River Watch is a statewide volunteer water quality-monitoring program operated by the nonprofit 501(c)(3) Colorado Watershed Assembly in cooperation with the Colorado Division of Wildlife. Our mission is to work with voluntary stewards to monitor water quality and other indicators of watershed health and utilize this high quality data to educate citizens and inform decision makers about the condition of Colorado’s waters. This program is unique in its statewide focus and frequency of data collection.

River Watch volunteers consist primarily of middle and high school students but also include citizen groups, individuals, private schools, colleges, children’s homes, youth programs and nature centers. There are approximately 120 different organizations actively participating in the program with new groups being added each year. Each volunteer group receives the training, support and supplies needed to monitor their respective rivers and provide consistent and accurate data.

The next chance to become a part of the River Watch program will be in fall 2010! Check out the Colorado River Watch Web pages for more information or contact Michaela Taylor at michaela@coloradowatershed.org or 303-291-7322.