The Great West Regional Annexes

Annex 1: Abbreviations and Acronyms

BLM: Bureau of Land Management
CADMO: Colorado Association of Destination Marketing Organizations
CAIC: Colorado Avalanche Information Center
CDOT: Colorado Department of Transportation
CMC: Colorado Mountain College
CPW: Colorado Parks and Wildlife
CTO: Colorado Tourism Office
DMO: Destination Management/Marketing Organization
DOLA: Colorado Department of Local Affairs
HTA: Headwaters Trail Alliance
NCOC: Northwest Colorado Outdoor Coalition
NPS: National Park Service
OEDIT: Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade
PPV/D: People per Viewpoint/Destination
ROO: Rural Opportunity Office
SBDC: Colorado Small Business Development Center Network
STOR: Gunnison County Sustainable Tourism and Outdoor Recreation
SUP: Stand-up paddleboard
USFS: United States Forest Service
VAOT: Vehicles at One Time

Annex 2: Destination Stewardship Partners

Government Agencies

Annex 2: Destination Stewardship Partners

Government Agencies

Colorado is fortunate to have millions of acres of public lands, some of which can be found in The Great West travel region. The following state and federal land management agencies are leading efforts to protect natural and cultural resources and encourage responsible recreation on public lands.

Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Colorado Parks and Wildlife (CPW)
National Park Service (Dinosaur National Monument, Rocky Mountain National Park)
U.S. Forest Service (USFS)

Regional Municipalities and Counties

The Great West travel region is comprised of the following cities and counties:

Cities: Battlement Mesa, Buford, Clark, Craig, Dinosaur, Fraser, Granby, Grand Lake, Hayden, Hot Sulphur Springs, Kremmling, Maybell, Meeker, New Castle, Oak Creek, Parachute, Parshall, Rangely, Rifle, Rio Blanco, Silt, Slater, Steamboat Springs, Tabernash, Walden, Winter Park and Yampa
Counties: Garfield, Rio Blanco, Routt, Moffat, Grand, Jackson

Colorado Outdoor Regional Partnerships Initiative

There are a number of Colorado Regional Partnerships at work in The Great West travel region. While their missions and scope of projects vary, they are based upon collaboration between land managers, conservation organizations, and recreation user groups, as well as a commitment to habitat protection, restoration, and stewardship.

Central Colorado Recreation Partnership – Gunnison County Sustainable Tourism and Outdoor Recreation (STOR)
Montelores Coalition
Ouray Regional Recreation and Conservation Alliance
Southwest Colorado Conservation and Outdoor Recreation Roundtable
West Slope Outdoors Alliance

Other Regional Associations, Alliances and Coalitions

In addition to numerous organizations working on tourism management and destination stewardship in the region, several regional alliances and coalitions are dedicated to addressing challenges and developing shared solutions.

Colorado Headwaters Land Trust stewards the open lands of the headwaters of the Colorado River and conserves their natural character in conjunction with Grand County communities.
Friends of the Yampa protects and enhances the environmental and recreational integrity of the Yampa River and its tributaries, through stewardship, advocacy, education, and partnerships.
Northwest Colorado Outdoor Coalition (NCOC) represents Moffat and Rio Blanco Counties, NCOC aims to bridge the promotion and management of outdoor recreation, cultural heritage, and wildlife habitat preservation.
Routt Recreation and Conservation Roundtable supports destination management and provides insights and recommendations to land managers engaged in recreational planning processes and/or recreational policy decisions in Routt County.
Yampa Valley Sustainability Council aims to build a sustainable and resilient Yampa Valley that is united through climate action via waste diversion, energy, transportation, land/water resilience, and community engagement.

DMOs and Local Tourism-Related Organizations

The Great West region boasts a diverse array of organizations and initiatives focused on advancing destination stewardship. Many of these organizations work locally and often partner with municipal governments. This list is not exhaustive, as numerous emerging efforts involve collaboration among multiple DMOs, local and county governments, state and federal land managers, and other non-profit organizations.

Colorado River Valley Chamber and Colorado River Valley Economic Development Partnership brings together the communities of New Castle, Silt, Rifle, Battlement Mesa, and Parachute through public and private participation and aims to support local businesses that keep jobs closer to home.

Craig Chamber of Commerce supports Craig and Moffat County business while also acting as the operator of the Moffat County Visitor Center.

Grand County Colorado Tourism Board operates commercially as Visit Grand County and assists in the management and marketing for the towns of Fraser, Granby, Grand Lake, Hot Sulphur Springs, Kremmling, and Winter Park.

Greater Rifle Improvement Team makes recommendations to the City Council on the use of the Visitor Improvements Fund, including the designation of funds for the development and marketing of visitor improvements and attractions, special events and beautification projects in the City, historic preservation, and the general promotion of the City.

Headwaters Trail Alliance (HTA) works to preserve, promote, and enhance trails in Grand County, all while minimizing their impact on the environment. HTA operates on the ancestral lands of the Arapaho, Cheyenne, and Ute Native American Tribes.

Kremmling Chamber of Commerce supports local businesses through collaboration and networking while providing resources to increase revenue-generating opportunities of recurring prosperity.

Meeker Chamber of Commerce operates in support of Meeker area businesses and local events and leads the destination’s website and the Meeker Visitor Center.

Moffat County Tourism Association / Visit Moffat County works with Moffat County businesses, events, and other organizations to promote the area for visitation by individuals from outside the region.

New Castle Chamber of Commerce supports the community and business interests of those based in New Castle.

Rangely Area Chamber of Commerce supports civic, cultural, and cultural programming, and is committed to promoting and fostering a positive business climate, thereby enhancing the quality of economic life in our community.

Routt County Economic Development Partnership drives long-term economic sustainability and quality of life for residents and businesses in the Yampa Valley through the support of industry diversification and quality jobs.

Steamboat Springs Chamber acts as the destination organization responsible for developing and managing tourism on behalf of the City of Steamboat Springs.

Visit North Park is the DMO for Jackson County and the communities of Walden, Cowdrey, Coalmont, Rand, and Gould.

Western Garfield Chamber of Commerce / Visit Rifle operates as the destination organization of businesses, political entities, organizations, and individuals dedicated to strengthening the business environment and tourism of Western Garfield County.

Winter Park / Fraser Valley Chamber of Commerce represents approximately 350 area business owners and operators who are directly or indirectly engaged in commerce fueled by the tourism industry of Winter Park, Fraser, and surrounding areas.

NGOs, Academia, and Community Entities

Below is a list of other groups, organizations, and entities in The Great West travel region currently engaged in resource stewardship at a community or county level. It is important to note there are many other public and private sector individuals and organizations supporting the work of the listed entities as well as championing other initiatives.

Community Agriculture Alliance
Colorado Mountain College
Colorado Northwest Community College
Friends of the Wilderness
Yampa River Fund