$1,580 raised by 10 donors
16% complete
$10,000 Goal
Big Thompson Watershed Coalition started as a grassroots organization to respond to 2013 flood recovery needs on private and public lands. In 2015, the Coalition became a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, working to improve the health and resilience of the Big Thompson watershed for the communities and wildlife it benefits. Since then we have worked to increase our impact in the watershed through stream and river restoration, forest health and management, wildfire recovery, and community engagement.
Colorado Gives Day 2025: Let’s Raise $10K for 10 Years of Impact!
Join us for Colorado Gives Day (November 1 – December 9) — and be part of protecting the Big Thompson watershed as we celebrate our 10-year anniversary! For the past decade, BTWC has worked to strengthen the health of the Big Thompson. We’re proud of what we’ve accomplished together — and we’re looking ahead to the next ten years of impact with your support.
This year, your gift goes even further! An anonymous donor has pledged to match every dollar donated—up to $5,000—doubling your impact and helping us hit our goal!
The Big T begins in Rocky Mountain National Park and provides clean water, wildlife habitat, and livelihoods for millions of Coloradans. It works hard for all of us — and now, more than ever, we need to work hard for it.
When you give to BTWC, you’re protecting the water that flows through our rivers, sustains communities and wildlife, and safeguards our future. And thanks to both the matching gift and the statewide Colorado Gives Day Incentive Fund, every donation you make has an even bigger impact.
Your support means:
• Expanding our education and outreach programs to build awareness and preparedness for future wildfire and flood events.
• Developing a strong project pipeline so we’re not just reacting — we’re planning ahead to build watershed resilience. Please donate today and share with a friend to help amplify our collective impact.
Together, we can protect the Big T for the next ten years — and beyond.
Wondering what your contribution can support?
Learn more about our current work in the watershed:
Testimonial on Big Thompson Watershed Coalition's Storm Mountain Forestry Project:
"From the moment that Emily Way (BTWC's Forest Health Program Manager) started working on our d-space project, I have been repeatedly impressed with her outstanding communication and teaching skills. She has been on top of every aspect of this project and has communicated and followed through with everything necessary. This is so rare these days. It is so commendable to see someone of her young age, so incredibly responsible and accountable. She has done a great job, educating us about creating the most defensible space possible, and even at our old age, we are following her instructions because she is so encouraging, logical, practical, and they make sense. It has been an incredible, yet rare experience, working with her in every aspect of this project.”
Karen Yuskaitis, Storm Mountain Property Owner.
Testimonial on the Big Thompson Watershed Coalition's Glen Haven River Restoration Project:
"The physical repairs to West Creek and Fox Creek will improve river functions, making these streams more resilient to future floods, while improving animal habitat and overall ecology and aesthetics. It is felt that these projects will improve safety and the protection of existing structures and Association roads and bridges. This project should also jump start the natural restoration and regrowth processes. We are all looking forward to the return of the good-life in Glen Haven. Before the 2013 flood, the Glen was known for its quiet lay-back Western atmosphere and as a beautiful place to relax and have fun with family and friends. Since the flood, it has been a non-stop heavy equipment work zone with constant reminders of that dreadful event. Completion of this project, along with a couple of others, should help bring us back to a "new" normal. The Glen Haven community is grateful toward everyone that helped us recover, including those involved with the Natural Resources Conservation Service, Big Thompson Watershed Coalition and Larimer County project on Fox Creek and West Creek."
Gene Downey, Glen Haven Association Board Member
Working with others to take action that protects and restores the health and vitality of the Big Thompson watershed for the use and enjoyment of our community.
The Big Thompson Watershed Coalition (BTWC) initiated as a group of private landowners, public agencies, and community members gathering in a local fly shop to organize and plan flood recovery needs following the 2013 floods. We began flood recovery work in 2014 and became a 501(c)3 non-profit in 2015. From 2014-2018, BTWC sourced almost $15 million in federal, state, and local grant funds to support and implement 16 river restoration and infrastructure improvement projects along 10 miles of the Big Thompson River. With flood recovery projects largely wrapped up in 2018, BTWC began to shift its focus toward building resilience in the watershed to improve the long-term function of the river system so it can continue to provide freshwater resources and livelihoods for the 1+ million Northern CO residents who depend on it. This took shape in two forms: a collaborative, stakeholder-driven River Envisioning Project which used community feedback and scientific assessments to build a 20-year vision to sustain and enhance the Big Thompson River; and forestry projects to improve forest health and reduce wildfire risk. The River Envisioning Project was completed in 2021 and our forestry program has continued to grow, with three forest management projects completed and more to come. In 2020, a new need in the watershed quickly formed after the catastrophic Cameron Peak Fire – wildfire recovery. Since Cameron Peak Fire, BTWC has sourced almost $5 million in grant funding to complete aerial mulching to reduce erosion and sediment from entering our waterways, to provide landowners with recovery supplies such as native seed, and to implement in-stream projects to reduce the impacts from post-wildfire flooding.
As we continue to grow the Coalition and our work in the watershed, we acknowledge the importance of this working river not only as a freshwater resource, but as a connective channel that links our diverse and growing community through environment, agriculture, industry, economic development, tourism, recreation, and a way of life. Whether you are a resident within the watershed, a downstream water user, or one of millions who visit and explore the Big Thompson River every year, this waterway holds special value to the livelihoods and lifestyles of those connected to it and we are honored to be a part of protecting those values.
Organization name
Big Thompson Watershed Coalition
other names
BTWC, Big Thompson River Restoration Coalition
2015
Tax id (EIN)
81-0753905
Category
Environment
Organization Size
Medium Organization
Address
1530 Boise Ave Ste 204Mailing
PO Box 1923Larimer County, CO, US