Conserving the land, water, and way of life in Colorado's San Luis Valley since 1999

MAY NEWS FROM RiGHT

Collaboration in Action

Important Information

Our team is currently attending the Keep It Colorado Spring Summit and observing Memorial Day. The office is closed through Monday, May 27th.

On Wednesday, May 28th, join us in DENVER at Laws Whiskey House for A Night of Water Conservation & Whiskey featuring their Headwaters Series, a whiskey line dedicated to celebrating and protecting our vital waterways. The evening will explore the critical connection between water and whiskey-making and will feature Laura Cusick, RiGHT’s Executive Director, alongside other water conservation professionals. Tickets include a tour of the distillery with a focus on sustainability practices, a guided tasting, and more!

GET TICKETS

Stronger Together

Reflecting on the importance of collaboration

We spent a lot of time this month sitting at tables with other conservation organizations, landowners, water managers, and community leaders while listening, learning, and working together across boundaries. It’s made me reflect on the incredible power of collaboration and how central it is to RiGHT’s mission.

Conserving the land, water, and way of life in the San Luis Valley is not something we do alone. It requires showing up: showing up in courtrooms and classrooms, around conference tables and creek beds, and finding shared solutions. We’re proud to be part of this interconnected community of advocates, landowners, and supporters like you, all working to protect this special place and conserve the land and water that sustain this community. Thank you for being part of it.

Sharing Our Story

This month, Jocelyn spoke at several Rotary Clubs across the Front Range, helping new audiences understand the unique water challenges facing the Rio Grande Basin and the role that private land conservation plays in protecting this vital landscape. Telling the story of the San Luis Valley is one of the most important ways we can build awareness and broaden support for our work.

Are you part of a group or organization that would benefit from learning more about water in the SLV? Reach out to Jocelyn to schedule a talk: jocelyn@rightslv.org

The Rio Grande Compact

RiGHT staff attended the Annual Rio Grande Compact meeting and reception hosted in Alamosa this month, a special opportunity to listen in as representatives from Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas discussed the management of our shared river. This agreement governs how water flows from the headwaters in Colorado down through New Mexico and into Texas, directly impacting water users across the San Luis Valley. Understanding these dynamics helps RiGHT better support landowners, advocate for water in the Rio Grande Basin, and ensure our conservation efforts remain relevant in a changing water future.

Regional Land Trust Collaboration

This month, RiGHT met with the Forest Stewards Guild, the New Mexico Land Conservancy, the Santa Fe Conservation Trust, the Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust, and the Colorado Open Lands team at the Aldo Leopold House in Tres Piedras, NM to talk about cross-boundary collaboration, landscape-scale conservation, and forest and watershed health. A heartfelt thank you to the Forest Stewards Guild for spearheading this inspiring gathering. We're excited about the partnerships forged and look forward to continued collaboration in preserving the landscapes we all cherish.

Ribbons of Life

RiGHT also participated in the Ribbons of Life meeting hosted by the National Wildlife Federation in Taos, NM. This initiative focuses on restoring riparian and wetland habitat along the Rio Grande through science-driven planning and cross-state collaboration.

RiGHT makes it a priority to show up for these conversations because the health of the Rio Grande depends on action across boundaries. By staying connected with initiatives like this, we help ensure that private lands remain part of the solution for healthy rivers and thriving ecosystems.