Conferences & Events Early January
January 14th, 2026 | Beyond Boats and Bonytails: How innovative management of Ruedi Reservoir is benefitting the Roaring Fork Watershed - Roaring Fork Valley residents and visitors flock to Ruedi shores throughout the summer to camp, paddleboard, sail, and water ski. But why is Ruedi Reservoir there and what is the water used for beyond recreation? With most of the water destined for use in the Colorado River over 100 miles downstream, learn how RFC is ensuring local environmental and ecological needs are met. Spoiler alert: this reservoir is NOT used for drinking water! Learn more and register HERE.
January 17th, 2026 | Snow Science & Social Snowshoe Hike - Join SJMA and Mountain Studies Institute to learn about forest ecology, watersheds, climate change, and the future of snowpack in the San Juans by digging snow pits and taking a winter interpretive hike. Snowshoes will be provided if necessary. Back by popular demand, these snowshoe hikes are a great opportunity to explore the snowy landscape. Learn more HERE.
January 23rd, 2026 | Sip N Science in the SLV - January 23rd kicks off our water quarter where we will be engaging in a leaded conversation about snow and how the snowpack impacts the lifestyle in the San Luis Valley! ‘Sip n. Science in the SLV’ is a yearlong series designed to help our community learn about the natural systems that define the San Luis Valley. Each of our sessions focuses on a different environmental topic that directly affects life here in the San Luis Valley. Learn more and register HERE.
January 27th, 2026 | Zebra Mussels on the Western Slope: An Update - Aquatic Nuisance Species are more than just a minor inconvenience! Learn how a zebra mussel infestation's detrimental effects can impede water conveyance on Colorado's western slope. Updates will be provided on CPW's latest sampling results and subsequent containment measures, as well as what partners and citizens can do to support these efforts and stop the spread. Everybody has a role to play when it comes to being a Pain in the ANS! Learn more and register HERE.
February 5th, 2026 | SNOTEL Tour with Colorado Snow Survey - Learn about the Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and the Snow Survey and Water Supply forecasting resources they have, while enjoying a short hike starting at 10 am on Hoosier Pass to a SNOTEL (Snow Telemetry) site. We'll meet in the parking lot at Hoosier Pass and hike as a group to the Snotel site for a private talk on the snow scale and other equipment. The data this site collects is instrumental in snow and avalanche forecasting in our state. Learn more and register HERE.
February 14th, 2026 | Snow Science & Social Snowshoe Hike - Join SJMA and Mountain Studies Institute to learn about forest ecology, watersheds, climate change, and the future of snowpack in the San Juans by digging snow pits and taking a winter interpretive hike. Snowshoes will be provided if necessary. Back by popular demand, these snowshoe hikes are a great opportunity to explore the snowy landscape. Learn more HERE.
March 3rd - 5th, 2026 | Biennial Riparian Restoration Conference - Mark your calendar for RiversEdge West's 22nd Riparian Restoration Conference on March 3-5, 2026 at Colorado Mesa University in Grand Junction, CO. Abstracts for Poster Presentations are due January 5, 2026. Learn more and register HERE.
March 14th, 2026 | Snow Science & Social Snowshoe Hike - Join SJMA and Mountain Studies Institute to learn about forest ecology, watersheds, climate change, and the future of snowpack in the San Juans by digging snow pits and taking a winter interpretive hike. Snowshoes will be provided if necessary. Back by popular demand, these snowshoe hikes are a great opportunity to explore the snowy landscape. Learn more HERE.
May 6th, 2026 | Annual Meeting of the Society of Wetland Scientists Rocky Mountain Chapter - Save the Date.
May 19th - 21st, 2026 | Western Collaborative Conservation Network Confluence - This year's theme: The Future of Collaboration: The Power of Working Across Divides. Save the Date. Learn more and register HERE.
June 4th &5th, 2026 | 2026 Colorado River Conference - Save the Date. Registration opens January 15th, 2026. Learn more HERE.