Introduction:

Roaring Fork Conservancy (RFC) seeks to inspire people to explore, value, and protect the Roaring Fork Watershed. RFC serves both residents and visitors of the Roaring Fork Valley through dynamic school and community-based Watershed Education Programs, as well as through Watershed Science and Policy initiatives. These efforts include regional watershed planning, development of water resource policies, stream management, and ecological restoration projects.

The Crystal Riverfront Park Restoration Project was a collaborative effort between the Town of Carbondale, in partnership with RFC and Pitkin County Healthy Rivers, Aspen Valley Land Trust, American Rivers, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, and Trout Unlimited. See Appendix B for before and after photos taken by RFC. The project focused on four main goals: 

1. Restore the park’s riparian zone while preserving bird and wildlife habitats. Key activities
   included streambank stabilization, floodplain reconnection, and replacing invasive weeds and
   monocultures with diverse native plants.
2. Enhance river channel stability and improve fish habitats and spawning areas in the
   Riverfront Park section of Crystal River. Key activities focused on creating conditions that
   support and strengthen instream biotic structure and diversity.
3. Develop a self-sustaining diversion and headgate structure, which would allow the Weaver
   Ditch to function within the river system while enhancing water delivery for the Town of
   Carbondale.
4. Enhance public experiences at Crystal Riverfront Park. This involved installing and upgrading interpretive signs, trails, gathering spaces, and educational programs. 

RFC worked with Research Evaluation Consulting LLC (REC) to evaluate the impact of the Crystal Riverfront Park Restoration Project on key partners, stakeholders, and invested members of the Carbondale community. Over a 12-month period, REC conducted a multi-method evaluation that included a data and document review, semi-structured stakeholder interviews, and the design and implementation of a community member survey supported by a communication campaign. The evaluation explored the overall effectiveness of the Crystal Riverfront Park Restoration Project, with a particular focus on areas of strength, the impact on partners and community members, and opportunities for improvement in the planning and implementation, and recommendations for short and long-term management. Specifically, REC examined the following three evaluation questions:

1. How effectively has the Crystal Riverfront Park Restoration Project achieved its mission for
   partners and Carbondale community members?
2. What impact, if any, did the Crystal Riverfront Park Restoration Project make on partners
   and Carbondale community members?
3. What worked well and what could be improved about the Crystal Riverfront Park Restoration Project for partners and Carbondale community members?

The findings presented in this Impact Study Report reflect the voices and perspectives of both key partners and surveyed members of the public, offering evidence-informed insights. This report is intended to support RFC’s and the Town of Carbondale’s strategic planning efforts and guide the development and implementation of future projects. It addresses the key evaluation questions, assesses the effectiveness of the Crystal Riverfront Park Restoration Project, highlights strengths and opportunities for improvement, and offers actionable recommendations.

This report includes six sections. The Introduction provides the evaluation context and guiding questions. The Methodology summarizes the data collection methods and analysis approach. The Results section presents key findings from the partner and stakeholder interviews as well as the Community Member Survey. At the same time, the Discussion interprets these findings in relation to the evaluation questions. The Actionable Recommendations offer strategic guidance based on the results, and the Conclusion highlights key takeaways and considerations for future planning.