Winter 2007 - Roaring Fork Conservancy

RIVER CURRENTS
A semi-annual newsletter of Roaring Fork Conservancy ~ Winter 2007-2008
River Protector
Gail
Schwartz
State Senator
Snowmass Village
As the Senator for
District 5, Gail Schwartz
represents one of the
most diverse legislative
districts in Colorado.
From agriculture and
mining communities to
ski towns, the District
contains the full range of
West Slope interests. Yet
rather than seeing the
differences amongst the
communities she
represents, Senator
Schwartz recognizes that
one value unites the
District, water.
“Water is the
lifeblood of our District,”
says Senator Schwartz,
“and in that respect we
are blessed. We have
every tool we need; we
just have make sure we
are aware of the issues
Continued on page 2
Chasing the Red Mud
by Rick Lofaro
I returned to the Roaring Fork Valley on
Sunday afternoon August 5th following
a smoke-filled week in the Flathead
Valley in Montana. An area that I
usually associate with abundant rain
and a lush, green landscape was hit hard
by drought and fires this summer, and it
was the worst fire year that I could
remember. At that time, 30 rivers in
western Montana were closed due to
low flows and high temperatures. So,
coming home to a greener valley,
flowing rivers and a steady rain that
evening felt cleansing and refreshing.
As the pitter patter of rain drops lulled
me deep into sleep, something much
bigger was brewing high in the headwaters of
Seven Castles Creek.
Around 4 am on Monday August 6th, a
massive mudslide reached the Fryingpan River
via Seven Castles Creek following a
substantial localized thunderstorm and
sustained rains throughout the night. As a
result, the Fryingpan, Roaring Fork, and
Colorado rivers downstream turned the color
of tomato soup. As I drove over the Fryingpan
River in Basalt on my way to the office, I was
stunned to see a once gin clear river running
thick and red. John Colson from the
Glenwood Springs Post Independent reported
that “the torrent in a small creek that feeds the
Fryingpan River awakened some residents of
the Seven Castles neighborhood with the
sound and fury of nature gone wild, which
some local boys told a photographer at the
scene ‘sounded like a freight train, or a
hurricane.’” An event of similar proportions
occurred in 1998, but this event was the largest
of its kind that many long-time residents could
remember. Over the next several days, the
media was saturated with the event that
The Seven Castles area up the Fryingpan is known for
highly erosive soils. On August 6, heavy precipitation
caused a debris flow of those soils. Chad Rudow
turned the rivers red, and we were all chasing
the red mud.
Questions and concerns arose
immediately regarding the fate of the insects
and fish in the Fryingpan River, the potential
negative effects downstream, and what was to
happen to all of the mud that was now in our
rivers. And many of these questions came to
Roaring Fork Conservancy.
In an effort to respond to public concerns
and rapidly assess the health of the river, the
impact on the aquatic insects and the fish, and
figure out what to do next, Roaring Fork
Conservancy spent the better part of the
month of August focused on this issue. Thanks
to a panel of scientists Roaring Fork
Conservancy assembled, we were able to
gather as much scientific information as
possible in a short amount of time to make the
best recommendation for the river and
contribute effectively to the public process.
The initial focus was centered on the
possibility of a fall flushing flow to blow out
the sediment and send it down stream. After
further analysis and a public meeting held by
Continued on page 2

2OPENING THOUGHTS
Gail Schwartz
(continued from pg. 1)
that pose a threat to our water.” For
Senator Schwartz this means staying
informed and continually working to
develop legislation that will protect water
resources. Considering that, as she put it,
“water is the most divisive issue in
Colorado,” this is never a simple task.
Even when the legislation involves a
matter on which her colleagues can agree,
amending water law is an incremental
process. With House Bill 07-1012, for
example, the Colorado Water
Conservation Board had long been vocal
about the need to allow farmers to make
temporary loans of unused water to the
State for instream flow purposes without
risk of losing their right. Yet water issues
that come before the General Assembly
“always involve difficult conversations.”
Accordingly, it took the drought of 2002
and several legislative sessions thereafter to
devise a statutory scheme that would allow
for such temporary loans. House Bill 07-
1012, which Senator Schwartz sponsored,
was the culmination of this effort, and
despite its significance, it represented only
one of the half dozen water bills that
Senator Schwartz was personally involved
with during this last legislative session.
As Vice-chair for the Committee on
Agriculture, Natural Resources, and
Energy, Senator Schwartz wields significant
influence over the water issues that come
before the Senate. Yet when asked about
the one thing that she does to protect water
resources in the Roaring Fork Watershed,
she immediately responded, “I stay
informed of the issues and I stay in touch.”
It is a simple approach, yet for Senator
Schwartz, she knows it goes to the heart of
her job. “My door is always open, if people
have issues and concerns they can always
approach me.”
You may contact Senator Gail
Schwartz at the State Capitol at
303-866-4871 or email her at:
gail.schwartz.senate@state.co.us.
- Moss Driscoll
Read more River Protector Profiles
and to post your profile
visit www.roaringfork.org
Chasing the Red Mud
(continued from pg. 1)
Excess debris caused the Fryingpan River
to shift a hundred feet to the right in this
photo and made local rivers red for
several weeks. Tim O’Keefe
the Colorado Division of
Wildlife (CDOW), it was
determined by CDOW and
the public in attendance
that a fall flush may not be
the best thing after all. A
spring flush seemed to make
more sense to more people,
especially since all of the
surrounding rivers and
streams would be charged
with runoff, and would
better be able to transport a
large amount of sediment.
