Runoff Rising for Friends of the Yampa
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, Colo. — Friends of the Yampa has been working since the deep days of winter to have programs ready for this river season. Our mission is to protect and enhance the environmental and recreational integrity of the Yampa River and its tributaries through stewardship, advocacy, education, and partnerships. And during runoff, recreation is a big focus. We aim to empower river recreators to respect the Yampa and respect all stakeholders. Below are a few recreation projects we have been working on to keep people educated and safe on the river.
Know Before You Go Dashboard
An interactive dashboard for recreational stretches of the Yampa River, the dashboard provides river stats, weather, safety notes, translation of flows, river miles, maps, updates, and etiquette videos. It provides an invaluable resource for visitors and locals looking to get on the Yampa River this season.
Yampa River Ambassadors Program
The Yampa River Ambassadors Program is a partnership between the City of Steamboat Springs and FOTY to help with in-person outreach during peak use times, primarily tubing season. Ambassadors set up at put-ins and take-outs to engage with people getting on the river to share city ordinances and best practices to float the Yampa in style and with respect.
Yampa River Festival
Anyone who loves the Yampa River looks forward to the Yampa River Festival! In its 44th year, it will surely get people down to the river. With the expansion to include a robust fly fishing competition series and the addition of a Freshwater Family Zone, we strive to open the festival to all who love the Yampa. There will be the usual favorites, like the downriver raft race, and people trying their best to surf the wave in Charlie鈥檚 Hole outside the Bud Werner Memorial Library.
We will host State of the Yampa on Thursday to help raise the stoke for all things Yampa River, including Friends of the Yampa updates.
Yampa River Fest list of events:
- State of the Yampa: Thursday, May 30
- Adam Mayo Fish Creek Kayak Race: Friday, May 31
- Main Event: Saturday, June 1
- Kayak Slalom: Sunday, June 2
Yampa River Eco Health Course
Friends of the Yampa is working with Colorado Mountain College Steamboat to create a course all about the Yampa. Students can get to know the watershed, practice using field techniques for stream assessment and learn Yampa River ecology from the experts. The class is open to community members, high school students, and recent graduates.
Assessing existing conditions is crucial work that helps to educate the greater community, provides baseline data, tracks change over time, identifies opportunistic areas for improvement, and can inform land management decisions for the benefit of the river. Register through CMC.
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