Friends of the yampa (foty), an existing watershed group, will increase stakeholder engagement and expand planning efforts in the middle and lower segments of the yampa river basin in northwest…

Friends of the yampa (foty), an existing watershed group, will increase stakeholder engagement and expand planning efforts in the middle and lower segments of the yampa river basin in northwest colorado. The group will develop a river health scorecard, combining planning and data collection to provide a comprehensive report on overall river health to guide the direction of future river projects. Foty will engage additional stakeholders in the lower and middle segments of the yampa river, adding their diverse group of existing stakeholders, including representatives across sectors, including power generation, agriculture, environmental, municipal, state and federal governments, and landowners. The yampa river is an important watershed in the greater colorado river basin and IT has been relatively untouched by major water diversions or impoundments. However, negative effects from cumulative and small-scale river management and diversions include impacts to water temperature, nutrient loading, sediment deposition, and noxious plants. Foty will lead stakeholders in collaborative planning to identify challenges and opportunities to help the yampa river continue to function as a healthy river.