Thanks to funding from the
Town of Basalt, Eagle
County, Colorado River
Water Conservation
District, Colorado Division
of Wildlife and the US
Bureau of Reclamation; Miller Ecological Consultatns, Inc. will
perform further studies on the Fryingpan this fall and make
recommendations for the spring of 2008 on the timing of a flushing
flow, and other management recommendations to address this issue.
To everyone’s surprise, the river recovered quickly. We learned
that this mudslide was a natural event, and one that has occurred
many, many times before. It did have some negative impacts, but it
also had some positive impacts. The river received more woody debris
which is good for the aquatic insects, and new habitat for young
willow and cottonwood to sprout was created. The fish and the insects
are recovering, and our fishery remains healthy. Roaring Fork
Conservancy remains committed to the health and well being of all of
our rivers and streams, and we will continue to lead the effort on the
Fryingpan in the coming year to help figure out how to best manage
our precious water resources for the future. We are here for the rivers
and here for the people, and we are honored that so many of YOU
turn to US as the “go-to” organization for rivers.
River Education at Your
Child’s School
Each year, RFC works with
thousands of students to
help teachers integrate river
field trips into their
curriculum. Working with
preschoolers through
college students, RFC has a
host of educational
programs in schools and at
over 25 field sites
throughout the watershed.
To have RFC educators work with your students visit
www.roaringfork.org/education or call (970) 927-1290.
Marina O’Keefe

RFC there with summer river issues
by Moss Driscoll
In one respect
Roaring Fork
Conservancy is a
contradiction. Here
is an organization
dedicated to the
protection of this valley’s most vital
natural resource, water. Yet what
Roaring Fork Conservancy’s efforts truly
demonstrate is the value and potential
of human resources. Through its seven
staff members, dozens of volunteers, and
countless supporters, RFC is realizing
the full scope of “Bringing people
together to protect our rivers.”
This past summer I had the
opportunity to serve as Roaring Fork
Conservancy’s summer legal intern. As
part of RFC’s ongoing contribution to
the Roaring Fork Watershed Plan, I
helped research the existing and
potential legal influences on water
management in the Valley. However, as
much as I learned about the
complexities of Colorado water law, it
was my work outside the office that I
now most value. Between representing
RFC at Aspen’s Saturday Market,
helping with restoration planting at the
Jenny Adair Wetlands, or serving as a
boat naturalist during the third annual
River Float, I gained an insider’s
perspective on the reach of this unique
ECOS selected to design
River Center exhibits
Roaring Fork Conservancy selected
ECOS Communications of Boulder,
Colorado to design exhibits and assist
with interpretive planning for the future
River Center. The ECOS team brings
with it dozens of years of experience
working on projects big and small and
has an extensive resume of international
and Colorado projects. RFC staff will
work closely with ECOS to create handson,
engaging, and thought-provoking
exhibits that focus on rivers and water.
“The River Center will be unlike
organization.
Roaring Fork Conservancy is
remarkable for both the significance of
its work and the diversity of its staff and
volunteers. Each day at the Basalt office
seemed to bring a new development in
water management in the valley: the
accident at the Shoshone Power Plant,
the drought and threat of fires at the
beginning of the summer, Basalt’s update
to its Master Plan, and the Seven
Castles mudslide in mid-August.
Through all this, Roaring Fork
Conservancy was there, representing the
interests of the Watershed. By bringing
together everyone from educators,
scientists, naturalists, river guides,
anglers, public officials, politicians, and
the public at large, Roaring Fork
Conservancy holds the experience and
the technical knowledge to address the
difficult questions, as well as a mission
that unites and inspires all to become
involved.
As this valley continues to grow and
expand, Roaring Fork Conservancy is
prepared to make sound, sustainable
water management a reality. For that
lesson alone I am eternally grateful, and
I proudly include myself in that evergrowing
group of individuals that have
been influenced by Roaring Fork
Conservancy to “protect our rivers.”
anything in Colorado,” explains
Executive Director Rick Lofaro. “Not
just another nature center or simply
office space for RFC, the River Center
will be an innovative, state-of-the-art
facility that excites and empowers our
residents and visitors. ECOS
Communications, along with Harry
Teague Architects, will help us bring this
concept into a reality.” Planning work
on the River Center will continue this
winter with the anticipated groundbreaking
in 2009 or 2010.
River Protector
Heather
Fox
Science Teacher
Glenwood Springs High School
Heather moved to Carbondale
three years ago from Denver to
take a science teacher position
with Glenwood Springs High
School. This fall marks the
beginning of her ninth year of
teaching and her first teaching
the River Watch class. A native
of Aurora, Colorado, Heather
has seen a great difference in
her awareness of water issues
moving to the west side of the
Continental Divide. “I am
definitely much more aware of
the source of water and that
water takes a lot of
management. On the Front
Range you just hear ‘there’s a
drought, stop using so much
water.’ On this side, I’m much
more aware of water issues and
what’s going on.” She
appreciates RFC’s education in
the community not just with
schools but with adults. Most
notably, she enjoyed last year’s
Justice Hobbs lecture in Aspen.
“I like that RFC makes water
education accessible to the
average person.”
- Tim O’Keefe
3RIVER UPDATES

4WATER QUALITY
Water Quality Quandry
by Chad Rudow
Water quality and its relationship to our local rivers is
sometimes confusing. Below are the top four questions we are
asked regarding water quality and the Roaring Fork Watershed.
