The White River Partnership (WRP) is committed to restoring and maintaining healthy riparian areas along the White River in northwest Colorado and northeast Utah through collaboration among public, private, and non-profit entities.
Our Vision
The White River is a dynamic riverine ecosystem where the threats from Russian olive, tamarisk, and related invasive plant species have been mitigated and native, resilient vegetation communities reflect a healthy river system beneficial to fish and wildlife habitat that supports the ecological, social, and economic sustainability of the multiple land uses found along the White River corridor.
Meetings
Click
here to see information about our upcoming and past meetings.
Focus Area
The focus area of the White River Partnership is the main stem and tributaries of the White River that have been impacted by tamarisk and Russian olive.
Watershed Concerns
The health of the White River is vital to the socio-economic well-being of local communities that depend on it for agricultural production, industry, recreation, aesthetics, and cultural uses. The lower White River and its tributaries provide crucial habitat for important native fish including several endangered and endemic species such as the Colorado pikeminnow and razorback sucker. Large herds of elk, deer, and other animals depend on the White River corridor for habitat and forage.
The lower White River's riparian areas are becoming increasingly dominated by invasive plants such as tamarisk and Russian olive. These trees increase the risk of wildfire, diminish aquatic and riparian habitats, reduce natural river functions, and impede recreational, agricultural, and cultural uses of the river.
Our Goal
The White River Partnership aims to further develop and implement a collaborative and comprehensive approach to improving the condition of riparian areas that complements ongoing efforts by partners as well as identifies and creates new opportunities for restoration.
Our Approach
The WRP follows a holistic approach that incorporates local communities' social, cultural, management, and economic goals into planning the ecological restoration of riparian areas impacted by invasive woody vegetation.
Current priorities include:
- Continue outreach to local stakeholders
- Finalize and sign the White River Partnership Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) among partners (Here is a link to the most recent MOU draft: MOU)
- Develop a restoration plan that provides the framework for riparian restoration in the White River basin and identifies priority restoration sites and partnership goals
Active Participants
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RiversEdge West
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Ute Indian Tribe
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Bureau of Land Management Green River District, Vernal Field Office, and Utah Fisheries and Riparian Programs
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Colorado Parks and Wildlife
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US Fish and Wildlife Service and Partners for Fish and Wildlife
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Utah Partners for Conservation and Development
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Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
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Utah School and Institutional Trust Lands Administration
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Tri-County Health
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Uintah County Weed Department
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Utah Department of Environmental Quality
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Utah Conservation Corps
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Utah State University
Before
After
Contact Information
John Leary, Restoration Coordinator; RiversEdge West
