The Yampa River is threatened by a number of factors, including climate change, drought and increased demand for its water. Even in years when Colorado’s high country receives record amounts of snowpack, the Yampa River still needs additional water to keep the river flowing at healthy levels and temperatures for fish and wildlife. Current hydrological conditions on the river are analogous with those of drought years, and dry, water-absorbing soils and hot temperatures have taken their toll, threatening riparian ecosystems as well as the agriculture and recreation industries dependent on the river.

Forever Our Rivers partnered with the Colorado Water Trust to purchase 5,100-acre feet of instream flows that cannot be withdrawn by other users and must be kept in the river for fish, wildlife and recreation.
