DENVER – Today the Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) Board awarded a $12,457 grant to Yampa River State Park to support new river float programs.

The grant was part of GOCO’s Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW) Director’s Innovation Fund, a partnership between GOCO and CPW to create a funding source for one-time, innovative projects that would not otherwise receive funding from either organization. CPW receives half of GOCO’s funding each year for statewide programs, wildlife, and state parks through an annual investment proposal, however many innovative, small-dollar projects fall outside current funding parameters.

Yampa River State Park is home to many ecosystems and habitat for bald eagles, herons, ospreys, and sandhill cranes. The park also offers visitors 130 miles of Yampa River access and recreation opportunities. Much of the river offers flatwater and mild rapids—the perfect conditions for float fishing, wildlife watching, and relaxing.

With its GOCO grant, CPW will purchase a raft, trailer, and associated equipment to institute various float programs on the Yampa River. Educational programs will include interpretive wildlife watching, introduction to float fishing, and introduction to paddling and rafting.

The float programs are free of charge and can accommodate up to 10 visitors at a time. Programs are designed to engage visitors and provide access to recreation activities that may otherwise be expensive or intimidating. Additional benefits of the float programs include safe access to and along the river, improved opportunities for wildlife watching, safety and education training, and attracting new visitors to the park.

The project brought together partners from the Town of Hayden, Friends of the Yampa, Craig Chamber of Commerce, Yampa River System Legacy Project, Bureau of Land Management, and Good Vibes River Gear.

To date, GOCO has invested more than $55.3 million in projects in Routt County and has conserved more than 62,500 acres of land there. GOCO funding has supported Elkhead State Park campgrounds, 20 Mile Sheep Ranch, Steamboat State Park, and the Routt County Fairgrounds. 

In Moffat County, GOCO has conserved more than 37,000 acres of land and invested $7.1 million in projects. GOCO funding has supported the Moffat County Loudy Simpson Soccer Field expansion, Elkhead Reservoir Recreation Facility, Dinosaur Sports Field and Ice Rink, Ridgeview Park playground, and Moffat County Fairgrounds, among other projects.

Great Outdoors Colorado (GOCO) invests a portion of Colorado Lottery proceeds to help preserve and enhance the state’s parks, trails, wildlife, rivers, and open spaces. GOCO’s independent board awards competitive grants to local governments and land trusts, and makes investments through Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Created when voters approved a Constitutional Amendment in 1992, GOCO has since funded more than 5,200 projects in urban and rural areas in all 64 counties without any tax dollar support. Visit GOCO.org for more information.