What is the largest source of pollution in the watershed?
The short answer is we all are. Non-point source pollution is
pollution with multiple points of origin and enters rivers at
many locations. It is the largest source of pollution in our
watershed and can take many forms such as stormwater runoff
from streets and parking lots, fertilizers/pesticides from yards,
farms, and golf courses, and sediment from agriculture and
construction.
What happens to the Water Quality Data collected by Roaring
Fork Conservancy?
Water quality data is collected from 28 sites around the
watershed by a combination of staff, volunteers, and local
schools. It gets sent to River Watch, a state-wide organization
which maintains a database for use by any agencies or
individuals interested in water quality. You can access this
information yourself online at
http://wildlife.state.co.us/riverwatch/dsaccept.aspx.
Which rivers
and streams in
the watershed
are the least
healthy?
The good
news is that
most of the
rivers and
streams in our
valley are
fairly healthy.
Based on our
most recent
water quality
report the streams we are most concerned about are: Brush
Creek, Cattle Creek, Fourmile Creek, and the lower reach of
the Crystal River. RFC is working with numerous entities to
Charlie Lueders, Colleen Boddy and Dick Helmke
collect water samples on Cattle Creek. Chad Rudow
continue to monitor and work towards improving the health of
these streams and rivers.
What should I do if I see something or someone negatively
affecting a river or stream?
Contact Roaring Fork Conservancy. Although we don’t have
regulatory authority on situations affecting our rivers, we often
know and have relationships with the agencies who can take
action.
River Protector
Lesley
Morse
Customer Service Representative
New Castle Alpine Bank
Lesley is a long time valley resident, living in
Silt for almost 30 years. She originally came to
the valley from North Carolina to work at
Sunlight for a winter. After coming back for a
couple of seasons she met Bob Morse (whom
she would eventually marry) and moved here
permanently. She now works at Alpine Bank in
New Castle as a customer service
representative.
Lesley has always loved rivers and while
traveling along Hwy 82, would see things that
concerned her, like construction next to the
river, golf courses encroaching on the riparian
zone, and even a backhoe in the river. Her
concern grew until one day she saw a Glenwood
Post article asking for volunteers to collect
water samples for Roaring Fork Conservancy.
With a background in hydrology and forestry,
she had an understanding about the need to
collect baseline water quality data, and signed
up to help. As a result Lesley, with the help of
Bob, has been driving from Silt to Glenwood to
collect water quality samples on the Roaring
Fork River for over seven years. She says rivers
are the arteries of our land.
Lesley says, “One of the most important
things Roaring Fork Conservancy does is to
collect water quality data and use it for
education, because scientific facts are very
important for backing the work they are doing.”
- Chad Rudow

Giving River Guides River Tools
by Tim O’Keefe
What is a watershed? Can you define it?
Recently, through a very informal,
unscientific poll we found out that only
one in ten rooky
river guides know
that a watershed
is an area of land
where all the
water drains to
one point. River
guides must get
50 hours of onwater
training in
reading the river,
safety protocols,
and oarsmanship.
The staff of Blazing Paddles on a training run.
Blazing Paddles
They hadn’t learned much about the
river’s natural history, wildlife and
regional water issues until Roaring Fork
Conservancy began its River Guide
Training program in 2003.
Since then Roaring Fork
Conservancy has conducted dozens of
on-water trainings with rookie and
veteran river guides to teach them about
American dippers, riparian zones, the
law of the river, and, yes, what a
watershed is. Whitewater companies
have been very receptive to the trainings
which not only
increase the
knowledge of their
employees, but
enhance the
experience for
their customers.
From RFC’s
perspective, we
empower dozens
of guides to reach
thousands of
people a summer
with a simple message: water is precious
in the West.
In the future, RFC hopes to create a
second level of training and certification
to give raft guides have the knowledge
and skills to provide interpretive scenic
floats on local rivers. The next time
you’re out commercially rafting ask your
guide what a watershed is – hopefully
they can tell you that and much more!
2007 Roaring Fork Watershed
Photo Contest
Calling All Photographers
Roaring Fork Conservancy invites all photographers to enter the 2007 Roaring
Fork Watershed Photography Competition. There is an amateur category and a
professional photographers category. We are looking for striking digital images of
the rivers, streams, and wetlands of the Roaring Fork Watershed. This area
includes the Fryingpan, Crystal and Roaring Fork Rivers, as well as their
tributaries. Deadline for entries is December 31, 2007. Please see our photo
competition rules online at:
www.roaringfork.org/2007photo
Eliza Hotchkiss
River Protector
Steve
Skinner
General Manager
KDNK Radio Carbondale
What is one thing you do to
protect our rivers?
“I have written to state and
national Representative on
water issues. I clean up trash
every time I’m on the river. I
avoid bottled water and I/we
conserve water at home. We
have a drip irrigation system
outside, we use, “low water”
faucets and we have a solar
powered hot water heater.”
What do you think is the
most important thing that
Roaring Fork Conservancy
does?
“It evaluates and protects the
watershed.”
What else do you think needs
to be done?
“My first response is that I
don’t know what can be done.
On the other hand, we need
to mitigate the impact of
growth and over use. You can
raise the awareness of
residents and visitors about,
“water issues”.
