Six years ago, a small group of local businesses made a pledge to protect our local landscapes, wildlife habitats, rivers and recreational opportunities every single day. These businesses, including Up The Creek, Main Street Grill, Sunrise Minturn and Alpine Quest Sports, had joined the newly established Land & Rivers Fund. Since then, they and others have helped the Fund raise more than $620,000 to support local land and river conservation. 

The Land & Rivers Fund was founded in 2018 as a powerful partnership bringing together the Eagle Valley Land Trust (EVLT) and the Eagle River Coalition (ERC). While each organization focuses on protecting different elements of our local landscape, their conservation missions are complimentary.

Additionally, they both depend on community support to make their work a reality. Every project that the organizations have worked on or completed in the last five years has moved forward with support from businesses participating in the Fund. From securing Sweetwater Lake for the public, to creating a system to alert subscribers to high water temperatures, to stewarding 14,000 protected acres in Eagle County, to removing over 15 tons of trash from Eagle County roadways annually, Land & Rivers Fund contributions have helped make it happen.

Why do they do it? From R Farmers Market in Avon to the Bunkhouse in Minturn, businesses participate in the program for many reasons. For one, these businesses understand that protecting the lands and rivers that our community depends on – that our economy depends on – is just good business. And it’s not only the economics – healthy watersheds, thriving wildlife, clean drinking water and open spaces make our home a great place to live. 

On top of that, the Land & Rivers Fund awards a scholarship for a local high school senior heading towards a career path in environmental science, natural resource management or related fields. 

In 2024, the Eagle River Coalition completed the Eagle River Community Water Plan. This robust document is intended to help current and future leaders make conservative, low-regrets decisions that provide water security to our communities while sustaining local river systems. The group celebrated its 30th Annual Eagle River Cleanup, which, together with the Community Pride Highway Cleanup, brings 1200 volunteers out to remove trash and debris from sensitive ecosystems. With educational workshops, turf-replacement programming, restoration projects and water quality monitoring, the group is committed to local waterways. 

The Land Trust, meanwhile, has been working on a variety of new land conservation projects, breaking down barriers for members of our community to access nature, constructing a new Conservation Center in Edwards, and working with partners to protect wildlife habitat in Eagle County.

“The businesses that we work with are amazed at how quickly tiny donations, assessed to the customer at the point of sale, can add up when you consider how many businesses are doing it every day.” said Jessica Foulist, EVLT’s executive director. “These contributions have the power to move projects over the finish line.”

The Fund contributes impressive amounts to EVLT and ERC every quarter. “This type of community support is what makes local conservation efforts successful. We’re really fortunate to live in a community with local businesses that take pride in protecting the environment that we all depend on” said Melanie Smith, ERC’s development director.

Local businesses protecting local natural resources is a movement that makes an impact. To support these businesses, the Land & Rivers Fund is launching its third annual shop local campaign through December. By choosing Land & Rivers Fund participating businesses for your holiday shopping needs, you’re also protecting the lands and rivers that will help our community and economy thrive into the future.

Participating Businesses Include:

Alpine Kayak

Blue Goat Apothecary

Color Coffee

Eagle River Liquors

Everyday Outfitters

Jerry Sibley Plumbing

Minturn Anglers

Robert Schilling-Coldwell Banker

Sunrise Minturn

Itzy’s Coffee

714 Home

Mountain Organic/Ethos Landscaping

The Bunkhouse

Made the Cut

Main Street Grill

ANB Bank

Bishop Telemark

Form Attainment Studios

Maker and Stitch

UPS

Vail Fine Wines

Yoga Off Broadway

All The Good Stuff

Fancy Pansy

Mauka Poke Bar

Boot Mechanics

Alpine Quest Sports

R Farmers’ Market

Up the Creek

Is your business, or one you know of, interested in making a conservation impact easily every day? Contact Bergen at bergen@evlt.org to sign up for the program, which is adaptable to any business model, in minutes.

Bergen Tjossem is the Eagle Valley Land Trust’s deputy director. To learn more about EVLT’s conservation work, Conservation Center, or work in the community, head over to evlt.org.