Update from the Colorado Watershed Assembly’s annual conference

This is the second fall I have attended the Colorado Watershed Assembly’s Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference. “Thriving in Challenging Times” was this year’s theme, and state water quality agencies announced budget and grant funding challenges. Richard Fox, executive director of the non-profit Trees, Water, People, told folks that we needed ingenuity to get through these hard times. NFRIA is one of the oldest watershed organizations in the state, and is one of the first non-profit organizations that has successfully utilized volunteers and collaboration to achieve positive watershed-wide results. Please send comments, ideas and volunteer to help us stay afloat and maintain our leadership role in the watershed community. Many projects throughout the state were highlighted during the conference. I took a field trip to the kayak park in the town of Vail, which is automated with large rubber tubes to create the optimal wave at different water flow levels throughout the year. Assembly board member Bill McKee explained how the Recreational In-Stream Diversion junior rights came to be, originating in Golden, Colorado. Presentations also focused on education and outreach of watershed issues, as organizations such as the Roaring Fork Watershed Conservancy give tours of their watershed. Thanks again to our members and I’ll try to keep up the good work.