- Ed Perregaux
5ON THE RIVER

WATERSHED EXPLORATIONS
Epic Adventures Await!
by Tim O’Keefe
On maps in the early 1800s much of eastern Utah and northern Arizona was blank. No Anglo had ever explored and
mapped the area until John Wesley Powell, a one-armed former Army major, rigged a small fleet of wooden dories,
gathered a team of brave men, and set off down the Green and Colorado
rivers through the Grand Canyon. During his several-month voyage the
expedition would loose food, boats and lots of morale, but would collect
stories, data and information used by modern day river explorers for
hundreds of years.
While modern day river explorations are not quite so harrowing,
Roaring Fork Conservancy offers dozens of opportunities for adults and
families to learn more about our river resources through its Watershed
Explorations programs. Designed to connect valley residents and visitors
with our water resources, these programs are anything but boring. From
touring hydroelectric facilities and trans-mountain diversion facilities
to floating through mountain wetlands and
restoring river bank habitat,
Watershed Explorations offer
people of all ages the chance to
learn about and connect with our
rivers. We hope you can join us on
one of our epic adventures!
Upcoming 2007-2008 Watershed Explorations
November
7 Hot Springs Pool Tour - Glenwood Springs
January
17 Twilight Snowshoeing at Thompson
Creek Open Space - Carbondale
February
20 Twilight Snowshoeing at Emma Open
Space - Basalt
March
20 Twilight Snowshoeing at Northstar
Preserve - Aspen
April
9 Spring Flyfishing Tune - Up
Old Pond Park - Basalt
16 Spring Flyfishing Tune - Up
Aspen
26 10th Annual Fryingpan River Cleanup
Basalt
Dates subject to change. For a complete and updated list of all of our
Watershed Explorations, visit www.roaringfork.org/events.
6
From top right to bottom: Seven Star wildflower hike with Lisa Tasker, flyfishing Wilton
Jaffee Park with Kirk Webb, planting Jenny Adair Pond wetlands, learning about
mining’s affects on rivers with Brian Long, using the stream trailer at Basalt River
Days, and floating the Roaring Fork during River Float 2007. Chad Rudow & Tim O’Keefe

Watershed Plan
Development Gaining Steam
by Gwen Garcelon
We have been
hard at work
following the road
map of Phase I of
its development:
getting the word
out throughout
the summer at
farmer’s markets,
updating government groups, and
compiling research and data on the
state of the watershed. The
development of a plan for our Roaring
Fork watershed basin has been well
supported and funded by a broad base
of municipalities throughout the valley
since its inception. Recently the
Colorado Water Conservation Board,
another enthusiastic supporter of the
Plan, has come through with a $40,000
grant of unrestricted funding.
Sharon Clarke and Rick Lofaro of
Roaring Fork Conservancy, key
contributors of time and effort to the
development of the Plan, recently gave
an update to the Garfield County
Commissioners, one of the initial
funders of the Plan. The
commissioners are encouraged by the
headway that has been made so far and
continue to be supportive.
RWAPA (Ruedi Water and Power
Authority), sponsors of the Plan, are
working to put funding in place for
Phase II for next year. Our efforts
continue to receive financial and
ideological support from the entities
that will be key to its ultimate
implementation.
Citizen feedback from our public
meetings thus far has been delivered to
the Colorado Basin Roundtable, an
entity that was established to help
address water issues statewide. This
kind of information gathering from the
public and funneling to water policy
groups is something we plan to
continue in order to make sure the
Watershed Plan and its
implementation reflect the needs and
priorities of diverse stakeholders in the
management of our local waters.
At present the Roundtable is looking
closely at statewide non-consumptive
water needs – things like recreation,
ecological health and scenic beauty.
Here is some justification for the
assessment: “A large portion of the
economy and lifestyle of the entire
Colorado River Basin is derived from
the values, attributes and uses of waters
flowing in rivers and streams. These
attributes include recreation, like
fishing and rafting, as well as the
outstanding scenic qualities of
Colorado’s Western Slope.
Rivers and streams are an essential
aspect of the attraction to live and
work in the Colorado River basin.
They are integral to our economy and
quality of life. Quantifying and fully
understanding the scope of stream
flows required to provide for these
values and attributes is essential to
protect this critical component of our
economy and lifestyle.”
We look forward to your continued
participation in the process and
welcome any feedback or information
you have to offer. Don’t forget to access
this
website,
www.roaringfork.org/watershedplan for
updates on the progress of the
Watershed Plan’s development.
Gwen Garcelon is the Outreach
Coordinator for the Roaring Fork
Watershed Plan.
The Colorado Watershed
Protection Fund
You can make a difference! Please
contribute to protecting one of our
most fragile and precious resources:
our water. You can help to support
local watershed organizations like
Roaring Fork Conservancy. All you
have to do is check the box on your
state income tax return.
River Protector
Mark
Fuller
Executive
Director
Independence
Pass Foundation
(IPF)
“We all live
downstream.”
No one knows
the significance of this better than
Mark Fuller. For over ten years
Mark has worked to maintain and
enhance the headwaters of our
watershed. Fortunately, his favorite
place in the watershed-
Independence Pass — is the place
where he gets to spend a lot of
time.
His work for our rivers began
many years ago. In 1985 he
supervised construction of the
hydroelectric power plant below
Ruedi Reservoir.
Through this experience he
became executive director of the
Ruedi Water and Power Authority.
As director Mark is providing
oversight to the Roaring Fork
Watershed Plan.
Mark enjoys sharing his
knowledge with the public through
RFC events such as the “Inside
Ruedi Reservoir and Dam Tour”.
He is also an appointed
representative to the statewide
Interbasin Compact Process
established by the Colorado Water
for the 21st Century Act to address
water issues throughout the state.
