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Recognizing the long-standing need for mitigation solutions in the West, the Mile High Wetland Bank (the Bank) was created to meet the environmental needs of a rapidly expanding and developing Colorado Front Range economy. As commercial, residential, and industrial development continues to grow, so will the demand for utility infrastructure, transportation improvements, and drainage/flood control projects, along with community development projects. Unavoidable wetland impacts often result from such growth. The Bank accommodates the needs of the development community by offering wetland mitigation credits for purchase. Purchasing credits from the Bank offers the opportunity for meeting project objectives expeditiously, less expensively, and with greater confidence with respect to the ultimate outcome of the permitting process.

River Watch works with the Mile High Wetlands Group by helping to gather critical information related to wetland water quality and the effectiveness of the wetland for removing and transforming pollutants in the source water. If you would like more information on the Mile High Wetlands Group, LLC please visit them at http://www.wetlandbank.com/.

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The North Fork River Improvement Association (NFRIA) is a group dedicated to meet current and future demands for traditional uses on the North Fork of the Gunnison River. They work hard to improve stream stability, riparian habitat, and ecosystem function along the North Fork. NFRIA strives to keep the water quality of the river clean. This will insure a clean ecosystem for future generations.

River Watch provides so much to this organization, “We couldn’t do it without River Watch Assistance!” quoted Teresa Steely, a member of the NFRIA. River Watch provides training, equipment, analysis, quality control, and technical advice to this water monitoring program.

NFRIA is working hard to improve our environment one small section at a time. If you would like more information on NFRIA, please visit them at www.nfria.org.

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The mission of the Big Thompson Watershed Forum is to protect and improve water quality in the Big Thompson Watershed through collaborative monitoring, assessment, education and restoration projects.

Our goals are to serve as a forum that fosters stakeholder teamwork in conducting watershed assessment, identifying priority protection measures, educating affected interests, and promoting voluntary practices that protect the Big Thompson Watershed and the quality of its waters.

River Watch plays a big role in helping pursue the mission of the Big Thompson Watershed Forum. They do this by providing sampling protocols for eleven sites, and sampling equipment and laboratory analysis for three sites. These sites allow the Forum to identify baseline and impaired water quality conditions of the Big Thompson River and its tributaries throughout the watershed. If you would like more information on the Big Thompson Watershed Forum, please check them out at http://www.btwatershed.org/ or contact Jeffery Boring at jboring@btwatershed.org.

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The Roaring Fork Conservancy was founded in November of 1996 as an independent, non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring people to explore, value, and protect the Roaring Fork Watershed. The Conservancy addresses environmental concerns about the Roaring Fork River and its corridors that extend from Independence Pass to Glenwood Springs where it joins the Colorado River. The Conservancy is currently funded through donations, grants, special events, and program fees. In 2000, the Conservancy formed the Rivers Council to help raise funds for the Conservancy's programs.

Today the Conservancy's staff works towards the Conservancy's mission through four program areas: education, land conservation, research, and water quality monitoring. The Conservancy is performing valley-wide water quality testing and analysis on a monthly basis at over 20 sites. Part of the River Watch Program, the Conservancy's volunteer and student-collected data contributes to state-wide water quality data. With this information, coordinated management practices are implemented and specific water quality issues addressed. In 2001, the Conservancy published the first State of the River Report summarizing water quality data in the Roaring Fork Watershed from the previous year. Currently, they are working on new report, highlighting potential problems on Cattle, Brush, and Four Mile Creeks. If you would like more information on the Roaring Fork Conservancy please visit them at http://www.roaringfork.org/.

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The mission of the Cherry Creek Stewardship Partners is to provide a forum for promoting stewardship of the Cherry Creek watershed. The Partners bring together representatives from the land use jurisdictions, the state and federal resource management agencies, conservation, recreation, and historical preservation groups, the business community, and interested citizens.

The Partners is a diverse organization, and the first group that represents both the upper and lower portions of the watershed. The four committees: the Education and Outreach committees, Water Quality committees, Open space and Habitat committee, are all under the Executive committee.

River Watch, under the water quality committee, provides educational material and advice for water quality monitoring. They also play a role monitoring Cherry Creek for certain projects.

If you would like more information on the Cherry Creek Stewardship Partners you can visit them at http://www.cherry-creek.org/

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The Citizens for Accountability and Responsibility (CFAR) is an open organization for the exchange of ideas, Active participation and Advocacy. This group is currently made up of members who live in and around the Dolores River Valley who care about its preservation. They are concerned with traffic, safety, air and water quality, noise, the tourist economy, wildlife, development and any other issues which might impact the Dolores River Valley area. To that end, they will pursue legislative accountability and representation, initiate legislative change, education and inform others using substantiated information. This information will be compiled though community based monitoring and research.

The CFAR are proud to have a part in the designation of Highway 145 as a National scenic byway and will strive to maintain the pristine, natural beauty of the Dolores River Valley, to preserve it for residents, tourists, Wildlife and Future Generations .The Dolores River is the life blood of Montezuma County, supplying household water for residents of Dolores and Cortez. It supports agriculture and ranching and provides sustenance for the flora and fauna which makes this area a scenic byway and recreational destination.

With the increased development and mining, the River Watch Program gives the CFAR the opportunity to regularly monitor the water quality of the Dolores River by supplying educational materials and helping test the water. Hopefully this will increase the early detection of potential degradation.

If you would like to know more about the CFAR feel free to contact them at (970) 882-2642.