2013 UPDATE, YRAP is organizing another June float trip down Yampa Canyon which launches on June 7th. With support from Don Hatch River Expeditions and the O.A.R.S. Family of Companies as well as American Rivers, we have invited several water dignitaries and policy folks, freelance writers, filmakers and river advocates in hopes to educate and brainstorm on ways to maintain the Yampa’s incredible attributes and it’s value of wildness in today’s modern world. With the Yampa Basin now being a focus of the America’s Great Outdoors, this trip will be a great venue to further the conversation of protecting this national treasure.
Affiliations from confirmed guest list for our 2013 float:
- O.A.R.S. Family of Companies
- American Rivers
- Colorado Water Conservation Board
- The Nature Conservancy
- National Parks Conservation Association
- Colorado Water Turst
- Upper Yampa Water Conservancy District
- The Wilderness Society
- Colorado River District
- Friends of the Yampa
- Yampa River System Legacy Project
Published in March 2012, the most recent addition to the Yampa River Awareness Projects film series:
The Yampa River Awareness Project’s (YRAP) goals are to:
- Document the unique resources and values of the wild and free flowing Yampa River.
- Inform the public and policy makers about these values and what could be lost if a major dam, diversion or dewatering project occurs on the Yampa.
- Inspire people to protect the Yampa River for future generations.
YRAP is organized by the Friends of the Yampa who rallies local, state, national and international organizations, businesses and individuals to realize the unique natural and recreational values of the Yampa.
Organizations we have worked with in the past:
- American Rivers
- American Whitewater Association
- Colorado Environmental Coalition
- Colorado Outfitters Association
- Colorado River Outfitters Association
- International Rivers
- National Parks Conservation Association
- Nature Conservancy
- Rivers Foundation of the Americas
- Sierra Club
- Utah Outfitters Association
- Wilderness Society
- World Wildlife Fund
This project was organized during the winter of 2006/07. A group of Yampa River advocates and specialists included those from Friends of the Yampa and the Rivers Foundation of the Americas came together in hopes of producing a documentary film to educate the public about the Yampa River (watch original movie here), its special attributes and current water projects and proposals regarding this river.
- Preparation for a 2012 agency familiarization river trip to bring together key decision makers in the development of alternatives for the protection of flows in the Yampa
- Filming and creation in 2011 of a second more comprehensive video of the Yampa River, sponsored by Adrift Adventures. This film is embedded at the top of this page.
Flew over the Yampa during historical flooding in June 2011 to document the epic event. View images here.- Floated the Little Yampa Canyon with a group organized by the Wilderness Society and the Colorado Environmental Coalition. This stretch of the Yampa has been fond suitable by the local office of the BLM. Watch video from float here.
- Participated in planning workshops and discussions; and are building an informed constituency in Colorado, other states and countries.
- Monitored water proposals; attended and testified at numerous meetings; wrote letters to agencies commenting on proposals that might affect the Yampa.
- Assisted radio and newspaper reporters in completing articles on the Yampa. These efforts have resulted in newspaper articles and programs on National Public
Radio. Use the links below to listen to the radio programs and view newspaper articles;
- 2011 KUNC program – Conservationists Mobilize to Protect River
- 2011 Denver Post article – Wild Yampa Canyon needs preserving
- 2011 Mountain Gazette article – Why I run rivers, lurk in dark places, dawdle in secret oases
- Yampa River Runs with Possibility And Protest – Kirk Siegler – KUNC – 06.22.2009
- Front Range Eyes Yampa River – Kirk Siegler – KUNC – 06.11.2009
- Yampa River Center of Latest Water Battle – Kirk Siegler – KUNC – 06.10.2009
- Widespread distribution of the original video to agencies, libraries, individuals and organizations.
- Created of a seven minute video on the Yampa’s attributes in 2007  titled “Secrets of a Free Flowing River”. Filming occurred on a 5 day rafting trip that was sponsored by Adrift Adventures.
- View the 2007 YRAP video on the Yampa “Secrets of a Free Flowing River”.
- View photos from th2 2006 YRAP Yampa trip.
