Why Watershed Groups Matter in Colorado Video Released Only 19% of registered voters in Colorado know they live in a watershed, yet everyone in the world lives in a watershed! Colorado State University recently released a video about the importance of watershed groups to protecing rivers and engaging citizens along the Colorado River corridor. Roaring Fork Conservancy is featured throughout the video. View video now.
2011 Midwinters Evening of Art a Huge Success About a hundred supporters of Roaring Fork Conservancy gathered December 9 for the 3rd Annual Midwinters Evening of Art. Several dozen artists donated works for the show and proceeds from their sale went to support our rivers. Thank you to all of the artists, attendees, volunteers, the Ann Korologos Gallery, and Larry Yaw for their support of this event! Having trouble viewing slideshow?
Watershed-wide Macroinvertebrate Study Underway This fall, Roaring Fork Conservancy partnered with the State of Colorado Water Quality Control Division to conduct macroinvertebrate sampling in the Roaring Fork Valley. Scientists and volunteers collected samples in the field between September 26 and October 3 at 17 sites throughout the Roaring Fork Watershed. Macroinvertebrates, or aquatic insects, serve as important indicators of stream health. In late January we received data from the lab and will begin to assess the health of stream segments we sampled. "At first glance the data shows good species diversity and, initially, most sections being fairly healthy," explains water quality coordinator Chad Rudow. "We'll know more details after more analysis in the coming weeks." This study is another way Roaring Fork Conservancy is working proactively to assess stream health and determine how to best protect our rivers. Watch Video of Sampling. Macroinvertebrate Study in the News: Macroinvertebrate Study samples health of local rivers (start at 2:00) - Aspen Public Radio 10/5/11 Jeepers Creepers: Roaring Fork Conservancy studying bugs to gauge river's health - Aspen Daily News 10/6/11 Roaring Fork Conservancy's macroinvertebrate study - Radio Free Aspen 100.5FM 10/31/11
Basalt Council Approves River Center, Fundraising Underway The River Center got a huge push forward as the Basalt Town Council unanimously approved the project and gave its support on March 22. The River Center "will be a significant architectural addition to the town [of Basalt]", commented P&Z member Bernie Grauer, "and I am extremely pleased." The meeting followed several months of design refinement by Roaring Fork Conservancy and Harry Teague Architects to further improve the River Center design and establish building parameters. The River Center will be the first of several civil projects under consideration along Two Rivers Road in Basalt, among them the potential home for Rocky Mountain Institute. When open, the River Center will house interactive, hands-on exhibits to help visitors better understand and protect their rivers. Visitors will be empowered to make a difference, not just learn information. "This approval will significantly jump-start our fundraising efforts," says Rick Lofaro, executive director. "Now is the time to get on board with this incredible project." To learn more visit www.roaringfork.org/rivercenter.
Water in the West Radio Series KDNK Community Radio and Aspen Public Radio teamed up to bring listeners an in-depth series looking at the threats to the region's water. Reporters from the two stations examined how population growth, climate change, the loss of agricultural land, developments and the energy industry all put strains on Colorado's limited resource. The demands on water that impact states like Arizona and California are moving upstream and are just decades away in Colorado. The series ran December 13 through 20 and are available below. Also check the Aspen Public Radio Blog for additional stories and recordings. The series is edited by former NPR Western bureau chief Alisa Barba and underwritten by the Colorado River District. Part 1| Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5 | Part 6 | Part 7 | Part 8 | Part 9 Jon Waterman Interview | Ken Neubecker Interview| Justice Gregory Hobbs Interview
Flowing Uphill: Watersheds, Transmountain Diversions and the Future of Water in Colorado Ken Neubecker, former president of Colorado Trout Unlimited and director of the Western Rivers Institute, has partnered with Roaring Fork Conservancy to deliver his Flowing Uphil presentation to local governments, civici organizations, and the public throughout the fall and winter. For a complete list of upcoming dates, click on the Events Calendar to the right. View the powerpoint presentation: Flowing Uphill. For more on transmountain diversions visit www.roaringfork.org/diversions.
