Working to keep the West special

What Motivates Us

The American West is special. Our climate here is one reason.

But the West's climate is changing.

More heat. Less cold. Less snow. Less water. More drought. More wildfires.

Let's protect the West's climate.

Let's keep this such a great place to live, work, and play.

What's New

On September 1, RMCO and the Natural Resources Defense Council released a profile, Virginia Special Places in Peril: Jamestown, Chincoteague, and Shenandoah Threatened by Climate Disruption. The profile details how Jamestown, the site of the first permanent European settlement in what became the American colonies and the United States, may be lost to rising waters of the James River, pushed higher by rising seas and tidal waters. Likely climate-change Impacts to Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge and Shenandoah National Park are documented, too.

Our August newsletter is now posted online.

On July 21, RMCO submitted comments to the Colorado Water Conservation Board on its draft Colorado River Water Availability Study Phase I, on behalf of RMCO and some of the participants in our Water Adaptation Steering Committee -- representatives of Aurora Water, the Colorado River Water Conservation District, Denver Water, and the Western Water Assessment at the University of Colorado. RMCO also submitted our own separate comments. Both are here.

On May 26, RMCO and the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), released a report, Special Places at Risk in the Gulf: Impacts of the BP Oil Catastrophe. The report lists the 15 top national and state parks and wildlife areas, and their key resources, threatened by oil contamination from the BP oil blowout.

On May 2, Chips Barry, a member of the RMCO board of directors since our organization was launched in 2004 and the manager of Denver Water (Colorado's largest water provider), was killed in an accident on his farm in Hawaii. Chips was two months away from retirement from his Denver Water position, but had agreed to serve for another term on our board. His forte was bringing people together to achieve results – which also describes what RMCO strives to do. Chips was a stalwart supporter of RMCO, beginning with his hosting at his home the kick-off fundraiser for RMCO six years ago. More than words let us say, we already miss and will continue to miss Chips, his wisdom, and his wit.

On April 7, RMCO and the Natural Resources Defense Council released a profile, Glacier National Park in Peril: The Threats of Climate Disruption, documenting how an altered climate threatens the spectacular scenery, widllife, and other resources of Glacier -- and the tourism they attract, a mainstay of Montana's economy.

On March 19, on behalf of ourselves and others including the Colorado State Climatologist, officials of Colorado River Water Conservation District, Denver Water, Colorado Springs Utilities, and Western Water Assessment at the University of Colorado, we submitted testimony to congressional appropriations committees in support of increased funding for key climate/water data collection systems.

On March 8, RMCO released a news release applauding the final passage by the Colorado General Assembly of a bill strenthening the state's requirement for how much clean energy investor-owned utilities must use to generate the electricity they sell -- carrying out a portion of a key recommendation of the Climate Action Panel RMCO convened.

On February 5, RMCO's director of programs testified before the Colorado General Assembly in support of the legislation carrying out that key part of a major recommendation of the blue-ribbon Climate Action Panel.

On December 17, 2009, RMCO, as an activity of our Colorado Climate Network, held a workshop for Colorado counties and cities on how to use their federal stimulus funds received from the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program.

On October 1, 2009, RMCO released with Natural Resources Defense Council a report, National Parks in Peril, documenting that climate disruption is the greatest threat ever to our national parks. The report identifies the 25 national parks most at risk, and recommends actions to protect our parks.

On August 24, 2009, RMCO's president testified before the U.S. Senate on climate change effects on national parks.

On May 25, 2009, RMCO launched a new Colorado Climate Network to support local climate-protection programs in Colorado. The announcement was made by Mayors John Hickenlooper of Denver and Doug Hutchinson of Fort Collins and the executive directors of the Colorado Muncipal League and the Colorado Association of Ski Towns.