ANNUAL REPORT 2020
A YEAR LIKE NO OTHER LETTER FROM THE BOARD CHAIR
The events of 2020 were truly unprecedented and presented significant challenges for the Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed (CPRW). The COVID-19 pandemic affected everyone in our communities to some degree, with impacts ranging from disruption to tragedy. The pandemic impacted CPRW’s staffing, project timelines, funding, marketing and outreach and overall capacity. In addition, the Cameron Peak Wildfire ignited and burned more than 208,000 acres, mostly in the upper Poudre Watershed. For context, this massive fire was more than twice the size of the 2012 High Park Fire and the largest in Colorado history. CPRW’s staff have leaned into these challenges, as is evidenced by the achievements highlighted in this 2020 Annual Report. CPRW has played a key role in convening stakeholder groups; driving post-fire restoration planning and implementation efforts; fundraising; and outreach in response to the Cameron Peak Wildfire. And while these efforts have been a huge lift, staff have also managed to complete several additional projects and maintain ongoing programs, some of which are described in this report. Credit for CPRW’s successes is also extended to those who envisioned and founded the organization; financial donors; funding agencies and organizations; volunteers; project partners; and a diverse range of other collaborative watershed stakeholders. As we continue on our path to recovery following the Cameron Peak Fire, there will be opportunities to strengthen existing collaboration in the watershed. I’m excited to continue to build on our successes as we work toward our common goal of improving and maintaining the ecological health of the Poudre River Watershed. - Richard Thorp, Board Chair & Watershed Program Manager, City of Fort Collins Utilities
VISION & MISSION Our Vision: A Healthy and resilient Cache la Poudre Watershed. Our Mission: To improve and maintain the ecological health of the Poudre River Watershed through community collaboration.
OUR VALUES Inclusiveness
Sustainability
Science-Based Approach
Collaboration over conflict
Transparency
Responsible Stewardship
CPRW Timeline - A Brief History May 2012: Hewlett Gulch Fire Ignites August 2012: First High Park Restoration Coalition meeting
June 2012: High Park Fire ignites
September 2013: Flooding begins on the Poudre River
May 2013: First CPRW Board of Directors formed & Articles of Incorporation
August 2014: CPRW becomes a 501(c)3 non-profit
February 2014: Jen Kovecses, 1st Executive Director, hired
2015: Elkhorn Creek Forest Health Initiative founded December 2014: CPRW receives Larimer County Environmental Stewardship Award
2017: Upper Poudre Resiliency Plan completed
August 2020: Cameron Peak Fire Ignites
Dec 2017: Lower Poudre River Resiliency Master Plan
2016: 1.5 miles of critical post-fire river restoration at Skin Gulch completed
2021: Post-Fire Restoration work begins in Cameron Peak Burn Area
2020 BY THE NUMBERS
400
Completed a Rapid River Health Assessment of the Upper Poudre River
willows planted
Completed evaluation of non-point source pollution to the Poudre River
250+ volunteer hours
Completed Godfrey Ditch Restoration & Fish Passage project, connecting 11.8 miles of river
208,913 acres burned
25
bags of trash removed
during Poudre River Clean Up with Odell Brewing Co.
350+
people engaged in educational webinars
On August 13, 2020, the Cameron Peak Fire ignited in the Upper Poudre River Watershed near Cameron Pass within the Roosevelt National Forest. Over the course of 112 days the fire burned 208,913 acres, becoming the largest wildfire in Colorado history.
Brought critical partners together to plan, prioritize & fundraise for Cameron Peak Fire recovery
Reduced wildfire hazard on
Coordinated GIS for Cameron Peak Fire working groups
67 acres
THE CAMERON PEAK FIRE On August 13, 2020, the Cameron Peak Fire (CPF) ignited in the Upper Poudre River Watershed near Cameron Pass. Over the course of 112 days, the fire burned 208,913 acres, becoming the largest wildfire in Colorado’s recorded history. A massive response is underway for post-fire recovery and restoration within the watershed. CPRW is playing four pivotal roles to help in this effort: 1) We are bringing the right people together to coordinate planning and needs
3) We are helping with critical communications and public outreach efforts
2) We are organizing and leading critical post-fire mitigation and restoration implementation
4) We are fundraising for post-fire restoration, helping to raise millions of dollars in critical post-fire recovery funds
How We Work Collaborate
Plan
Watch
Restore
"It gives me great satisfaction to see the watershed more widely understood as a whole living body, rather than a mere string of water rights, addresses, and campgrounds along the river itself. My family and neighbors who have sustained the incalculable loss of our historic houses in the Cameron Peak Fire are nevertheless grateful for the combined efforts of various agencies and groups coming together to monitor, support, and protect the watershed in its regenerative process." - Amy Lukens Woods
As a watershed coalition, collaboration is key to success. We work with partners and stakeholders, including state and federal land management agencies, local non-profits, private businesses and landowners, to accomplish our mission of community collaboration. By utilizing collaboration and the best available science, we are able to effectively plan and implement projects in the watershed.
