Mission/Vision/Goals

The Little Thompson Watershed Restoration Coalition (LTWRC) was formed in January, 2014, and was comprised of property owners, government agencies, and other interested parties. Initially, the organization was staffed and run by volunteers, under the auspices of the Big Thompson Conservation District. The Steering Committee began meeting regularly as a group of citizens who lived along the 61 miles of Little Thompson River and had organized themselves to work on flood recovery.

To be eligible for federal and state government agency grant awards, including projects and professional staffing and operations, members of the Steering Committee voted to partner with Coalitions and Collaboratives, Inc. (CoCo) as their fiscal agent in January, 2015, at the recommendation of the Colorado Water Conservation Board. The Steering Committee identified unique sources of grant funding targeting flood recovery for watersheds on the front range of Colorado.

In late 2015 the Steering Committee voted to form their own nonprofit corporation in the state of Colorado, changed their name to LTWC, and approved bylaws and articles of incorporation for the nonprofit. They selected and voted on initial members of the board of directors and terms, reviewed and approved a financial agreement with Estes Valley Land Trust  (EVLT) to handle the nonprofit corporation’s payroll, accounting and audits, reviewed the nonprofit’s staff hiring needs, DOLA procedures, EVLT personnel policies and other EVLT proposed organizational policies and procedures to operate as a nonprofit.

In 2016, LTWC submitted its application to the IRS for its 501 (c) 3 status and successfully received this status in May 2016. Its staff and board follow both the compliance and reporting procedures of its funders, as well as the procedures of operating as a nonprofit in Colorado.

To restore and maintain the resiliency, ecological integrity and agricultural heritage of the Little Thompson watershed for future generations.

A resilient and enduring watershed that creates an ecologically healthy river.

• Acquire restoration and improvement funding from government and private sources.
• Coordinate volunteer work for best utilization of people and machinery.
• Monitor and provide leadership in improving watershed health and flood resiliency.