The Dolores River runs north up valley and through the town of Gateway, CO photo © Jeff Widen

Known as the DRC or (DoRC for fun!), the Dolores River Coalition joins together local, state and national organizations with business, recreation and conservation interests to protect the natural attributes of the Dolores Basin for the long-term benefit of residents and visitors. The DRC advocates for protection of water quality, wilderness values, recreation and wildlife and the permanent protection of lands and water in the Dolores Watershed.  To this end the DRC has been an active participant in the Dolores River Dialogue in the Basin's southern end, in addition to outreach and organizing efforts with the Friends of Northern Dolores in and around Gateway. The common goals reflected in our 'position statement' below, grew from a grassroots vision for conserving and protecting the shared values within the Dolores River Basin.

• The Dolores River Watershed contains habitat, wildlife, and plant communities that are unique to Colorado, the nation, and, in some cases, the planet.
• The Dolores River basin contains the some of the wildest lands on the Colorado Plateau offers fantastic recreational opportunities, and extensive ecological values.
• The Dolores River watershed has supported a long history of farming and ranching.
• Over the last 125 years the resources of the Dolores River and its basin have come to be used in an unsustainable fashion that detracts from their natural qualities.
• Climate change and increased water demands continue to further alter natural hydrological cycles and negatively impact aquatic ecosystems and threaten the economic well being of the region.
• Given the ecological, historic, recreational, and economic contributions of the Dolores River Watershed to regional communities and national interests, it is important that the lands, water, and ecological integrity of the basin be protected.
• Respecting private property rights and existing water rights, the quantity and quality of water necessary to sustain native species, the riverine system, and the livelihood of communities must be made available consistently and in perpetuity.
• Adoption of more sustainable agricultural techniques and incorporating the economic opportunities offered by a protected landscape will secure long-term economic and environmental stability within the Dolores River Basin.
• A coalition of groups with interest in preserving the Dolores can implement a focused and sustained effort to protect and preserve the future of the Dolores River Basin, its lands and water, and the economic future of the local communities that depend on it.
•  Communities along the Dolores should be fully engaged in that preservation effort to ensure protection both for the key natural values and for the resources needed to secure livelihoods for generations to come.

Dolores River Basin photo © Brandon Jett, CEC 2006

As of September 2010 DoRC member groups are as follows -

• Local, Regional, State-wide Organizations -
• San Juan Citizens Alliance
• Colorado Environmental Coalition
• Colorado Mountain Club
• Center for Native Ecosystems
• Colorado Trout Unlimited
• Colorado Wild
• Western Colorado Congress
• Sheep Mountain Alliance
• Dolores River Action Group (local private boaters)
• Citizens For Accountability and Responsibility
• Uncompahgre Valley Association
• San Miguel Watershed Coalition
• Colorado River Outfitters Association
• Friends of Living Rivers/ Colorado Riverkeeper
• Grand Canyon Trust
• National Organizations -
• The Wilderness Society and The Wilderness Support Center
• American Whitewater
• Environmental Defense