Collaborate
We strive to find innovative win-win solutions to the complex, cross-jurisdictional challenges facing our watershed. We value collaboration because we believe it is the best tool for stakeholders with different views to openly express their knowledge and concerns while working together to find mutually beneficial solutions. In 2020, CPRW played a critical role in bringing partners together to plan, prioritize and fundraise for post-fire recovery in the aftermath of the historic Cameron Peak Fire, which burned over 208,000 acres.
Featured Project: Northern Colorado Fireshed Collaborative The Northern Colorado Fireshed Collaborative (NCFC) works to help make forests more resilient, to protect communities and keep precious water supplies reliable. The group, of which CPRW is a founding member, is working to address wildfire risk through strategic and coordinated cross-boundary forest and fire management on Colorado’s northern Front Range. The NCFC’s vision is that landscapes across northern Colorado can support wildfires without causing long-term damage to watersheds and the communities they serve. To learn more please visit www.nocofireshed.org.
With careful watershed planning, we can do more than just protect the water, plants and animals that depend on the Poudre River. We can help protect the physical, chemical, and biological components of our watershed and restore those that have already been degraded.
Plan
With our stakeholder committees and partners, we have completed resiliency plans for both the Upper and Lower Cache la Poudre River watersheds. We use these plans to guide our work across the watershed. In 2020, we completed the Non-Point Source Watershed-Based Plan and a Rapid River Health Assessment of the Upper Poudre River Watershed.
Featured Project: Non-Point Source Watershed-Based Plan The goal of this plan, published in April 2020, is to create a planning foundation for future implementation of watershed health restoration activities that will protect and increase the resilience of the Poudre watershed. To read the full plan visit: www.poudrewatershed.org/plan
"The intent of this plan is to be flexible, scalable and expandable to other areas and parameters of concern in the watershed as future priorities arise over time."
Using the Upper Poudre and Lower Poudre Resiliency Plans as our guide, we implement high priority restoration projects across the watershed. Our implementation programs range from wildfire mitigation to post-fire restoration and river resiliency work.
Restore
The Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed’s river resiliency work is multi-disciplinary in nature and is based on work from a variety of fields of science including ecology, hydrology and geomorphology. Our strategy is to reduce the risk of high severity wildfire, reduce flooding risk, and improve habitat and river corridor function.
River Restoration
Forest Health & Wildfire Mitigation
Post-Fire Restoration
Featured Project: Godfrey Ditch Restoration & Fish Passage The purpose of the Godfrey Ditch Restoration Project is to improve the resiliency of a section of the Middle South Platte River by designing and reconstructing the Godfrey Ditch diversion. Project outcomes: Reduce sediment transport disruptions Connects approx. 11.8 miles of the Middle South Platte River 11 native fish species benefit
We evaluate the conditions of the Poudre River Watershed’s water resources through a range of collaborative monitoring efforts with partners and citizen scientists. These monitoring efforts incorporate water quality as well as watershed conditions. Data collected can be used for many purposes, such as determining sources of impairment, to provide input for management tools, and to support scientifically-based decisions for preserving or improving the quality of the Poudre River.
Watch
Thank you to our 2020 Citizen Scientists: Ted Eary, Emily Becker, Ted Sammond, Rob Orner, Steve Davis & Kat Davis.
Partner Spotlight: Rocky Mountain Research Station RMRS researchers work in a range of biological, physical and social science fields to promote sustainable management of the Nation's diverse forests and rangelands. The Station develops and delivers scientific knowledge and innovative technologies with a focus on informing policy and land-management decisions.
Featured Project: Citizen Science Water Quality Monitoring CPRW’s Citizen Science Water Quality Monitoring Program utilizes volunteers to gather additional baseline water quality data throughout the Upper Poudre River Watershed and to track potential changes following prescribed burns and wildfires, including the recent Cameron Peak Fire of 2020. Researchers at Rocky Mountain Research Station (RMRS) process and analyze the samples for a variety of chemical constituents.
