Our Mission:

 

To evaluate, protect and enhance the health of the middle Colorado River watershed through the cooperative effort of watershed stakeholders. 

Land ownership throughout our watershed, from DeBeque to Glenwood Springs.

Land ownership throughout our watershed, from DeBeque to Glenwood Springs.

Our Values:

  • Balanced Stewardship

  • Watershed health.

  • Collaboration.

  • Informed decisions.

Our Goals:

  • Support the long-term health of the watershed for the well-being of the community and the local economy.

  • Advance water quality monitoring, enhancement, and improvement efforts.

  • Promote smart, efficient water use and conservation.

  • Increase knowledge, awareness and stimulate interest in the watershed.

  • Offer educational opportunities and informational resources to watershed stakeholders.

  • Inform planning and decision-making with unbiased, fact-based information.

  • Create partnerships and collaboration among stakeholders.

  • Manage the organization and finances effectively and efficiently.

 

Our Work:

  • Information: Gather, evaluate, and disseminate information pertinent to watershed health.

  • Projects: On-the-ground projects and educational campaigns to promote watershed health.

  • Education: Increase knowledge, awareness and understanding to promote balanced stewardship in our watershed.

  • Resources: Assemble money and resources to allow our work, and work with our partners to continue.

 

Our History:

In September of 2009, twenty-six people representing twenty-three organizations were convened by the Colorado River District, Colorado State University Extension, Colorado Watershed Assembly, and the Sonoran Institute to explore opportunities for collaboration in the Middle Colorado River watershed.

The initial stakeholder group identified the benefits of collaboration, issues and concerns, potential activities, and important stakeholders to involve over the long-term.Volunteers from the Stakeholder Group created a Steering Committee that met for the first time in March of 2010.

Steering Committee members set the work plan and direction of the group. In July 2011, the group was notified that the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment Nonpoint Source Program intended to award a Section 319 watershed planning grant to fund data assessment and watershed planning efforts. A Leadership Committee was formed to develop a Project Implementation Plan (PIP) for the grant which was officially awarded in December 2012. 

The Middle Colorado Watershed Council hired its first coordinator in September of 2012 to oversee the completion of a Watershed Assessment and of a Watershed Plan. The Middle Colorado River Surface Water Quality Data Analysis (WQA) was completed in March of 2015, and served to inform the Watershed Plan, completed in 2016. Now in 2018, the Middle Colorado Watershed Council has grown to four staff members working collaboratively with organizations and municipalities throughout the region to achieve its goals and mission.