Mark’s knowledge of and
commitment to our watershed is
truly a valuable asset.
Mark pointed out that “The
education program is RFC’s most
important work because it is
teaching our future generations
about the watershed—a theme that
wasn’t taught before.”
- Sharon Clarke
7RIVER RENDEZVOUS

RIVER RENDEZVOUS
Sponsors
Underwriter
Ken & Randy Kendrick
River Protector
Dane & Carter Brooksher
El Jebeverage
Meredith & Cornelia Long
2007 River Rendezvous: The Best Yet!
at Chaparral Aspen in Woody Creek
River Guardian
Alpine Bank
Clay & Louise Bennet
Bob & Kathy Courson
Tom & Lucy Danis
Bill & Joyce Gruenberg
Rich & Nancy Kinder
Keith & Marjory Weber
River Monitor
David & Sandy Burden
Harold & Eleanor Davis
Carol Dopkin Real Estate
Dave & Ruthie Hoff
Dick & Marianne Kipper
Prehm Ranch Homeowners
Clem Rinehart
Riverside Grill
Schmueser Gordon Meyer
Steward & Lynda Resnick
Taylor Creek Fly Shop
Robert & Kay Watson
From top left: Executive Director Rick Lofaro and Board President Diane Schwener present Tim Heng with our 2007 River Conservator
Award. Auctioneer Jim Chaffin engaged the crowd during the live auction. Ken Kendrick bids during the live auction. A horse stands
outside of the Chaparral Aspen barn. Sunset Canyon plays dancing music. Lenny “Boogie” Weinglass bids during live auction.
Michelle and Ron Brown bid on a live auction item. Guests mingle during the silent auction. Rivers Council President Bill Gruenberg
who, along with the rest of our Rivers Council Benefit Planning Committee was instrumental in the planning of this year’s event,
speaks to the crowd. An antique covered wagon donated by Scott Crowe for the silent auction. Photos: Scott Gerdes and Seth Anderson
8

2007 High Mountain Masters
Benefit Fly Fishing Tournament
at Peace Ranch
2007 Sponsors
River Protector
Carter
Brooksher
Basalt, Colorado
and Elsberry, Missouri
Underwriter
R.A. Beattie
Cutthroat Trout
Molly & Tom Bedell
Rainbow Trout
Peter Sun
Ben Beattie
Tom & Lindy Melberg
Brown Trout
Alpine Bank
Brook Trout
Larry Cohen &
Suzanne Pfister
The Ritz-Carlton
Club at
Aspen Highlands
From top: event
organizer R.A.
Beattie and guide
Matt Thomas
flanked by HMM
2007 winners
Michelle Brown (left)
and Becky Johnson.
Guests enjoy
cocktails and hors
d’oeuvres during
the silent auction.
Suzanne Pfister and
Larry Cohen.
Dwight Johns and
Betsy Bingham-
Johns.Fly-fishing
guide Aaron
Calcott, Lori and
Mitch Knotts.
All Photos: Marina O’Keefe
Carter Brooksher has been a
conservationist all her life.
She became a Roaring Fork
Conservancy contributor
when she and her husband,
Dane, purchased a Roaring
Fork Club cabin in Basalt.
Carter joined the Conservancy’s board in
1998, becoming a founding member of the Rivers
Council and leading the effort to establish our
annual River Rendezvous. She continues to be a
driving force every year in organizing this vital
fund-raiser. Carter’s work with the Rivers
Council provides major annual support for
Roaring Fork Conservancy programs.
When the Conservancy was given the
opportunity to purchase land adjacent to the
riverfront park in Basalt, the Brookshers were
among the first to support to purchase the site of
our future River Center. As lead Cornerstone
Partners, Carter and Dane guaranteed the chance
of a permanent home for Roaring Fork
Conservancy programs. Carter continues to take
a leadership role in establishing the River Center
as a member of both the River Center Committee
and the River Center Campaign Cabinet.
At the age of five, Carter began her lifelong
love of fishing. She first dropped a hook in the
pond across the street from her home in Missouri.
Outdoor outings with Girl Scouts and others
cultivated her love of nature. Later she became a
regular visitor to the trout streams in the Ozarks
and Montauk State Park. The great angling in
the Roaring Fork Valley, along with the skiing
and hiking, brought Carter to this area where she
spends about half of each year.
“I’ve come to realize the fact that healthy
rivers are very much an issue of survival for all
life, but I’m not sure people understand how
important our rivers are. I that I think we tend to
take these beautiful rivers for granted. Rivers not
only provide life itself, they give us a quality of
life that keeps us connected to who we are.
Water is the key to survival.”
- Carlyle Kyzer
9HIGH MOUNTAIN MASTERS

DONOR HONOR ROLL
10
Thank you to all
of our supporters!
