Peer Workshops

10/2/2023

During this workshop, participants learned about the environmental flows process, how it relates to Stream Management Plans, and how to measure flow. Participants explored the barriers and opportunities to environmental flows and learned about American Whitewater’s flow measurement tool. This workshop was formatted as a “teaser” for the 2024 environmental flows cohort hosted by River Network, Western Resource Advocates, and Colorado Water Trust. This workshop was held as a pre-pre conference workshop at 2023 Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference in Avon, CO.

8/2/2023 – 8/4/2023

Wet meadows tour: Yampa River Collaborative is visiting Gunnison to learn about wet meadows restoration work being led by Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District. The goal of these site visits is to generate ideas for how to implement similar projects in the Yampa River Basin.

Gunnison SMP/IWMP Field Trip: Participants explored the Gunnison Integrated Water Management Plan and tested out tools and approaches used in the planning process. Training was provided on assessing two indicators of river health (floodplain connectivity and aquatic biota), including wet meadows asssessment training and macroinvertebrate sampling. Participants participated in implementation site visits to learn about watershed system optimization.

6/22/2023

Participants explored the West Plum Creek Stream Management Plan and tested out tools and approaches used in the planning process. Training was provided on assessing two indicators of river health (aquatic biota and structural complexity), including macroinvertebrate sampling and aquatic habitat assessment training. Participants received training on facilitation techniques to apply in their SMP/IWMP. Participants also learned about the fishes of West Plum Creek.

10/20/2022

Are you interested in learning if a Stream Management Plan is a good fit for your community? Join River Network and the Colorado Water Conservation Board to learn the basics of SMPs, including their history, steps in the planning process, five years of accomplishments, and how to get started. You’ll also hear from the Mancos, South Boulder Creek, and Saint Vrain and Left Hand SMP leads about the methods and outcomes of their Stream Management Plans.

10/10/2022

During this workshop, held prior to the 2022 Sustaining Colorado Watersheds Conference in Avon, CO, participants learned about the updated Colorado Water Plan, including Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB) grant opportunities and the proposed Colorado River Health Assessment Framework (CORHAF). In addition, participants had the chance to problem solve common challenges related to stream and integrated watershed management planning with experts and their peers.  

7/7/2022

During this workshop, participants conversed with local and regional experts, got their hands dirty, and tested out a variety of assessment methods and techniques to help them with their own SMP/IWMP processes. 

10/4/2021

During this workshop, participants learned the basics of how to set and evaluate environmental and recreational flow targets, how to set the process up for success and best practices and common challenges for bringing stakeholders together to align on setting targets.

8/27/2021

Are you interested in learning if a Stream Management Plan is a good fit for your community? Join River Network and the Colorado Water Conservation Board to learn the basics of SMPs, including their history, steps in the planning process, and some details on assessment approaches. You’ll also hear from the San Miguel, Middle Colorado, and South Boulder Creek SMP leads about the methods and outcomes of their Stream Management Plans.

8/5/2021

Salida, Colorado

Participants from across the state came together to learn more about fluvial hazard mapping, stream health assessments, and the beginning phases of the Upper Arkansas SMP. Michael Blazewicz, Kim Lennberg, Buffy Lenth, and Natalie Allio presented.

10/1/20

Participants explored the reasons diversion assessments are important to the SMP/IWMP process. SMP leaders from the Yampa and Mancos Rivers presented their varying approaches to diversion assessments.