michigan grad students begin study of Roaring Fork Watershed Plan implementation
February	Roaring Fork Watershed Plan Phase II guidance document "Illuminating the Way Ahead" published
March	Tapped film campaign encourages drinking tap water over bottled water
June	RFC hosts Roaring Fork Watershed Summit with 80 elected officials and key agency staff
June	Basalt Town Council approves River Center
October	RFC produces Voter's Guide to Water Issues
October	Colorado River Month in Roaring Fork Watershed raises awareness of larger watershed
2011
January	RFC assists with production of Front Range Water Supply Planning Update report
March	Draft Watershed Plan released
November	Roaring Fork Conservancy turns 15!