Colorado Rivermap

Over the next two years, partners from across Colorado are embarking on a “Rivermap” journey – think “roadmap,” but with more whitewater rapids.

Our goal is to enhance recreation, stewardship, and safety along Colorado’s major rivers. We aim to address pressing issues facing Colorado’s rivers, including overcrowded recreation sites, degraded ecosystems, and growing safety risks, while supporting the sustainability of recreation, natural resources, and rural communities.

Our Mission

Building the future of recreation, stewardship, and safety across Colorado’s major rivers.

Why Do We Need a Rivermap?

Colorado’s rivers are known around the world: the Yampa, Gunnison, Rio Grande, Colorado, Arkansas, and more. In recent years, they’ve inspired increased outdoor recreation. More than 10 million people per year now visit BLM lands in Colorado, with 3.1 million recreating on lakes and rivers. That includes rafting, fishing, swimming, and more.

This growth is something to celebrate. But it’s also resulted in crowded boat ramps and campsites; degraded public lands, aquatic systems, and riparian corridors; and, regretfully, 32 deaths on Colorado waters in 2023. Increasing water temperatures and decreasing water supply are also growing threats to the long-term strength of Colorado’s water-based outdoor recreation economy, according to the Colorado Water Plan. This, in turn, could threaten local economies and jobs.

Our purpose and plan

This planning project, which begins in May 2025, will be led by Trout Unlimited, alongside the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), the BLM’s charitable non-profit partner the Foundation for America’s Public Lands, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, American Whitewater, and other partners. We will collaborate with stakeholders from Colorado institutions, local businesses, and community organizations to incorporate viewpoints from local governments, NGOs, landowners, Tribal leaders, tourism and recreation-related industry members, and more.

The Path Ahead

Over the next two years, we will form a technical team to uncover opportunities, host community workshops to gather insights from across the state, and assess existing research to inform the Rivermap. The resulting plan will guide future investments, identify needs across Colorado’s rivers, and establish a coalition of stewards ready to take action. This visioning will be supported by GOCO and CWCB.

Phased Progress

Together, we will create a Rivermap that touches waterways across the state and results in better coordinated efforts between BLM Field Offices, State Agencies, local governments, regional nonprofit partners, and stream management planners. This collaboratively developed vision will provide clarity on where we can secure funding in the future and support the most impactful river recreation and stewardship projects. The Rivermap is the first step toward safe, resilient river recreation.

Get Involved

Join us! We welcome participation and help shaping the future of Colorado’s rivers. You can share your time, funding, knowledge, connections, and experiences to support this work. For example:

  • Contribute to our technical team by sending in your nominations and referrals.
  • Identify participants for our community workshops and engagement sessions. In particular, we’re seeking community leaders with a connection to: Gunnison River in Delta County, Colorado and Blue Rivers in Grand County, Yampa River near the City of Craig, Dolores and San Miguel Rivers in San Miguel County, Rio Grande River in the San Luis Valley, and Arkansas River in Chaffee and Fremont Counties.
  • Facilitate events for our convenings and engagement sessions. We’re on the hunt for hosts.
  • Spread the word about the Colorado Rivermap.
  • Follow along by subscribing to our newsletter.