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 11:59pm on Monday, November 18, 2024.

November 14, 2024 - 

Summary: 

Last weekend’s strong winter storm combined with a short-lived midweek storm, continued to increase the early season snowpack in the Roaring Fork Watershed. Snow water equivalent, a measure of the water content in the snowpack, is 0.8-1” greater than a week ago at most SNOTEL sites in the watershed. This is the fourth consecutive week that the watershed received precipitation, which is key for building a robust snowpack and keeping the watershed out of short-term drought. Rivers and streams are flowing 65-112% of normal for this time of year. How will the $99 million deal to purchase and permanently protect the water rights at the Shoshone Power Plant in Glenwood Canyon impact the Roaring Fork Watershed? Find out on November 19, when Colorado River District’s staff explain how these large and very senior water rights are foundational to water management across the state. Additional details at www.roaringfork.org/events.

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...