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Southwest

Welcome to the Southwest Chapter of the River Management Society! The Southwest Chapter is comprised of river managers from the states of Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas and Utah. Our goal is to further the RMS mission by providing a regional forum for Southwest members to discuss river management issues and strategies through active participation in chapter meetings and events usually in a fun, friendly, and scenic environment.  The most recent RMS journal focusing on the Southwest Chapter of Winter 2019.

Your Chapter Officers (below) are working hard to represent the Southwestern States by promoting regional activities, representing the southwest in national discussions and supporting an active chapter membership. Chapter Bylaws provide direction for meetings and activities of the SW Chapter.  If you work in a river management field and live in one of the SW states we invite you to join now!

Fall Trip Announcement: Oct 9-11, 2020 Gunnison River

RMS Journals with a Southwest Focus

The most recent RMS Journal with a SW focus is Fall 2017, Volume 30, No.3. You can view the most recent RMS Journal by clicking here. For access to back issues online, join RMS today! Past RMS Journals are rchived and are available along with other Society publications on the members-only side of this website.

Southwest Chapter Officers

Any professional member is eligible to run for office. Officers serve a three (3) year term. Candidates should be informed regarding Chapter Officer Roles and be willing to be an active participant. Contact any Southwest Chapter officer to become involved in local or national RMS activities. Current officers were elected to serve from 2018 through 2020.

Rob White, Chapter President

Retired Park Manager
Colorado Parks & Wildlife
Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area
tel (719) 221-8494 
[email protected]

Rob White received a BS in Park & Recreation Administration/Biology with a Secondary Teaching Certificate from Central Michigan University, and a MS in Park Administration/Fisheries & Wildlife Management from Michigan State University. While in graduate school he worked during the summer months for the Delaware State Park System and upon graduation accepted a seasonal position with the National Park Service as a ranger/naturalist at Rocky Mountain National Park. In 1987 he joined Colorado State Parks as a seasonal ranger at Cherry Creek State Park and accepted his first full-time position at Cherry Creek in 1989. He then accepted positions as a senior ranger at Trinidad Lake State Park and then Chatfield State Park. His first experience as a manager for Colorado State Parks was at Castlewood Canyon State Park in 1999. In 2000 he accepted a Park Manager VI position at the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area, one of 42 state parks within Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Rob has two wonderful daughters, Kayla & Meghan, who, along with Rob, love to explore and experience the beauty of the Arkansas River and other special places in Colorado whenever possible.

Greg Trainor, Vice President

2514 Snowmass Court
Grand Junction, CO 81507
tel (970) 260-4670 
[email protected]

Retired from the City of Grand Junction in 2015 as the Public Works and Utility Director of that municipality. My tenure in Grand Junction lasted 28 years. I was active in water matters representing the City to protect its water resources on the Grand Mesa as well as on the Colorado and Gunnison Rivers. I was also active in Colorado River Basin representation as part of the State of Colorado’s development of a Colorado Water Plan. During these twenty-eight years, I served two terms as president of United Way of Mesa County, president of Friends of Westwater Canyon, and, of course, active in the River Management Society, acting as Secretary and coordinator of several ranger rendezvous s activities. Various positions prior to 1986 were as job site coordination for the Battlement Mesa New Town, Town Manager of the Town of Rangely, Colorado, and project manager with the Colorado River Water Conservation District on the Taylor Draw Dam and Reservoir construction.

Matt Blocker, Secretary

Outdoor Recreation Planner
Bureau of Land Management
Price Field Office
125 S. 600 West
Price, UT 84501
tel (435) 636-3631      
[email protected]

Recreation and Visitor Services Lead for the State of Utah. Matt grew up in Montana and worked on the Madison and Blackfoot Rivers before heading to Price, Utah to work as an Outdoor Recreation Planner from 2012-2016 where he managed the Desolation Canyon section of the Green River with help from a tremendous staff of river rangers and a recreation assistant. Working with other River Management Society members has been a great source of networking, problem solving, and fun river running. Members of RMS have the knowledge and professionalism to help solve complex river problems and I love to help facilitate conversations between our members.

