Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration Project

08/29/2026

Our friends at the Rye Resurgence Project are teaming up with Dry Land Distillers on the release of a new light rye whiskey made with San Luis Valley Rye. Check out the auction of the first 12 bottles, signed by the Distiller and Farmer. Proceeds go to the Rye Resurgence Project. Pickup is available at the distillery in Longmont or in Alamosa. The auction is live now and runs until Sunday evening. Cheers!

08/18/2026

🌲🚒 Costilla County, the Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration Project (RGHRP), and Colorado State Forest Service (CSFS) are developing a combined Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) and Wildfire Ready Action Plan (WRAP) to help reduce wildfire risk, protect communities and watersheds, and strengthen long-term resilience across the Costilla🌲🚒

We want to hear from you: residents, business owners, and local leaders to understand the wildfire risks facing your neighborhood, what concerns you most, and how we can strengthen local wildfire preparedness. Your feedback will help shape recommendations and future projects that reflect the needs of Costilla County residents and stakeholders. Attend one of two community meetings to learn more and share your insights:

El Condado de Costilla, el Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration Project, y el Colorado State Forest Service, están elaborando un plan conjunto que integra el Plan Comunitario de Protección contra Incendios Forestales y el Plan de Acción de Preparación ante Incendios Forestales, con el fin de reducir el riesgo de incendios, proteger a las comunidades y las cuencas hidrográficas, y fortalecer la resiliencia en todo el Condado.

Queremos conocer su opinión —ya sea usted residente, propietario de un negocio o líder local— para comprender los riesgos de incendios forestales que enfrenta su vecindario, saber qué es lo que más le preocupa y determinar cómo podemos fortalecer la preparación local. Sus comentarios ayudarán a definir las recomendaciones y los proyectos futuros que reflejen las necesidades de los residentes y las partes interesadas del Condado. Asista a una de las dos reuniones comunitarias para obtener más información y compartir sus perspectivas:

📅 Date: August 27th
⏰ Time: 3pm
📍 Location: San Luis Health Center (233 Main Street Suite C, San Luis, CO 81152)
Can’t attend in person? Join us via Zoom! 🔗 https://tinyurl.com/yn8n2f7e


📅 Date: August 27th
⏰ Time: 6:30pm
📍 Location: Fort Garland Community Center (17523 US-160, Blanca, CO 81123)
Can’t attend in person? Join us via Zoom! 🔗 https://tinyurl.com/2jpw382u

Your input matters! Stay tuned for upcoming opportunities to get involved and complete our community survey here: 🔗 https://tinyurl.com/2n89rhvj
Questions? Contact [email protected] or [email protected].

05/06/2026

Shop local at Narrow Gauge Book Cooperative, and donate to us upon checkout! 📚 We are so grateful they chose to support us for the month of May. Funds will go to support the Alamosa Riverfront Project, an upcoming project that will improve river access and health on the Rio Grande at Cole Park.

Each month, we feature a local nonprofit that serves the San Luis Valley. This month, you can support the Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration Project (RGHRP).

Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration Project was formed as a response to a study completed in 2001 on the Rio Grande when local stakeholders realized that there was a decline in the historical functions of the Rio Grande, which included the provision of high quality water, healthy riparian areas, fish and wildlife habitat, and a functioning floodplain. Since the establishment of RGHRP, their mission is to restore and conserve the historical functions and vitality of the Rio Grande Basin in Colorado for improved water quality, agricultural water use, riparian health, wildlife and aquatic species habitat, recreation and community safety while meeting the Rio Grande Compact.

The RGHRP has several projects, but they are particularly excited about the Alamosa Riverfront project, which will transform the Rio Grande into a healthier, more resilient river, offering Alamosa residents and visitors alike safe access to river recreation opportunities and ensuring agricultural users can efficiently access their water rights.

To learn more about the RGHRP and their projects, check out their page, Rio Grande Headwaters Restoration Project

And, take a look at their recommended books below:

- Where the Water Goes: Life and Death Along the Colorado River by David Owen
- The Emerald Mile, Kevin Fedarko
- Eager: The Surprising, Secret Life of Beavers and Why They Matter, by Ben Goldfarb
- Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer
- What is a River? by Monika Vaicenavičienė

04/23/2026

🌎 Happy Earth Day from all of us at RGHRP! This Earth Day, we’re reflecting on the challenges and opportunities facing our communities along the Rio Grande. 2026 is shaping up to be another difficult drought year for fish, wildlife, farmers, and families who depend on the river.
Even in the face of drought, we need to keep showing up - to support one another, keep partnerships strong, and stay committed to the projects that build a healthier, more resilient river now and into the future.