Ninth Annual Yampa Basin Rendezvous Highlights

July 7, 2026

CW3E attendees during the YBR Community Showcase & Happy Hour at The Boathouse. Back row, left to right: Subin Yoon, Lili Gilmore, Jacob Morgan, John Deane, Ross Beaudette. Front row, left to right: Anna Wilson, Ava Cooper, Sarah Ogle, Jeri Wilcox, Deanna Nash. Photo credit: Nathan Stewart.

The 9th Annual Yampa Basin Rendezvous (YBR) was held 27–28 May 2026, serving to highlight the multiple complementary ways that the region is working towards increasing climate and water resilience in the face of a changing future climate. The conference was held at the Allbright Auditorium at Colorado Mountain College’s Steamboat Springs campus and was organized by representatives from many organizations devoted to this goal, including the Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes (CW3E), the Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District (UYWCD), Routt County Wildfire Mitigation Council, Friends of the Yampa (FOTY), Colorado Mountain College (CMC), Western Resilience Center, River Network, Yampatika, The Nature Conservancy, Colorado State University (CSU) Extension Office, Headwaters of the Colorado River Initiative, and the Community Agriculture Alliance.

This year’s conference theme, “Soil, Fire, and Water: A Holistic Investigation of Watershed Health for Working Lands”, highlights the interwoven and interdisciplinary nature of the path to water resiliency, with connection between diverse communities being the key to success. YBR 2026 provided a forum for experts in the disparate fields of science and research, policy and advocacy, land management and project implementation, and science communication and outreach to share their work and ideas, with a focus on the Yampa River Basin. The two days of the conference featured three panel sessions each examining a different aspect of climate and water resilience, namely soil, water, and wildfire. Beyond the panel sessions, there was ample opportunity for networking and casual conversations including two Field Excursions and an evening Community Showcase & Happy Hour event.

The first day of the conference opened with welcoming remarks from Andi Rossi, General Manager of the Upper Yampa Conservancy District, and Anna Wilson, Assistant Director for AR Recon at CW3E, who spoke of the founding story of YBR, how YBR has engaged students and the community that continues to collaboratively share knowledge regarding climate variability and change in the Yampa Basin. The first panel, titled “Working Water: Understanding System Dynamics Through Northwest Colorado River Basins” featured talks from Ryan Bailey, Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, CSU, Alex Chen, Hydrologist, CW3E, and AJ Brown, Agricultural Data Scientist, CSU Agricultural Water Quality Program. The second panel, titled “Good Dirt: Soil Health for Working Lands and Resilient Watersheds” featured talks from CJ Mucklow, former Routt County Agricultural Extension Agent, CSU Extension Office, John Miller, Soil Health Program Manager, Colorado Department of Agriculture, and Helen Silver, Co-Director, IN-RICHES.

Panel 1 presentation by Alex Chen. Photo credit: Nathan Stewart.

In the afternoon, participants ventured out on a field excursion to Legacy Ranch and the soil moisture monitoring station at CMC to explore historic and modern agricultural practices, irrigation and water quality research, and how soil moisture data and fire mitigation efforts support ecosystem health in the Yampa Basin. Short talks during the field excursion were provided by AJ Brown, Agricultural Data Scientist, CSU Agricultural Water Quality Program, Jacob Morgan, Research and Development Engineer, Center for Western Weather and Water Extremes, and Keith Kyhl, Director of Operations, Natural Resource Solutions Group, Inc. The field excursion was immediately followed by the Community Showcase & Happy Hour event, which featured posters, booths, and other presentations from community organizations in an informal setting with conversation stimulated by light refreshments. The venue, right on the banks of the Yampa River, provided a charming opportunity to reflect on the day’s learning.

Day 1 field excursion attendees learning about the Edge of Field Study from AJ Brown and how we can improve agricultural practices in the Yampa Basin. Photo credit: Todd Hagenbuch.

Day 1 field excursion attendees learning about the CMC Y-BASIN Soil Moisture station install. Photo credit: Nathan Stewart.

The next morning, returning attendees were welcomed by JC Norling, the Vice President & Campus Dean, CMC Steamboat Springs who highlighted the important collaboration between YBR and CMC through hosting the annual event and an internship program, followed by Lorelei Cloud, San Miguel-Dolores-San Juan Representative, Colorado Water Conservation Board, who discussed the long-standing, nurturing relationship between the native Ute people and the local land in the Yampa Basin, as well as a preview of the Bear Dance later that day. The third panel, titled “Before & After Wildfire: Mitigating Problematic Hydrology and Water Quality Concerns” featured talks from Allison Rhea, Watershed Scientist & Spatial Analyst, Colorado Forest Restoration Institute, Chris Sturm, Watershed Program Director, Colorado Water Conservation Board, and Brad Piehl, Watershed Planner, JW Associates.

In lieu of a keynote speaker and in preparation for the 10th annual YBR planned for 2027, Stephanie Scott from Scott Solutions Consulting facilitated a discussion titled, “YBR at 10: Looking Back to Flow Forward” where participants discussed successes and activities of the past nine years of YBR and took a moment to imagine: What can YBR become over the next decade?

Living YBR Timeline during the large group discussion on Day 2. Participants reflected on the successes of the past 9 years of YBR. Photo credit: Nathan Stewart.

For the afternoon field excursion, participants ventured to the Muddy Slide Fire burn scar, Hideaway Ranch, and Stagecoach Reservoir to connect wildfire, water, and land management by exploring how fire-driven changes to soils and hydrology impact ecosystems, infrastructure, and water quality from burn scars to downstream reservoirs. The field excursion featured short talks from Jim Scrafford, Ranch Manager, Hideaway Ranch on Lynx Pass, and Andy Rossi, General Manager, Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District.

Day 2 field excursion attendees in the Muddy Slide Burn Scar. Photo credit: Nathan Stewart.

The end of the field excursion marked the end of the official YBR program, although participants were eager to continue their conversations into the evening at the Bear Dance and FOTY’s State of the Yampa Address and over the weekend at FOTY’s Yampa River Festival. The sharing of knowledge and the connections made at this year’s conference will contribute to a better informed and more energized Yampa Basin community as we strive for a more sustainable and resilient future.

– Yampa Basin Rendezvous 2026 Steering Committee