A volunteer group promoting quality of life, and the
environment of the Lower Blue River Valley.
The Friends of the Lower Blue River are dedicated to sustaining and protecting the traditional agricultural character, promoting the safety of the residents, livestock and wildlife, and maintaining the environmental integrity of the Lower Blue River Valley through education, collaboration and community involvement.
To sustain and protect the traditional agricultural character, promote the safety of the residents, livestock and wildlife, and maintain the environmental integrity of the Lower Blue River Valley through education, collaboration and community involvement.
Friends of the Lower Blue River is committed to preserving the rich history of the Blue River Valley. Through grant support from the Summit Foundation, we have created this interactive tool that documents and takes you to key points of interest in the Valley. You will see photographs and read about those who came before us. Those who settled this pristine area of Summit and Grand Counties in the 1800’s and the relevance those sites have today. FOLBR invites you to take this journey on our website and discover the treasure, that truly is the Lower Blue River Valley.
Click Here to see History Story MapRecent misinformation has been circulating suggesting that Friends of the Lower Blue River (FOLBR) plans to implement a permit system for boating on the Lower Blue River. We want to be clear: FOLBR has no authority to create or enforce such a system, and we have no plans to do so.
We understand why rumors like this can cause concern, and we take seriously our responsibility to communicate openly with the community we serve.
Our mission is straightforward: to sustain and protect the traditional agricultural character of the Lower Blue River Valley, promote the safety of residents, livestock, and wildlife, and maintain the river's environmental integrity — through education, collaboration, and community involvement. That hasn't changed.
The Elk Run neighborhood, situated across Highway 9 from the Summit Valley Horse Center, is a community of 32 small ranch properties. Neighbors partnered with Summit County, and Summit County Fire and EMS, and installed three water cisterns with a total water volume of 40,000 gallons. Considering our area drought conditions, the timing for this project could not be better.
Mountain Parks Electric (MPE) will place portions of its electric distribution system on fire protection settings beginning, today, April 1, 2026, as a wildfire prevention measure during wildfire season.
The FOLBR Board's Slate Creek Hall Committee is currently working to determine needed improvements to our historic structure. We have received numerous charitable donations targeting improvements and we thank all those committed to the effort.
For more than a century, Slate Creek Hall has been a gathering place for neighbors, ranching families, and the wider Lower Blue community. Today, the hall is in urgent need of restoration — and with your support, Friends of the Lower Blue River is kicking off a renovation initiative focused on a new roof and much more!
Historic Slate Creek Hall
The FOLBR Board's Slate Creek Hall Committee is currently working to determine needed improvements to our historic structure. We have received numerous charitable donations targeting improvements and we thank all those committed to the effort. This year’s fundraising priority is replacing the Slate Creek Hall roof and updating the portable restrooms. We are evaluating solutions to address persistent moisture and airflow issues caused by the existing roof system. Another area of discussion is improving the grounds around the Hall to enable parking and possible access to the river.
In more than 75 years, the section of the Blue River that flows in and out of Green Mountain Reservoir has not been this low, at this time of the year. It reached just 60 cubic feet per second, and underscores the severity of current water conditions. For context, the prior low record for this time of year was 85 cfs, according to the Colorado Water Conservation Board (CWCB). This means current flows are well below levels identified as necessary to support river health.
I listened to an interesting podcast on KUNC 90.7 radio “In The NOCO.” It summarized a 3-part article in the Denver Post about what the various Ski Corporations are doing regarding climate change. Those of us in Summit County and the front range have certainly experienced a very warm and dry winter this year. Is this year a fluke like some prior warm winters we have had, or is it a harbinger of shorter, warmer winters to come?
Loveland Pass
From Cory Reppenhagen: 9 News Meteorologist
As of Feb. 25, the snowpack in the Colorado mountains is still tied with the 2001-2002 winter for the worst on record. It's been in the statistical cellar for more than a month. This level of snowpack data first started getting measured in the winter of 1986-1987, so the worst in 39 years.
Snowpack is the measure of how much water is inside the snow that's accumulating at the headwaters of our major river systems high in the mountains.
The weather pattern has been somewhat active since Feb.10 and there have been slight gains. More snow is in the forecast. And the good news is that the pattern is expected to remain active through the middle of March. The bad news is that the snow forecast during that stretch is really only average. So, the chances of actually finishing the season at average or above is, while not impossible, extremely unlikely at this point.
