“Snows, Flows and Drought: Managing for Western Water Resilience” is the theme for this year's Yampa Basin Rendezvous. Community members are encouraged to attend this free, two-day conference at CMC Steamboat. Photo by Jeffrey Hall
Sixth annual Yampa Basin Rendezvous at CMC June 1 and 2
Community members invited to engage in region’s water issues and opportunities
STEAMBOAT SPRINGS – May 22, 2023 – The sixth annual Yampa Basin Rendezvous is accepting registrations for community members to attend the 2023 conference on June 1-2 at Colorado Mountain College Steamboat Springs.
This year’s theme, “Snows, Flows and Drought: Managing for Western Water Resilience” will include morning discussion panels with regional experts, water managers, scientists and leaders and followed by afternoon field learning.
At the forefront of discussions during the Yampa Basin Rendezvous will be the Yampa River, one of the wildest remaining major tributaries of the Colorado River. It supports a rich ecosystem, local agriculture and ranching, and a robust recreation industry. It also provides crucial water supplies to local stakeholders and all those downstream.
However, warming temperatures, rising snowlines and increased drought occurrence and severity pose serious risks to the alpine and riverine ecosystems of the Yampa River Basin. How are we, as a community, managing snows and flows amidst historic long-term drought to ensure our own water resilience? This question will be at the forefront of the 2023 Yampa Basin Rendezvous.
The conference is free, though participants need to register at Eventbrite. Doors open at 8:30 both mornings with a light breakfast and a prompt start at 9 a.m. Each day concludes at 4 p.m.
In addition, on June 1, award-winning, independent journalist Erica Gies will give a talk at CMC’s Allbright Auditorium from 6-7:30 p.m. A regular contributor to Scientific American and the author of “Water Always Wins: Thriving in an Age of Drought and Deluge,” Gies writes about water, climate change and biology. The event is free and the public is encouraged to attend.
The 2023 Yampa Basin Rendezvous is organized by the Yampa Valley Sustainability Council, the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes, Colorado Mountain College, Friends of the Yampa, Steamboat Ski and Resort Corporation, Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District, River Network and Yampatika.
Colorado Mountain College Steamboat Springs is at 1275 Crawford Ave., Steamboat Springs. Contact Madison Muxworthy at YVSC or visit Yampa Basin Rendezvous for more information.