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I o.ca I. vv.ate rs h ed_le P9JtS _ I _ _ _ __ _ . .. New Mission Statement The most consistent message from last year to this year in the Roaring Fork is that there is no shortage of work. At the Roaring Fork Conservancy, we continue to focus on education, water quality monitoring, land conservation. community outreach, and research. However. the big transition for us between 2003 and 2004 is marked by the organization's new mission statement: "to inspire people to explore, value. and protect the Roaring Fork Watershed. " The revised mission reflects the notion that, ultimately, it is the Roaring Fork vaHcy's residents and visitors who make the difference in preserving and protecting the health of our streams and rivers. This mission tightly fits with our future plans to develop a River Center, an innovative place for anyone and evelyone to learn about the watershed. Accomplishments In 2003, the Conservancy's accomplishments centered around continuing our program areas, with the added key goals of addressing employee housing needs and securing funding for the River Center's land. Our challenges remain constant - externally, they relate to the impacts of changing land use and increased development on \vater quality. riparian and aquatic habitats, and stream flows: and internally, to fortifYing our finances and infrastructure (e.g., housing) - - to maintain the staffing and other resources needed to address such Issues. This year. we are becoming increasingly involved in water quantity issues. \Ve have a representativc on the Colorado Basin Roundtable for the Statewide \Vater Supply Initiative. and are moving forward on a Stream Flow Survey Project to develop a GIS information tool that will improve our watershed's preparation for future water challenges and its ability to specify and pursue legal and physical approaches for achieving ecologically sustainable stream flows. Wc have also learned to copy others. taking the North Fork Improvemcnt Association's brilliant idea of a "float /~ . -. - -, fest" and implementing it. The result was a very successful first annual community float trip on the Roaring Fork River in June, which attracted over 15 boats and 160 people. Looking Ahead Other priorities for this year include the hiring ofa Dcvelopment Director to implemcnt strategic fundraising plans for the organization's opcrations. and the close scmtiny and intcrpretation of the four complete years of water quality data that we have collected. \Vc arc also excited to serve again (due. in part. to last year's BBQ bash) as the host watershed organization for this year's annual C\VA conference in Glenwood Springs in September. Roaring Fork Consen'wIL)' \. Rit'er Float 2()()4 Our new mission refiects the notion that, ultimately, it is the valley's residents and visitors who make the difference in preserving and protecting the health of our streams and rivers.