Yampa River Fund Grant

The Yampa River Fund Grant, administered through the Yampa Valley Community Foundation in partnership with Friends of the Yampa, is a regional funding initiative designed to enhance and preserve the ecological, recreational, and water supply functions of the Yampa River in Colorado. Launched in 2019, the Fund represents a collaborative effort by over twenty public, private, and nonprofit stakeholders across the Yampa Basin, working together to sustain the river as a vital natural and community resource. Friends of the Yampa (FOTY) serves as the Management Entity for the program, overseeing grant disbursements and compliance. The purpose of the Fund is to provide a sustainable, voluntary funding mechanism to support conservation, restoration, and infrastructure projects that benefit the Yampa River system. Core goals include enhancing water security for agriculture and communities, supporting ecological flows through strategic reservoir leases, and implementing habitat restoration through a holistic watershed approach. The Fund prioritizes projects that offer measurable benefits in flow restoration, water quality improvement, and multi-benefit infrastructure solutions. Projects are categorized into three pools: flow enhancement through voluntary water leases, restoration of aquatic and riparian habitat, and infrastructure improvements that yield environmental and consumptive use benefits. The Spring 2026 application cycle opened on February 17, 2026, and all applications are due by April 1, 2026. Proposals must be submitted via the Yampa Valley Community Foundation’s online portal. Applicants are required to consult with the Yampa River Fund Manager, Mike Robertson, before submitting proposals to confirm project eligibility. A joint session with the Steering and Advisory Technical Committees is scheduled for May 7, during which applicants will be asked to respond to questions. Final grant award decisions will be issued by early June. Technical assistance is mandatory, and inquiries should be directed to [email protected]. Portal-related issues should be directed to [email protected]. Eligible applicants include municipalities, counties, and Colorado state agencies, along with authorities, conservation and irrigation districts, mutual ditch companies, homeowners' associations, and nonprofit organizations. Federal agencies may be eligible but must demonstrate the necessity of serving as the primary applicant. Private landowners are not eligible to apply independently but are encouraged to collaborate with eligible entities. Projects must align with specific conservation objectives and include evaluation plans, budgets, and documented support from affected landowners or water users. All funded projects are required to sign a grant agreement with Friends of the Yampa. Grantees must provide a certificate of good standing, board member information, organizational bylaws, and articles of incorporation. Payments are typically made on a reimbursement basis, with initial disbursements possible. Progress reports are due every six months, and a comprehensive final report is required upon project completion. This final submission must include financial documentation, summaries of activities, and relevant technical outputs. Projects are not eligible for funding of expenses incurred before the grant agreement’s effective date. All final deliverables must be submitted electronically. Projects may span up to three years but must clearly articulate timelines and expected outcomes. Scoring criteria emphasize ecological benefit, alignment with fund priorities, matching contributions, and implementation of effective restoration or infrastructure strategies. The Fund prioritizes flow enhancement during dry years and projects providing multiple types of public benefit. Application materials, including guidelines and scoring rubrics, are available through the official online application link.

Align proposal with fund priorities including flow restoration, habitat benefit, and multiple public uses.