Farmers and ranchers in the Roaring Fork Valley are coping with the effects of prolonged drought. Roaring Fork Conservancy (RFC) recognizes the value and complexities of local agriculture. To this end, RFC is partnering with several producers, Lotic Hydrological consulting, and Pitkin County Open Space to explore opportunities of enhancing the resilience of ranching operations in the Roaring Fork Valley in times of water shortage. The project team is interested in identifying means for mitigating against the impacts of drought on productivity in mid- to high-elevation grass pastures and hay fields—the dominant agricultural land use in the Roaring Fork Valley. The study will work to identify field-scale treatments that can be used to minimize (or eliminate) reductions in crop yields and forage quality that are expected in times of limited water supply.

Calling ALL photographers!  The 19th Annual Roaring Fork Watershed Photo Contest is now underway.  We are looking for amateur and professional photographers to capture the beauty of the waterways within the Roaring Fork Watershed.

For details and submission guidelines, please visit the photo contest homepage. 

Photos must be submitted by November 18, 2024.

October 10, 2024 - 

Summary: 

Rivers and streams in the Roaring Fork Watershed are flowing 54-91% of normal for this time of year. Stream flows do not typically fluctuate much from week to week this time of year, as they steadily decrease toward winter baseflow conditions. The exception to that remains the lower Fryingpan River whose flows dropped 40 cfs earlier this week. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife requested this decrease in releases from Ruedi Reservoir, as is typical for this time of year, for the continued management of the 15-Mile Reach of the Colorado River. As we enter election season, learn more about where candidates stand on water issues by reading Roaring Fork Conservancy’s 2024 Voters’ Guide to Water Issues at www.roaringfork.org/.

Check out this month's most current news from RFC!

Roaring Fork Conservancy is pleased to present yet another edition of the Voters’ Guide to Water Issues in the Roaring Fork Valley and Beyond. 

RFC asked candidates in local, state, and federal races for their responses to two water related questions. This online edition presents a non-biased forum for candidates to express their qualifications and platforms on water issues affecting the Roaring Fork Watershed and the state of Colorado...