Water is Life!
This truism has flash-flooded its way into our cultural lexicon and for good reason. Nowhere is that more apparent than here in the arid West. With dizzying layers of policy, power & politics involved, conversations around water in the West are often difficult to navigate. That is why we are taking two brilliant organizers and river lovers down the Green River through Desolation Canyon—one of the most threatened sections of rivers in the West—to demystify the world of water and its role in shaping our connection to land, life, and each other. Desolation Canyon provides a breathtaking backdrop. With more than 60 rapids, back eddies, and life-giving side canyons, it cuts a ribbon of life through the Tavaputs Plateau. Join us on this 6-day expedition to learn more about the challenges of water resource management, climate aridification, and a restorative path forward for the Colorado & Green River watersheds. Learn more about the interpreters on this watershed specialty trip below!
Colleen Cooley
grew up wandering the washes, mesas, and sandstones in Shą́ą́ʼtóhí, a small community located on the Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona. Her curious mind and innate connection to the lands and waters led her to earning a Master’s Degree in Climate Science & Solutions from Northern Arizona University in 2012. Colleen is passionate about the protection and conservation of the diverse landscapes, cultures, and waters that she is surrounded by. It is part of who she is and where she comes from. She is an advocate and raft guide, a community organizer, a skilled facilitator, an amateur photographer, and a volunteer for Navajo YES, the Flagstaff Mountain Film Festival, and Colorado River Days.
Rica Fulton
lives in Grand Junction, Colorado and is enamored with all things water in the desert. Introduced to rafting and rivers at a young age, the love of flowing, muddy water drove her to a career in river restoration and water policy. Primarily, Rica works with a regional non-profit coordinating watershed partnerships on the Dolores and Colorado Rivers that are focused on riparian restoration. Additionally, she works with the Colorado Riverkeeper and Waterkeeper Alliance in an advocacy role; working towards an equitable and resilient water future in the Colorado River Basin.
(Rica also guest blogs for Holiday & authored a four-part series on water: a good pre-trip read for anyone looking to join this watershed specialty trip! Part 1: Prior Appropriation and Water in the West; Part 2: The Law of the River; Part 3: Native American Water Rights; Part 4: Water Rights for Rivers)
Green River, Utah: Things to Do and Places to Explore