Cornerstone Donors
Dane & Carter Brooksher
Jim & Betsy Chaffin
Tom & Lucy Danis
Ken & Randy Kendrick
Jim & Dianne Light
Meredith & Cornelia Long
David Wilhelm
Gold Medal Circle
($5,000 or more)
Alpine Bank
Ben Beattie
RA Beattie
Molly & Tom Bedell
Christine Bostick
Dane & Carter Brooksher
Ron & Michelle Brown
John Catto
Bob & Kathy Courson
Tom & Lucy Danis
Hal & Eleanor Davis
Greg Didier & Terry Rogers
Bill & Martha Drake
El Jebeverage
Carol Fuller
Bill & Joyce Gruenberg
Ken & Randy Kendrick
Rich & Nancy Kinder
Meredith & Cornelia Long
Rick Neiley &
Maria Manischalchi
Dan Moody
Ann Nichols
Lynn Nichols &
Jim Gilchrist
Peter Sun
The Tobey Foundation
Jim & Lanette Valerio
Bill & Jessie Van Lieshout
Robert & Kay Watson
Lenny “Boogie” Weinglass
Benefactor
($1,000 - $4,999)
Steve & Susan Baird
Town of Basalt
David & Judy Baum
Clayton & Louise Bennett
Ramiro Betancourt
Steve Brown
David & Sandy Burden
CCY Architects
Carol Dopkin Real Estate
Chaffin Light Real Estate LLC
Willard & Anne Clapper
Larry Cohen & Suzanne Pfister
Michael Fain & Judith Barnard
Stephen Feinberg
George & Susan Fesus
Richard & Diane Goldstein
Judy Haas
Roger Hinds
Dave & Ruthie Hoff
Michael & Carol Hundert
Bob Jacobson
Sam & Becky Johson
Dick & Marianne Kipper
Gary Kline
Bill & Marianne Lederer
Mike & Sally McLarry
John & Tina MacDonald
John Marlow
Kent & Beth Meager
Tom & Lindy Melberg
Andrew Modell
Herb Molner
Norman Morris
Louis Myer
Tricia Nichols
Pike & Jan Peterson
Robert Pew
Prehm Ranch Home Owners
Quarles & Bradley, LLP
Stewart & Lynda Resnick
Bill Riffle & Ruann Ernst
Clem Rinehart
The Ritz-Carlton Club at
Aspen Highlands
The Roaring Fork Club
Schmueser Gordon Meyer
Mary & Patrick Scanlan
Dick & Carolyn Shell
The Slater Foundation
Snowmass Club
Specialty Sports Venture, LLC
Steve Sutcliffe &
Julia Loo-Sutcliffe
Charles & Judy Tate
Taylor Creek Fly Shops
Buddy & Ellen Temple
Bill & Anne Tobey
Herbert & Cheryl Ann Towning
Charles Townsend
Wenert Trich
Valley Home Sales
Valley View Hospital
HC & Katherine Van Schaack
Keith & Marjorie Weber
Brit White & Sheri Odenthall
Andre & Julie Wille
Robert & Sarah Woods
Larry & Phyllis Yaw
Conservation Partner
($500 - $999)
Back Door Catering
David Behr
Joaquin & Isabel Blaya
James & Elizabeth Chandler
John & Susan Cottle
Edward & Sherry Ann Dayton
Andy & Muffy DiSabatino
Jack Donovan
Jonathan Feinberg
Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund
David Finholm & Kathy Crowe
Paula Fothergill &
Ken Neubecker
Otto Frenzel
Richard & Holly Glasier
John & Barbara Gold
Kristin Jensen
George & Sandy Kahle
Doug McMillin
Frank & Rosie McSwain
David & Laura Mulkey
David & Blanca O’Leary
Richard Pearlstone
Bernard & Sydney Poncelet
WJ Rafferty
Sara Ransford
Shirley Rhudy
Jim & Judy Rifkin
John Schneider
Harry Teague
Trent Thibaudeau
C. Humbert & Carol Tinsman
Carol & John Walter
Susan Welsch
Dave Wilkins
Bill & Marie Wise
Spawnsor
($200 - $499)
Allen Adger & Ann Harris
Aspen Valley Community
Foundation
Rob & Carol Auld
Steven & Susan Baird
Basalt Middle School
Stefan Bates
Chuck Bellock
Pamela Bent
Roaring Fork River near Carbondale . Tim O’Keefe
Doug Bleiler
Mark Bradley
Frank Bresnan
Grace Brod
Mark Brown
Kelley Burke
Oni Butterfly
John & Kay Callison
John Charters
Dan & Wynee Coleman
Paula Cooney
Kathy Crowe
Scott Crowe
Crystal River Elementary School
Paul D’Amato & Beth Cashdan
George & Sue Davis
Dirty Knees Gardening
Jack Donovan
The Dreman Foundation, Inc.
Michael Durant
Bruce & Pamela Earthman
Stephen & Jennifer Ellsperman
Don & Jody Ensign
Michael Fain & Judith Barnard
Suzanne Farver
Paul & Mary Fee
Vincent Ferrara
Jack & Renee Forrest
Bill & Marilyn Getz
Kakie Grainger
Basil & Donna Griffin
Joan & Ken Gutner
Tim & Kay Hagman
Linda Haydock
Mark Howard
Mel & Martha Jackson
Janet & Arvid Johson
Jeff & Erin Jones
Bill & Carolyn Kane
Don & Nancy Kempf
Lori Klein
Steve & Ramsey Kropf
Sharon Lance
Linda Landers
Doug Leibinger
Donald Leslie
CJ Lett
M & K Homes Services, Inc.
