Healthy watersheds are the foundation of thriving ecosystems, resilient communities, and productive working lands. At Coldharbour Institute, we believe the best way to protect and restore watersheds is through hands-on learning, collaborative restoration, and applied research.
Implementing Phase I of the Coldharbour Wetlands Restoration Project made a huge impact on how I view restoration efforts and their impact. Watching our low-technology processed based restoration efforts create large-scale ecosystem changes within a matter of months helped me recognize the greater impacts of seemingly simple actions. I am excited to apply the experiences I gained as a Coldharbour Fellow to future environmental research and restoration projects.
- Althea Deschenes, former Coldharbour Fellow
Restore. Partner. Teach.
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01 - restore We restore our land. We are actively restoring the Coldharbour Ranch through a three phase restoration plan. We are working to improve wetland habitat, increase native vegetation, and promote sheet flow through a variety of restoration techniques. |
02 - partner We help others restore theirs. We work with landowners, conservation organizations, agencies and community members to restore streams, wetlands, and riparian habitats across the Gunnison Basin, sharing what we have learned on our land. |
03 - teach We teach the next stewards. We provide field-based technical trainings, graudate fellowships, and research opportunities to connect the next generation of watershed stewards to the skills and knowledge they need to continue caring for our lands and waters. |
Watershed Restoration at the Coldharbour Ranch
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Acres of Wetland Habitat
Restored in 2025 |
Beaver Dam Analogues
Installed |
At Coldharbour, we embrace the power of seemingly small actions. Did you know that the carbon storage per unit area of wetlands accounts for more than that of any other ecosystem? That is why we invest in wetland restoration, acre by acre, to increase climate resilience in the Gunnison Basin.
Partner Restoration Sites
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In addition to improving the land at the Coldharbour Ranch, we partner with other organizations, agencies, and landowners to advance restoration and stewardship on lands throughout the Gunnison region.
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Healthy Watershed Initiatives
Restoration TrainingColdharbour Institute provides field-based training opportunities for wetland assessment, monitoring protocols, restoration project design, and low-tech restoration techniques. We partner with agencies and practitioners to host workshops promoting a range of technical skills to build capacity for watershed health. |
Watershed EducationHealthy watersheds depend on informed and engaged communities. Through youth programs, field experiences, and community education, we help people build a deeper understanding of how watersheds function, why they matter, and how water, land, and ecosystems are connected. Through hands-on learning and meaningful dialogue, we help cultivate the next generation of watershed stewards. |
River WatchRiver Watch is a statewide initiative that engages communities in water quality monitoring and stewardship. As an established testing site, we contribute valuable water quality data to a statewide database while training graduate students and community members in water quality sampling techniques. This program provides hands-on learning opportunities that connect participants with watershed science, monitoring practices, and the health of local waterways. |
