Kate Collins
executive director
As Executive Director of the Middle Colorado Watershed Council, Kate is known for her leadership in public outreach, advocacy and coalition building. A trusted voice in both conservation and business, she’s made meaningful contributions across Garfield and Eagle counties. Her background in organizational management and marketing helps MCWC deliver efficient, community-driven projects with lasting impact. Kate’s connection to conservation is personal, her Arapaho heritage and a family history that includes her great-great-grandmother’s escape from Sand Creek Massacre shape her deep respect for land and water. A true water lover, she’s lifelong swimmer and can be found freestyling in lap lanes, rivers, the ocean or her seasonal favorite, Harvey Gap.
Liberty Costello
project manager
Liberty Costello grew up in Kremmling, Colorado, and is now based in Grand Junction. A biology grad from Colorado Mesa University, she’s passionate about protecting the native fish of the Colorado River. With experience as a fisheries technician for Colorado Parks and Wildlife and a background in freshwater fisheries, Liberty brings both expertise and enthusiasm to her work. When she’s not working with waterways, you’ll find her spearfishing in the Pacific, scuba diving through kelp forests, or exploring Colorado’s mountains with her husband.
Paula Stepp
Consultant
Paula served as Executive Director of the Middle Colorado Watershed Council from 2020 to 2024, leading projects focused on water, drought and wildfire resilience as part of the MCWC’s Integrated Water Management Plan (IWMP). A Glenwood Springs resident since 1979, she has helped grow and guide the community as a business consultant, community organizer and nonprofit advocate, with a background in media and the outdoor industry. Paula now continues her water work through outreach and education with the Colorado Basin Roundtable and remains active in local politics and community engagement. Paula enjoys every season mountain living has to offer whether skiing, paddle boarding, hiking or reading water stories.
Jim Genung
Colorado river wildfire collaborative advisor
Jim has been fighting wildfires for 28 years. With deep expertise as the former fire management officer for the Upper Colorado River Interagency Fire Management Unit in the USFS, he has helped protect western Colorado. His work has helped keep major fires, like the Lake Christine Fire, from causing more damage. Jim believes the key is to work with wildfire’s powerful energy rather than fear it, finding ways to manage its impact wisely. Besides his adventurous career, Jim loves traveling the world, follows pretty much every sport, and is a proud dad to his two kids, James and Sophie.
Kailey Murphy
PR Intern
Kailey Murphy is a Colorado native pursuing a degree in Strategic Communications. With a passion for both words and water, she interns with the Middle Colorado Watershed Council, sharing stories that celebrate the beauty and importance of local rivers. When she’s not writing, you’ll often find her with a fly rod, skiing Colorado’s stunning mountains, or cracking down on a puzzle at home.