Middle Colorado Watershed Council

06/06/2026

Protecting the Colorado River isn't just about the river itself.

It's about healthy forests, resilient communities, working agricultural lands, thriving wildlife habitat and clean water for generations to come.

The Middle Colorado Watershed Council helps bring together the people, funding and partnerships needed to make that work possible.

Make a gift today, and it will be matched dollar-for-dollar: https://www.coloradogives.org/story/b8srbf

05/06/2026

Hear from MCWC Executive Director Kate Collins.

Every day, the Middle Colorado Watershed Council works alongside partners across the region to protect water quality, restore habitat and reduce wildfire risk. And right now, every gift made through July 31 will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $50,000. Watch Kate's message and learn how your support helps keep the Colorado River watershed strong.

Donate: https://www.coloradogives.org/story/b8srbf

04/06/2026

It's National Rivers Month. The Colorado River connects communities, supports food production, sustains wildlife and provides the water that makes life in western Colorado possible. Protecting a watershed this large takes more than any one organization can do alone. It takes partnership, coordination and people who care about the future of this place. This month, a generous anonymous donor is matching every gift to the Middle Colorado Watershed Council dollar-for-dollar, up to $50,000 through July 31. Now is a great time to invest in the watershed we all share.
Donate: https://www.coloradogives.org/story/b8srbf

04/06/2026

Science in action on Rifle Creek in Centennial Park today! 🌿💧 MCWC teamed up with Colorado State University interns from the Colorado Natural Heritage Program's Siegele Internship Program, CSU faculty and community volunteers for a day of hands-on citizen science at Centennial Park in Rifle.

Our first mission: an iNaturalist BioBlitz. Prior to today, just two plant and animal species had been cataloged in the park in . By the end of the day, our team of 14 documented 74 species: From wild licorice to showy milkweed to stoneflies and garter snakes. As restoration work continues along Rifle Creek, we look forward to watching biodiversity grow alongside healthier habitat.

The second project focused on the Colorado Water Conservation Board's Colorado River Health Assessment Framework ( ), an emerging tool that evaluates river health through nine key drivers. Together, we collected field observations that help build a more complete picture of watershed health and resilience. Check in with us to see our three teams' grades?! (They rank like a report card, A, B, C, D, F!)

From identifying insects and plants to wading through the creek in search of clues about ecosystem health, it was a day full of learning, discovery and collaboration.

A huge thank you to our CSU partners, interns and volunteers for helping us better understand and steward Rifle Creek. 🌎🐟🦋🌱

To support projects like this and others, consider a matching gift, where your contribution is matched dollar-for-dollar this summer. https://www.coloradogives.org/story/b8srbf

24/05/2026

Beautiful ideas for low-water bloomers.

A beautiful garden does not have to need constant watering 🌿 Drought tolerant plants can bring color, texture, and life with less fuss.

23/05/2026

BIG NEWS for wildfire resilience in the Colorado River Valley. 🔥🌲💧

After years of collaboration, planning and persistence, the Middle Colorado Watershed Council has been awarded a $350,000 investment to support its Colorado River Wildfire Collaborative to advance community wildfire resilience efforts across western Garfield County.

We welcome Sam Feuerborn to the team as program manager for the Colorado River Wildfire Collaborative. Sam started in his new role this week and will help lead and expand this critical work across the region.

This investment represents more than a grant award. It’s a major step forward for coordinated, landscape-scale wildfire preparedness in our communities. The funding will help strengthen partnerships, support mitigation and outreach efforts, advance project development and build long-term capacity for wildfire resilience.

We’re deeply grateful to the 40+ partners, agencies, funders and community members who helped make this possible. Collaborative work like this takes years to build, and we’re excited for what comes next.

Read the full story from the Glenwood Springs Post Independent here: https://www.postindependent.com/news/middle-colorado-watershed-council-receives-350000-wildfire-resilience-investment/

22/05/2026

This welcome news is a long time coming for the West Slope and the Colorado River. Congratulations to all the partners! 💦💙🎉

In a win for western Colorado, the Trump administration released $40 million for the purchase of powerful Colorado River water rights.

21/05/2026

Whoohoo! Tomorrow’s the day 😊

💦 Opening Day is almost Here! 💦

Rifle Parks and Recreation is excited to announce the opening of the Spray Park at Centennial Park tomorrow, Friday, May 22, at 10 a.m.

We hope everyone has a happy and safe Memorial Day weekend!

City of Rifle, Government Colorado Parks & Recreation Association National Recreation and Park Association

21/05/2026

River Stop is open for the season, and we’re putting the finishing touches on making the space as welcoming and functional as possible for visitors along the Colorado River in Rifle. (In case you were wondering, that's a reel of our fun stream table at River Stop! A great learning tool for people ages 4 to 94.)

We’re reaching out to our community to see if anyone can help with a few needed items:

• A very good-condition mini fridge for beverages, offered by donation to visitors
• Wood stain for the indoor benches
• A large dog water bowl for our four-legged visitors
• A large whiteboard
• An HVAC professional willing to inspect, evaluate and possibly clean the HVAC system

If you have an item to donate, a connection to share, or expertise you’d be willing to lend, we’d love to hear from you.

River Stop is a community-centered space, and we’re grateful for everyone helping bring it to life this season.

Please send us a message or email if you can help! [email protected] or stop in at 200 Lion’s Park Circle, Rifle, Colorado!

20/05/2026

River Stop is officially open for the season at Lion’s Pond along the Colorado River in Rifle!

Located at 200 Lion’s Park Circle, River Stop serves as an interpretive center and community resource hub featuring:
• Watershed education and interpretive displays
• Information about local plants and wildlife
• Travel updates and recreation resources
• Information about area businesses and attractions

River Stop will be open Monday–Saturday through September 29.

We’re thrilled to welcome this season’s team:
• River Stop Mentor Chip Carey
• River Stop Intern Sienna, a graduating Glenwood Springs High School senior headed to the University of Colorado engineering school this fall
• Volunteer Rhonda, who will staff Mondays and brings deep roots in Rifle and western Garfield County

This staffing and programming is made possible through the generous support of a Rifle philanthropist who believes in connecting people to the Colorado River and our watershed communities.

Stop by, say hello, and explore what makes our watershed so special!