We hope you have found ample time to enjoy experiences along the Uncompahgre River and its tributaries this year.
2026 was a really difficult year for Ouray County residents, businesses, and nonprofits including the Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership (UWP). The wildfire and flooding that followed record-breaking drought strained the Uncompahgre watershed, creating conditions that will take years to heal.
UWP is committed to conserving and improving watershed health during bad times and good, but we are challenged by the breadth and depth of watershed needs. We need your financial support to continue our efforts to evaluate watershed conditions, identify and plan restoration and conservation projects, and promote watershed stewardship through developing partnerships and creating public awareness.
Meanwhile, many UWP projects have overcome obstacles that caused delays, and are being implemented in 2026 to 2027 at Ironton, the Uncompahgre Gorge, abandoned mine sites, and other key locations. While we have grants to cover most project costs, we are spending previously raised donations and event proceeds on matching fund requirements. Plus, our small staff is kept busy with these projects so we need additional contractors to support other valuable programs and activities.
UWP’s experienced scientific and administrative staff and volunteers plan to assist in securing state, federal and private funding for restoration of the Gold Mountain Wildfire areas. This work is crucial for avoiding additional damage from burned areas and reducing future wildfire dangers. However, to provide this assistance, we need to spend money on communications and planning with partners, project pre-design, and grant writing. Your donations are critical for this work to happen.
This fall/year-end fundraising drive is the main time of year when we ask the community to donate, outside of RiverFest sponsorships. Our goal is to raise $36,000 from individual, family and business donations and memberships between October and December.
The future of our watershed depends on people like you who find it within their budgets to contribute to UWP. Please donate what you can. We realize 2026 has been a tough year for so many, so we understandif each contribution is smaller. But, our positive impact will rely on more donations from more people in our growing communities. We promise to continue leveraging your dollars by securing more grants from private and public organizations.
We will be grateful for your new or renewed mmbership and donations. Your generosity will help us to improve the area’s quality of life through a healthier, more stable Uncompahgre River Watershed. (Past donors and members were mailed donation forms and envelopes in October.)
Please mail a check to: UWP, PO Box 392, Ridgway, CO 81432, or donate online.
THANK YOU!
From the Board and Staff of the
Uncompahgre Watershed Partnership