DBA Valley Home Sales
Arthur & Jan Martin
Lynn & Frances Mayhan
Michael Miller
Ken & Ann Newman
The Noone Law Firm
Tom & Merbie Payne
Ginny Parker
Sue Parker
Fonda Paterson
James & Hensley Peterson
Ed & Vickie Podolak
Greg & Maureen Poschman
Will & Kristin Price
Dave & Krysia Reed
Robert & Myra Rich
Robert Ritchie &
Debra Goldstein
Phil & Marcia Rothblum
Rob & Diane Schwener
Bob & Jeanne Schultz
Daniel & Elizabeth Shaw
Isa Catto Shaw
Thomas & Martha Singleton
Skye Skinner
Gary & Barbara Sorensen
Steve & Sandy Stay
Ted Stude
Mimi Teschner
Michael Triplett
J. Michael Vess
John and Mary Ann Virant
Wadley Enterprises
John & Carol Walter
Cynthia Wayburn
Jay & Marnie Webster
Roy & Donna Wiedinmyer
Betty Weiss
Sam & Kris Weller
Wells Fargo
Western Masonry Corporation
Patrick Wilhelm
Jonathan Wilhelm
David & Roxanne Wilson
Larry & Phyllis Yaw
Outfitter
($100 - $199)
Marvin & Margie Amernick
Ryan Anslyn
RW & Rebecca Ayres
Charles Balbach
Sallie M. Bernard
Darrell Brown &
Suzanne McNitt
Teri Bruna
Thomas & Carol Graf-Carnish
Anne Cook
Crystal Valley Environmental
Protection Association
Amy Daniel
Roger Davis
Al & Germaine Dietsch
Moss Driscoll
Joseph Edwards
Randy Eppler & Jean Scandlyn
Tim Estin
Katy Etheridge
Jerry Finger
Piper Foster
Bill & Jane Frazer
Phil & Anne Freedman
Mark Friedberg
Stan & Charlene Gardner
Carol Gaudin
David & Jean Goldstein
Gary & Barbara Goldstein
Christopher & Marther Granger
Maura & Kim Harrower
Helvetia, Inc.
David Hyman & Barbara Reid
Sam & Ann Johnson
Michael & Nancy Kish
Lori Klein
Mitch & Lori Knotts
James & Janice Kosglow
Andrew & Christine Light
Pat & Barbara McMahon
Bob & Janet Mineo
Bill & Debbie Montgomery
Jean Moore
John & Lisa Morton
Gergory Mozian
Myers & Company
Thomas Nelson &
Martha Dayton
CJ Oliver
Bill & Terri Parsons
Robert & Margaret Pederson
Lynne Pfrimmer-Mace
Phil & Valerie Pinto
Edward Pyles & Martha Pickett
Ken Ransford
Andrea Reagan
Anna & Norine Rhudy
Troy Rhudy
John Ritzick
Doug Sanders
Gary & Barbara Sorensen
Paula Sanders &
Rebecca Sullivan
Martha & Paul Schlauch
Jim Schreier & Jean Turner

Dave & Carol Schuller
Jack Sebesta
Seven Star Rebekah
Lodge No. 91
Mark Shelton
Richard Simpson
Skip & Candee Strasbourger
Shelby Travis
Linda Vidal
Eric Vozick & Jill Gruenberg
Tom & Vivian Waldeck
William Waring &
Nell Pape-Waring
Randy Wedum
Douglas Weiser
Letita Wenish
Sabrina Whitehouse
Pierre & Beth Wille
John Winter
Raymond & Shauna Young
David & Susan Young
Antonia Zurcher
Friend
($25 - 99)
Nahum Amiran
John and Tamara Baxter
Bob & Marcie Beattie
Jeanne Beaudry
Richard & Linda Beidleman
Richard Benes
James & Susan Berdahl
Robert & Janet Blaich
John & Susan Bleimehl
Wolfred Block
Boenning Company
Jim Bonesteel
Paul & Nancy Boyer
Ernie & Betty Bradley
Stewart & Lotta Brafman
Matthew Brewer
Albert Brown
Winifred Brown
James Bulkely
Bill Burge
Cameron & Ann Burns
Beverly Campbell
The Town of Carbondale
Roger & Helen Carlsen
Scott Carter
Mariangela Casua-Steindler &
Laura Kull
Hal Clark
Angela Clarke &
Patricia Motyka
Lance Clark & Susan Philp
Jack & Gesine Crandall
Kristine Crandall
R. Barry Crook
Todd Patrick
William Dangley
Dennis Davidson
David & Christy Dawson
Rachel Dayton
Kirsten Dibble
Bill Efting
Mark & Judy Feinsinger
Leslie Francis
Verena Frei Bishop
Mark Fuller & Penny Atzet
Richard Fuller
Eric Fullerton
Edwin Glickman
Rachel Goddard
Joshua Goldman
Barbara Hammer
Shirley Henly
Rolf Hermanson
Kyle Holt
Katrina Johnson
Nicole Kinsler & Will Sands
Bill Langley
Ronald & Lorhid Larue
Margaret &
Douglas McLaughlin
Mid-Valley Mechanical
Barry & Peggy Mink
Thomas Moore
Lisa Moravan
Ric & Susanne Morrison
Darrell & Jane Munsell
Timothy Myers
Denise O’Connor
Warren & Karen Olrich
Drew & Bonnie O’Keefe
Tim & Marina O’Keefe
Candace & Stewart Oksenhorn
Theresa Olander
Nelson Oldham
Patti & Mark Overstreet
Richard Parachini
Wayne & Johanna Payne
Fred Pierce
Lenore Pogliano
Travis Presley
Robert Purvis
George Ryerson
Rachel Richards
Michelle Savage
Sue Schimmenti
Lawrence F. Schneider, MD.
Judy Schramm
Robert & Barbara Sheldon
Mark & Nancy Silverman
Signature Framing
Ryan Smalls
Ronald Cawley &
Sheryl Smith-Cawley
Tracy Smith-Cawley
Thank You to our 2007
River Rendezvous and
High Mountain Masters
Auction Donors!