McBride, Waterman Named 2011 River Conservators This summer Roaring Fork Conservancy will honor Peter McBride and Jonathan Waterman as the 2011 Robert Billingsley River Conservators at the 12th annual River Rendezvous. Over the past four years, these two men have explored thousands of miles of various rivers in the Colorado River Basin, learning and teaching others about the imperiled Colorado River and its tributaries. The Roaring Fork Watershed plays a major role in the larger watershed, providing 8 to 12 percent of the Colorado River’s water with only 0.5% of the land area. McBride and Waterman underscore the fact that the Colorado River, critical to meeting the needs of 30 million people and three million acres of agriculture, hasn’t reached the sea since 1998.
Peter McBride is an award-winning photographer and journalist who has worked in more than 60 countries. A resident of Basalt, Pete has travelled the world telling stories about people and their connection to their places. Growing up on a ranch in the Roaring Fork Valley, water has always been near and dear to Pete’s heart. Pete took most of the photographs for his recent book The Colorado River: Flowing Through Conflict, and Jon Waterman provided most of the text. A selection of images from the book forms a large scale, traveling photo exhibit currently featured at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science through 2011. Pete also produced a short film with his imagery and video work that premiered at the 5 Point Film Festival in Carbondale and Telluride Mountain Film Festival this spring. “It was remarkably eye-opening and alarming to focus my lenses on my backyard river,” says Pete of his experiences exploring the Colorado Basin. “Like many, I had no idea of the Colorado's outcome. We are all users of the river - whether you live in Basalt or Yuma, Arizona - so we all need to be more conscious of our watershed and how we use it.”
Travelling the length of the Colorado River in 2008, Jon’s book Running Dry: A Journey From Source to Sea Down the Colorado River chronicles his adventures as he met with water managers, residents and river users along the river’s length. Jonathan Waterman is mostly recognized for his time exploring the North, detailed in six of his eleven books and in many magazines. In 2011, again with National Geographic support, he has initiated a photographic investigation—exposing high resolution panoramas and pairing old photographs with new photographs to show change—of 16 drying rivers from the Roaring Fork to the Rio Grande. “Somehow, before real shortages begin,” Jon says, “the citizenry of the arid West needs to learn that both river habitat and water are in desperate need of conservation. Thanks to climate change and population growth, the next generation is going to inherit a ticking time bomb.”
This fall, Roaring Fork Conservancy partnered with the State of Colorado Water Quality Control Division to conduct macroinvertebrate sampling in the Roaring Fork Valley. Scientists and volunteers collected samples in the field between September 26 and October 3 at 17 sites throughout the Roaring Fork Watershed. Macroinvertebrates, or aquatic insects, serve as important indicators of stream health. In late January we received data from the lab and will begin to assess the health of stream segments we sampled. "At first glance the data shows good species diversity and, initially, most sections being fairly healthy," explains water quality coordinator Chad Rudow. "We'll know more details after more analysis in the coming weeks." This study is another way Roaring Fork Conservancy is working proactively to assess stream health and determine how to best protect our rivers. 
KDNK Community Radio and Aspen Public Radio teamed up to bring listeners an in-depth series looking at the threats to the region's water. Reporters from the two stations examined how population growth, climate change, the loss of agricultural land, developments and the energy industry all put strains on Colorado's limited resource. The demands on water that impact states like Arizona and California are moving upstream and are just decades away in Colorado. The series ran December 13 through 20 and are available below. Also check the 
Ken Neubecker, former president of Colorado Trout Unlimited and director of the Western Rivers Institute, has partnered with Roaring Fork Conservancy to deliver his Flowing Uphil presentation to local governments, civici organizations, and the public throughout the fall and winter. For a complete list of upcoming dates, click on the Events Calendar to the right. View the powerpoint presentation: 
This summer Roaring Fork Conservancy will honor 
