Vision
“The vision of the Eagle River Watershed Council is to protect and enhance the high quality natural, scenic and economic values that our rivers and tributaries provide our citizens, visitors and wildlife population.
In doing so, we seek to promote the interconnected conservation values the watershed represents to diverse interest groups that benefit from its continued health and well being and leave a natural resource legacy to future generations.”
Mission
The Eagle River Watershed Council advocates for the health and conservation of the Upper Colorado and Eagle River basins through research, education, and projects. The Council strives to protect and enhance the high-quality natural, scenic and economic values that our rivers and tributaries provide to the citizens, visitors and wildlife of the Eagle River and Colorado River watersheds located in Eagle County.
Our Values
Preservation and enhancement of the natural values of the watershed to leave a conservation legacy for generations of citizens and guests yet to live in or visit Eagle County and our extraordinary river systems.
A proactive approach to education and conservation through our projects and relationships with public, private and governmental entities that support our vision and mission.
An understanding that all of our actions in the watershed are interrelated. Land uses, transportation, recreation, water projects and public access must be mindful and long term in the design of their footprint and impact on the waterways and riparian areas of the watershed if we are to successfully preserve this unique resource.
Our Watershed
A watershed is another word for a river basin. It's an area of land that drains into a common body of water. Ever wonder where rain and melting snow goes when it washes down the drain in the parking lot? In most of Eagle County, Minturn, Avon, Edwards, Eagle and Vail this water makes its way into the Eagle River and eventually out to the Colorado River. The land that drains into the Eagle River covers 970 square miles and includes 77 miles of the main stem of the Eagle River. The major tributaries of the Eagle River are Homestake, Cross Creek, Gore Creek, Brush Creek, Gypsum Creek and Lake Creek.
The watershed has an annual flow of 415,000 acre feet of water. There are hundreds of tributary streams in the Eagle River Watershed, with approximately 120 natural lakes and eight reservoirs. These streams supply the water for all of Eagle County's population as well as several Front Range communities.