Rooted in Place. Powered by Partnership.

The story of Rocky Mountain Rivers is intrinsically tied to the Rocky Mountain Biological Laboratory (RMBL) in Gothic, Colorado.

RMR grew from the deep and expansive roots established at RMBL, a world-renowned research facility dedicated to understanding mountain ecosystems. For decades, RMBL has housed our scientists, supported our work, and stewarded the in-stream flow rights help protect natural river flows—rights we continue to study and defend.

Our vision for the future is shaped by this ongoing collaboration with RMBL and the broader network of scientists and students who are drawn to the Gunnison Valley—linking place-based discovery to a wider effort to protect the ecosystems that sustain us as scientists and citizens.

A mountain with some patches of snow, green vegetation on the slopes, and a partly cloudy sky.

Place-based science reveals a powerful truth: that deep, sustained knowledge of one place can ripple outward, to understand and protect the planet in a time of unprecedented need.

Two people in outdoor clothing collecting samples from a small stream in a green forested area.

Scenic view of green mountains with a sky filled with clouds, dense forests, and marshy wetlands with small water bodies reflecting the sky.

A close-up of a blue and white wildflower with a yellow center, surrounded by green foliage.

Aerial view of a river meandering through lush green wetlands and marshes.

A close-up of a tall, purple wildflower with small, curly petals, set against a blurred green background of foliage.