High Country Conservation Advocates

WATER PROGRAM Preserving the quantity and quality of water flowing in the rivers and streams of the Upper Gunnison River Basin is critical to maintaining clean drinking water, healthy riparian ecosystems, aquatic life, and recreational and aesthetic values. The High Country Conservation Advocates (HCCA) water program has worked for over thirty years to protect and enhance the water resources of the Gunnison River Basin against threats from trans-mountain diversion, mining pollution, overuse and mismanagement. We engage with water users at the local level to generate good water management and regulations to protect water quality, while we also advocate for state and See Part III, Ln 4a continuation.

SAVE RED LADY HCCA continues its long-standing efforts to permanently protect Mt. Emmons from mining impacts by participating in the creation of new state mining regulations, continuing our legal challenges to the permit for a new mine tunnel, monitoring the quality of water discharged from the historic Keystone Mine, and challenging water rights held by the mine proponents. HCCA continues to work with State and Federal agencies, along with local elected officials, to ensure a permanent solution to the issue of mining on Mt. Emmons.

PUBLIC LANDS PROGRAM From high rugged mountain faces to rolling sage brush flats, HCCA works to ensure that these special places are protected and conserved. For nearly 50 years, the Public Lands Program has protected watersheds, wildlife, and communities from hardrock mining, clear-cutting, and more recently from natural gas development. HCCA also works to ensure that public lands travel systems are manageable and well-maintained so erosion and habitat fragmentation are avoided and mitigated. HCCA recently won an appeal that challenged the Forest Service's segmented attempt in approving proposed natural gas projects in the North Fork of the Gunnison River. See Part III, Ln 4b continuation.

STEWARDSHIP - HCCA's Stewardship Program works collaboratively with land management agencies and community organizations to address climate resiliency through the coordination of on-the ground stewardship projects. These volunteer-driven projects connect and educate the local community through restoring the health and ecological resiliency of our shared public lands.