Judy Spasser
David Stickney
Bruce Stolbach
Edward Sullivan
Chris & Gabriella Sutro
John Sweeney
Michelle & Kathleen Sydoryk
T & E Marshall
Enterprises, Inc.
George Tempest
Gary Tennenbaum &
Suzanne Wolff
Dale & Kellie Ulrich
Ute Mouttaineer, LTD.
Shelly Vidamour
Tom & Donna Ward
Phillippa Whitcomb
John Whiting
Mark & Lara Whitley
Dottie Wolcott
George & Edie Wombwell
Robin Wood
Supporting Organizations
Alpine Christian Academy
City of Aspen
Aspen Elks Lodge #224
Aspen Skiing Company
Environment Foundation
Back Door Catering
Basalt Elementary School
Town of Basalt
Basalt Middle School
Basalt High School
Blue Creek Ranch
Homeowners Association
Buddy Program
Town of Carbondale
Carbondale Community
School
Carbondale Middle School
Carbondale Rotary Club
City of Aspen
Colorado Nonpoint
Source Program
Colorado River District
Coryell Homeowners
Association
Crystal River
Elementary School
Garfield County
Glenwood Springs
High School
Glenwood Springs
Middle School
Growing Years School
Midland Point
Homeowners Assoc.
Mount Sopris
Conservation District
National Safe Boating
Council
Sopris Elementary School
Park East
Homeowners Assoc.
Patrick, Miller &
Kropf PC
Pitkin County Health &
Human Services
Pitkin County Open
Space &Trails
Ranch at Roaring Fork
Ruedi Water &
Power Authority
Sopris Elementary School
St. Stephens School
The Thrift Shop - Aspen
Trout Unlimited
Whitewater Rafting
In-Kind Support
Aspen Historical Society
Blazing Adventures
Colorado Division
of Wildlife
Colorado Dept. of Public
Health & Environment
Colorado
Watershed Network
Colorado Wildlife
Science LLC
El Jebeverage
Ellsperman Ecological LLC
E.M. Ecological LLC
Dr. Dylan Gibson, DMD
Gran Farnum Printing
Hot Springs Lodge & Pool
Neiley & Alder Attorneys
Rock Gardens Rafting
Robin Henry
Roaring Fork Outdoor
Volunteers
Roaring Fork Real Estate
Roaring Fork Club
Schwener Design Group
White River
National Forest
We value every donation. If you
made a donation between
April 19, 2007 and
October 16, 2007 and your
donation has been overlooked
please contact us.
RIVER CURRENTS
is published by Roaring Fork
Conservancy twice annually.
Roaring Fork Conservancy is
the watershed conservation
organization for the Roaring
Fork Valley. Our missiong is to
bring people together to
protect our rivers. We are an
independent 501(c)(3)
nonprofit organization based in
Basalt, Colorado, the
geographic center of the
Roaring Fork Watershed.
Roaring Fork Conservancy was
founded in December 1996, to
inspire people to explore,
value, and protect the Roaring
Fork Watershed. We appreciate
your support and comments.
ROARING FORK
CONSERVANCY
P.O. Box 3349
200 Basalt Center Circle,
Suite 120
Basalt, Colorado 81621
Tel: (970) 927-1290
Fax: (970) 927-1264
Web: www.roaringfork.org
E-mail: info@roaringfork.org
Board of Directors:
Diane Schwener
President
Stephen Ellsperman
Vice President
Jeff Jones
Treasurer
Ramsey Kropf
Secretary
Carter Brooksher
Jim Light
Rick Lofaro
Louis Meyer
Rick Neiley
Chris Seldin
Larry Yaw
Program Staff:
Rick Lofaro
Executive Director
Sharon Clarke
Water Resource Specialist
Catie Fleming
Development Associate
Carlyle Kyzer
Major Gifts Director
Tim O’Keefe
Education Director
Ed Perregaux
Development Director
Chad Rudow
Water Quality Coordinator
Windy Orrick
Special Event Coordinator
DONOR HONOR ROLL
11

Water links us to our neighbor in a way more
profound and complex than any other.
-John Thorson
Eliza Hotchkiss
Yes, I want to help Roaring Fork Conservancy preserve and protect our Valley’s rivers.
Join our Rivers Council
Become a River Steward
River Guardian $10,000 or more Conservation Partner $500 - $999
Gold Medal Circle $5,000 - $9,999 Spawnsor $200 - $499
Benefactor $1,000 - $4,999 Outfitter $100 - $199
Annual donors of $1,000 or more become members of the Rivers
Council and are invited to the annual Rivers Council event.
Friend $25 - $99
Other
$ ______
My check payable to Roaring Fork Conservancy is enclosed.
Please charge my Visa Mastercard in the amount of $______________
Account #: _____________________________________________ Exp. Date____/____
Signature: __________________________________________________
Name(s) (to appear in print): __________________________________________________________________
Mailing Address: ______________________________________________________________________________
City/State/Zip: ________________________________________________________________________________
Email: _______________________________________________ Phone: __________________________________
A letter confirming your donation for tax purposes will be sent to you upon receipt of your donation. Thank you!
Donate Online
www.roaringfork.org/donate
ROARING FORK CONSERVANCY
P.O. Box 3349 • Basalt, Colorado 81621
Not-for-Profit
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 80032
Glenwood Springs,
CO 81601