The Colorado Watershed Assembly, the Colorado Riparian Association, the Colorado Foundation for Water Education and the Colorado Lakes and Reservoir Management Association partnered to host the 5th annual “Sustaining Colorado Watersheds” conference last week in Vail to over 200 participants. The purpose of the conference is to inform participants about new issues and innovative projects and network citizen groups with agencies, consultants and legislators to expand cooperation and collaboration in natural resource conservation, protection and enhancement. The theme this year was “Learning From the Past to Protect the Future” and the 3-day agenda was filled with engaging presentations, workshops and plenary speakers. Highlights included:

• Plenary speaker and 3 hour workshop by John La Rocca (Please LINK to PDF: larocca workshop outline) on the key components of The Rensselaerville Institute’s outcome framework for measurable results
• Keynote speaker Jonathan Waterman, author of Running Dry: A Journey from Source To Sea Down the Colorado River, delivering a photo presentation of the threats to the Colorado River
• Keynote speaker Margaret Bowman of the Walton Family Foundation on opportunities for private investment in Colorado’s watersheds
• Three tracks of break-out presentations focusing on stream and riparian restoration; water education; and water quality issues
• The Colorado Nonpoint Source workshop for 319 funding project in 2011
• Building broad public participation in water education workshop
• Algae identification workshop
• Willow installation workshop on Gore Creek
• Panel on the watershed impacts of gas development
• Plenty of opportunity for social networking and general debauchery

All PowerPoint presentations will be posted soon on our website presentation page. We hope that we will see you next year that this increasingly popular event. Until then, keep up the good work.


Jeff Crane
Executive Director
Colorado Watershed Assembly