Grand County Learning By Doing

Learning By Doing (LBD) is a cooperative effort of stakeholders from both sides of the Continental Divide in Colorado whose goal is to maintain, and, where possible, restore or enhance the aquatic environment of the Upper Colorado, Fraser and Williams Fork River basins. 

Inter-Governmental Agreements intended to address impacts from two water diversion projects that affect rivers in Grand County guide our work. The two water diversion projects are Denver Water’s Gross Reservoir Expansion Project and Northern Water Subdistrict’s Windy Gap Firming Project. The Learning By Doing partners work together to protect Grand County’s aquatic habitat, while also respecting the interests and legal responsibilities of each partner organization.

Highlights from 2026:

• Invested $107,190 in ongoing monitoring to look for long-term and restoration project related changes in sediment, stream temperature, macroinvertebrates, and water quality.
• Continued work on the update to the Grand County Stream Management Plan (GC SMP). The original GC SMP was the first in the state and was crafted in 2010. The update is anticipated to be complete in 2027 with a purpose to provide a roadmap for maintaining a healthy and resilient stream system within the Cooperative Effort Area in Grand County, Colorado by protecting, monitoring, and restoring aquatic habitat while supporting local water uses and retaining flexibility for future water operations. A major feature of the updated GCSMP is a website and the Grand County Stream Management Plan website is now live!  
• Engaged the community: published quarterly e-newsletters, hosted three GC SMP Stakeholder Advisory Committee meetings in the final phase of the GC SMP update. Attended community events in Winter Park (Earth Day Celebration).
• Coordinated weekly meetings to discuss water operations and stream conditions between Front Range water diverters and west slope interests to optimize conditions for aquatic life, recreation, and agriculture on the western slope.
• Completed construction of in-channel habitat improvements in the Fraser River at Kaibab Park in Granby.
• Completed fundraising for the Willow Creek Stream Restoration Project, a "Stage Zero" restoration project within the Willow Creek State Wildlife Area, with construction to start in Fall 2027.