2020 FINANCIALS Contributions 4.3% Corporate Grants 4.2%
2020 Revenue $2,995,956
Government Grants 91.5%
Management & General 2.2% Fundraising - .9%
2020 Operating Expenses $2,888,346
Program 96.9% To view the 2020 Audited Financial Report please visit: www.poudrewatershed.org/financials
STAFF & BOARD OF DIRECTORS 2020 Staff
Jen Kovecses - Executive Director Hally Strevey - Watershed Project Manager Daniel Bowker - Forest & Fire Project Manager Megan Maiolo-Heath - Communications, Outreach & Marketing Manager
2020 Board of Directors
The Board of Directors is responsible for the general supervision of the affairs of the Corporation and has fiduciary responsibility for the assets of the Corporation. The Directors are comprised of both reserved seat and at-large members. Any member of the public or representative of any public or private corporation may be introduced as candidates to be elected by and serve on the Board of Directors as at-large members. Three seats on the Board of Directors are reserved for representatives from the City of Fort Collins Utilities, City of Greeley Water and Sewer, and Larimer County. Richard Thorp, Board Chair & Reserved Seat Board Member, Watershed Program Manager, City of Fort Collins Utilities Jennifer Petrzelka, Board Treasurer & Reserved Seat Board Member, Water Rights Manager, City of Greeley Water & Sewer Dept. Shayle Sabo, Reserved Seat Board Member, Emergency Management Coordinator, Larimer County Evan Stafford, Board Secretary, American Whitewater Shannon Allstott, Unaffiliated Jordana Barrack, Mighty Arrow Family Foundation Jeff Carlson, Unaffiliated Colin Glover, Rocky Mountain Flycasters Laura Pales, Unaffiliated Nate Boschmann, Wildlands Restoration Volunteers Malley Oropeza, Larimer County Conservation Corps Robert Sturtevant, Ben Delatour Boy Scout Ranch
DONORS & VOLUNTEERS Our work would not be possible without the generosity of the Northern Colorado community. We are grateful to the donors and volunteers who supported CPRW in 2020.
Donors:
Aimee Hunt Alexandria Glover Allen Lamb Amanda Thompson Amber Strevey Amy Volckens Andrew & Rachael Walsh Ann Widmer Armando & Sheila Balloffet Ashli Gornall Ava Jacobi Barbara King Bob Sturtevant Brad Modesitt Brent McDaniel Brian Perkins Camille Ensle Carla Klein Carolyn Meehan Cathryn Boehmer Cathryn Martino Christopher Jones Claudell Greer Clint Hinebaugh Clint King Cody Stropki Connor McCarty Dale Agger Dana Galindo Daniel & Kimberly Smeak David G. Anderson David Rardin Dean Fogerty Debra Hoover Denise F Esposito Dirk Hobman Donald Seaman Doug Faulkner Douglas Brandmier Eileen Fagan Elizabeth Sink Emily Rybacki Eric Berg Eric Hendrickson Evan Stafford George Wallace Georgia Knauss
Graham Peers Harry Detwiler James Benson Jean Worth Jeffrey Carlson Jeffrey Poznanovic Jennifer Kovecses Jennifer McCarty Jennifer Petrzelka Jennifer Stokowski Jerod Carroll Jessica Bloechl Jessica Matson Jessica Thrasher Jim & Rhonda Cooper John Barnett John Fetter John Kolanz John Walls Jon Stites Joseph Fluder Joseph M Hoefler Julie Kallenberger Karen Artell Karen Scopel Karen Wolff Kate Inman Katie Wallace Keith Hamilton Kevin Cannon Kevin Steller Kim Lennberg Kimberly Skyelander Kip Taylor Kurt Herrmann Kylie Hibshman Lara Smedley Larry Rogstad Laura Vetos Laurel Nelson Laurie Pfiffner Leland Evans Linda & Jim Petrie Linda Curtis Mac Fuller Maelly Oropeza Mandy Lemig Marcus Smith
Margaret Gough Margaret Hanna Maria Reed Mark Bruder Mary Hagen Maryanne Tracy Mary Anne & Dennis Hagen Matt Bierwirth Matthew Ursetta Matthew Zoss Megan Maiolo-Heath Jared Heath Melia Bisbee Michael Combs Michael Robinson Michael Scholz Mike Peters Nathan Wojcik Norma Crumbley Paul Burnett Peter Nelson Quinn Zimmerman Randia Morrow Randy Creaser Richard Thorp Rick & Barb Scanlan Rio Franzman Rob Addington Robert Clark Robert Kloepfer Robin Hibshman Rocky Mountain Flycasters Russell Duncan Sapna Khandwala Sarah Dentoni Sarah Pitts Scott Albert Scott James Scott Phillips Scott Slessman Scott Urwick Sean Chambers Seth Giurato Shannon Allstott Shayna Jones Sheila Castellano Stephanie Kampf Susan Cooper
Susan Daggett Susan Miller Susan Wood Suzanna Steinbach Sylvia McMahan Ted Eary Terri Schulz Thomas Free Thomas Thorpe Tim & Carol Cochran Tim Katers Tim Mullin Tony Cheng Tracy Wendt Ursula Miller Vicky Amato Wayne Carpenter William Bowker William Paschal William Vieth New Belgium Brewing Co. Odell Brewing Co. American Forest Foundation Mighty Arrow Family Foundation Warren & Zoann Little Dusenbury Charitable Trust City of Fort Collins City of Greeley Patagonia Action Works Mountain Avenue Market Headwaters Education
Citizen Scientists: Ted Eary Emily Becker Ted Sammond Rob Orner Steve Davis Kat Davis
www.poudrewatershed.org