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Matt Rice
Director, Colorado Conservation
Department: Conservation
Area of Focus: Matt works to engage communities in the Colorado area to protect river health by reconnecting people to their local rivers through blue trails. He also works to improve recreation, fisheries, water quality, and safety on hydropower dams through Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) dam re-licensings.
Background: Matt joined American Rivers in 2007. Prior to that he served with the Peace Corps for four years in Zambia, working on an aquaculture program and then as a provincial coordinator. Matt has also worked as a fly fishing guide, videographer, fly shop manager, and fly casting instructor.
Education: B.A. from Montana State University, and M.A. in International Relations with a concentration in Environmental Policy and Water Resources from the University of Denver
Favorite River: Too many to pick just one
Blog Posts By This Author
Defend the Colorado River
November 29, 2011 | Protecting Rivers
The Colorado River and its tributaries like the Fraser River are essential for the health of local communities that depend on them. Not only do they provide clean water for drinking and agriculture, they are also the foundation of the regions tourism industry providing world class opportunities for fly fishing and boating.
Read more »Rivers of Colorado
October 7, 2011 | Water Supply, Clean Water
Many people associate the Colorado River with images of magnificent canyons, giant reservoirs, and terrifying rapids. For me, I think of a small trout rising to eat a Royal Wulff fly on a creek not much wider than my office.
Read more »The Wild Yampa River; The last free flowing river in the Colorado Basin
June 27, 2011 | Floods & Floodplains, Protecting Rivers, Wild and Scenic Rivers
Words can hardly describe the magnificence of Yampa River in Northwest Colorado yet few people in Colorado much less the country know of its existence. The Yampa River is the last remaining wild free flowing river in the Colorado River Basin and one of the last free flowing rivers in Western United States. It rises in the Flat Top Mountains above the town of Steamboat and flows for approximately 250 miles to it’s confluence with the Green River in Utah.
Read more »Don’t let the Upper Colorado and Fraser Rivers dry up
May 25, 2011 | Clean Water, Global Warming, Most Endangered Rivers, Protecting Rivers, Water Efficiency
Last week American Rivers released the 2011 list of America’s Most Endangered Rivers. Rivers that were not on the list but certainly fit the bill are the Upper Colorado River and the Fraser River. The Fraser River is no stranger to the Most Endangered Rivers list, it was number three on the list in 2005. Did you know that over 60% the water in these two rivers is already diverted to the Front Range never to return to the Colorado River Basin again?
Read more »Plan a race on your trail
February 11, 2011 | Blue Trails, Restoring Rivers
For eleven years running local paddlers in the Columbia, SC area hold a whitewater race, well actually two races, on the first non-holiday Saturday of the year. The races, the Millrace Massacre and the Ice Man are held on the Saluda River immediatly upstream of the beginning of the Congaree River Blue Trail. The races are a lot of fun and participation has increased every year.
Read more »Highlights from This Summer's America's Great Outdoors Work
September 22, 2010 | Blue Trails, Protecting Rivers
It has been an exciting and rewarding summer leading American Rivers’ on–the-ground efforts for America’s Great Outdoors. While I love living and working in the Southeast, it was great to have the opportunity to travel throughout the country spreading the river and bluetrails message, working with dozens of incredible state and local organizations, and returning to familiar places.
Read more »Making Rivers Cool Again: AGO Listening Session in St. Louis
August 27, 2010 | Blue Trails, Protecting Rivers Read more »
US Dept. of the Interior Secretary Ken Salazar Speaks Up for Rivers at AGO Listening Session
August 18, 2010 | Blue Trails, Protecting Rivers Read more »
We Will Never Again Turn Our Backs to Rivers
July 26, 2010 | Clean Water, Protecting Rivers Read more »
America's Great Outdoors listening session in Charleston, SC
July 1, 2010 | Blue Trails, Protecting Rivers Read more »