Stuart Schneider, Trip Coordinator

Associate Field Manager
Bureau of Land Management
Gunnison Field Office
210 W. Spencer Ave., Ste. A
Gunnison, CO 81230
tel (970) 642-4964   
[email protected]

Stuart Schneider absolutely loves rivers and currently works as Associate Field Manager with the BLM at the Gunnison Field Office. He's been with the BLM for 5 years. Previously, he worked for the NPS from 1979-2012. His last position was Chief Ranger at the Niobrara National Scenic River (2000-2012). "Retired" from NPS on 12/31/2012 & transferred to BLM. The GFO manages portions of the Gunnison River & the Lake Fork of the Gunnison River. They have two outfitters that float the Lake Fork. Hobbies include hiking, camping, climbing, xc-skiing, photography, mtn. biking, music, canoeing, rafting, fishing, etc. He has been married for 31 years with three grown kids (one works for NPS; one works for USFS) & 3 grandchildren. He has been a member of RMS for 17 years. He served as Secretary of the Midwest Chapter previously. Stuart has really enjoyed numerous float trips over the years w/ RMS and is excited to help plan future trips. 

 

SW Chapter Events and Trips

Upcoming Southwest Chapter Activities 

This site lists activities and happenings with River Management in the Southwestern States. If you have an activity or happening in your Southwestern state please contact one of the chapter officers to post your event!

Oct. 9-11, 2020: Gunnison River Colorado Trip

It's time to enjoy the late summer/fall weather and the comradery of other RMS members on a float trip on the Gunnison River through the Dominguez/Escalante River! Please see the information below, and if interested, please contact Stuart Schneider at [email protected] or Rob White at [email protected].

Documents:

Overview:

  • WHO: Any RMS members or personal invitees
  • WHAT: Fall 2020 Chapter Float Trip; two-day float (29 miles) with one-night camping on the river
  • WHERE: Dominguez/Escalante National Conservation Area; 6 miles northwest of Delta, Colorado
  • WHY: Fall get-together to enjoy a beautiful river, reconnect and talk rivers!
  • WHEN: October 9-11; 8 AM Escalante Creek Launch Site

Previous SW Chapter Trips

Gunnison River, Colorado Float Trip

July 28, 29, 30, 2017

Join the Southwest Chapter for a Gunnison River, Colorado float trip.  Meet at Almont Campground Friday, July 28th, 2017 (one mile south of Almont, Co. on the east side of Highway 135 at 6:00 pm.  Dinner will be on your own the first night.  Saturday, July 29th, put in at either 5-Mile on the Taylor River (Class II+) or at Almont (Class II) at 9:00 am and float to Riverway take out, just south of US Highway 50.  Lunch at the Gunnison Whitewater Park. (Class II-III) Back at Almont Campground for a steak dinner.  Sunday, July 29th breakfast will be on your own.  For more information please email Southwest Chapter Trip Coordinator, Stuart Schneider at [email protected].  

Browns Canyon National Monument Float Trip

July 30, 31, 2016 

Join staff from the Arkansas Headwaters Recreation Area (AHRA) for an Arkansas River float trip through the newly designated Browns Canyon National Monument.  We'll put in at Ruby Mountain, and take out at the Hecla Junction Recreation Site with optional overnight camping available in Browns Canyon or at the Hecla Junction Campground.  Meet at 9:00 am at the Ruby Mountain Recreation Site on Saturday, July 30th.  Bring your own raft and/or kayak, rentals are available from local outfitters, or there is a limited amount of availability in AHRA paddleboats.  Registration is required in advance. Please utilize this link for more information or call 719-539-7289.

River Ranger Rendezvous

August 16 -18, 2016

Three Day, Green River Trip through Lodore Canyon, take-out at Spit Mountain Campground 

Dinosaur National Monument
Lodore Campground to Split Mountain Campground: Lodore Canyon
Co-sponsors: River Management Society and Dinosaur National Monument 

This is a three-day, two-night river trip in Dinosaur National Monument; topics and discussion will take place on the boats and in evening camps. Flexibility will be the watchword. Meals are provided by Don Hatch Expeditions. There will be two cooks who are responsible for food preparation and clean-up logistics. No meat alternatives are planned. Cooks will also be participants.

Shuttles are provided by River Runner Transport

Once registration has closed (July 31), details of shuttles, boats and gear will be determined.  Read on for details... 

Articles of Chapter Interest

1-18-2013  Initial restoration report on a great restoration project at Granite in the Grand Canyon. See before and after images and a conceptualization five years out.

11-19-2012 Episode I video of the post-rockfall Warm Springs Rapid

8-10-2012 Read the attached document with photos on the recent rockfall at Warm Springs Rapid on the Yampa River in Dinosaur National Monument. (Herm Hoops)