Programs

Conservation & Restoration Colorado Watershed Network's Conservation & Restoration Program is designed to encourage collaboration between federal, state, and local officials and private citizens to protect valuable wetland and riparian habitats.  CWN's major Conservation & Restoration Program is the Private Land Wildlife Biologist Program. 

Services

Colorado Watershed Network is committed to providing services dedicated to the development, management, and use of water quality data, and other aquatic habitat information. Each of our services corresponds one of our three programs, so please check out each program's page for more information.

Research and Monitoring Services

Water Quality and Aquatic Resource Monitoring and Analysis

1.  Integrate volunteer water quality monitoring into existing programs

2.  Perform onsite water quality sample collection

3.  Monitor for macroinvertebrates, fish and other parameters

4.  Provide for or perform field water quality parameter analysis

5.  Perform analysis of low level metals and other cations of interest. 

6.  Perform analysis of low level nutrients  

7.  Assist with other parameters as needed

8.  Provide an approved Quality Assurance Project Plan (QAPP)

Watershed Assessment

1.  Use established or custom methods in the assessment of watershed condition

2.  Work on processes for TMDL development

3.  Conduct aquatic physical habitat assessment

4.  Collaborate with local partners to evaluate assessment results and develop action plans

Educational & Outreach Services

Data Management

1.  Work with local watershed organizations to develop & maintain water quality databases

2.  Develop data management tools and data display tools

3. Work with local entities to develop watershed monitoring networks

Watershed Education Support

1. ProjectWET Trainings

2. River Watch Trainings

Monitoring Program Development

1.  Work with local watershed organizations statewide to design watershed level monitoring plans 

2.  Implement monitoring plans through the River Watch program

3.  Develop Quality Assurance Project Plans

4.  Integrate volunteer water quality monitoring into local monitoring program

Watershed Planning

1.  Fiscal Agency

2.  Accounting Services

3.  Collaborate with local partners to develop watershed management plans

4.  Assistance with setting watershed goals and priorities

Conservation & Restoration Services

Conservation & Restoration Technical Support

1.  Management plans

2.  Land protection under state and federal conservation programs

Clients

Colorado Watershed Network is proud to work with organizations throughout the state to promote healthy watersheds. Here are some of the organizations we're currently working with.  

Colorado Division of Wildlife- In addition to being contracted to run River Watch, CWN assists in two critical research programs, Aquatic Gap and Environmental Monitoring & Assessment Program.

Colorado Water Quality Control Division & Commission- Our River Watch Data is used to determine whether streams should be on the impaired stream list. 

Colorado Water Quality Monitoring Council - We are helping the CWQMC to develop an online water quality monitoring database -the Colorado Data Sharing Network.

Colorado Water Conservation Board- Our partner in statewide water education and ProjectWET

Environmental Protection Agency- We are currently assessing streams on the monitoring and evaluation list, as part of our Focused River Watch Program.

Natural Resource Conservation Service- We currently supply biologists to provide the needed support to the NRCS. Their primary responsibility is to implement wildlife projects under the 2002 Farm Bill. 

Public & Private Schools throughout Colorado- Through our River Watch program, CWN provides training, support, and equipment to nearly 100 schools throughout Colorado.  This support assists teacher in providing on the ground science education. As one teacher put it: "Real kids doing real science for the real world."

Watershed Groups- River Watch currently serves approximately 20% of Colorado's watershed groups, such as the Coalition for the Upper South Platte, the Big Thompson Watershed Forum, and the Roaring Fork Conservancy.  River Watch provides the means to gather baseline water quality, habitat, and macroinvertebrate data.  In some cases we have sponsored "Focused River Watch" studies, such as with the Roaring Fork Conservancy.  Focused River Watch studies are available at a fee, while in general, River Watch is available for free.