Mission

Fly with different high schoolers in the valley involved in the Buddy Program to showcase our incredible backyard landscape to students, and to educate on and encourage advocacy for our public lands and rivers.

From Aspen Airport, we flew over the greater Roaring Fork Valley and saw some of Colorado’s most treasured public lands - the Maroon Bells–Snowmass Wilderness, the White River National Forest, and the headwaters that sustain life far beyond these peaks. These public lands are vital for clean water, resilient wildlife corridors, and the deep value they offer communities and visitors. Flying above, their beauty and significance are undeniable, reminding us what’s at stake and what’s we must advocate to protect.

We followed the winding Crystal River toward Marble and the Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness. The Crystal is one of the last undammed and undiverted rivers in Colorado. It is a major tributary of the Roaring Fork River, which provides between 6-12% of the Colorado River's annual flow. The river is home to wildlife like deer, bears, bighorn sheep, bald eagles, and cutthroat trout. Beyond ecosystem values, the Crystal boasts amazing recreational opportunities like kayaking and fishing. The river also provides drinking water for 7,000 people and is crucial to the region's rich ranching and agricultural heritage.

A group of local citizens and organizations has come together to advocate for the protection of the Crystal River. This group was formed with the goal of identifying shared community values and the best approach to achieve durable protections for the Crystal River, which would prevent dams or out-of-basin diversions. This included consideration of a federal Wild and Scenic River designation. EcoFlight has been an active participant in this group since its inception, and EcoFlight's Conservation Policy Director Lea Linse-Hirro co-chairs the Wild and Scenic Feasibility Subcommittee. Stay tuned for updates in the Crystal Valley Echo on the Committee's progress, learn more at the Committee's website, and feel free to reach out to EcoFlight.

Photos from the flights.