Roaring Fork Valley residents are fortunate to live in an area that is dominated by high water quality. To ensure that it stays that way, and to locate the areas that need our help, RFC performs water quality testing and analysis throughout the watershed.
Every year RFC conducts a variety of water quality monitoring and stream science field work throughout the Roaring Fork Watershed. Projects typically fall into two categories: Baseline water quality monitoring used to develop long-term datasets, or targeted studies implemented to study a specific stream, parameter, or concern.
Baseline Water Quality Monitoring with Colorado River Watch:
Working with Colorado Parks and Wildlife's River Watch Program, RFC's staff, Stream Team volunteers, and student-collected data contributes to a state-wide water quality database. With this information, coordinated management practices are implemented and specific water quality concerns are addressed. Using this data, RFC published the first State of the River Report in 2001 summarizing water quality around the watershed. A second report, the 2006 Water Quality Report, looked at the previous five years worth of data and identified areas of concern, including Cattle, Brush, and Fourmile Creeks, and the lower Crystal River.
Targeted Studies:
RFC conducts many studies on the rivers and streams throughout the Roaring Fork Valley. Data collected by staff, River Watch or Stream Team volunteers provides a baseline data to the health of our waterways. Sometimes that data raises a flag or indicates a concern which requires a more in-depth study.
Local government officials and not-for-profits, such as conservation organizations, commission Roaring Fork Conservancy to conduct a study on a particular area of interest.
Current Studies:
Alpine Algae Monitoring
Macroinvertebrates
Cattle Creek Stream Health Evaluation
