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Eagle River Watershed Council Inc

EIN 20-4448864 · Eagle, CO

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthGood78 out of 100GovernanceGood82 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

EAGLE RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL, DBA EAGLE RIVER COALITION, ADVOCATES FOR THE HEALTH OF THE UPPER COLORADO AND EAGLE RIVER BASINS THROUGH RESEARCH, EDUCATION AND PROJECTS. THE WATERSHED COUNCIL STRIVES TO PROTECT AND ENHANCE THE HIGH-QUALITY NATURAL, SCENIC AND ECONOMIC VALUES THAT OUR RIVERS AND TRIBUTARIES PROVIDE TO THE CITIZENS, VISITORS AND WILDLIFE OF THE EAGLE RIVER AND COLORADO RIVER WATERSHEDS LOCATED IN EAGLE COUNTY.

Income
$1.1 million
Spending
$1.1 million
Spent on programs
85%
Reserves
3.3 months of spending
Largest source of income
government grants, 70%
Employees
8
Volunteers
1,193
Highest pay
$95,590, executive di

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Good: 78 out of 100. Higher than 50% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    20 of 35

    Spendable reserves would cover 3.3 months of spending.

  • Debt

    16 of 20

    It owes 24% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    12 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 0% of income.

  • Income trend

    15 of 15

    Income rose 31% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    85% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 5 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 82 out of 100. Higher than 28% of charities in its peer group (environment, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    25 of 25

    9 of 9 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    0 of 8

    Reports no written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    0 of 10

    Did not give the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Pay set independently

    5 of 5

    Sets its chief executive's pay through independent review and comparison.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (5)
  1. $284,391 spent. PROJECTS: RESTORATION OF OUR WATERSHED IS HOW OUR ORGANIZATION WAS ESTABLISHED, IN THE WAKE OF THE EAGLE MINE SPILL IN THE LATE 1980S. NOW, WE WORK WITH OUR LOCAL, STATE, AND FEDERAL PARTNERS TO RESTORE CRITICAL AREAS WITHIN OUR WATERSHED IN LINE WITH OUR PRIORITIES. PROJECTS MAY INCLUDE FLOODPLAIN RECONNECTION, RIPARIAN AREA PLANTING AND STABILIZATION, AND IN- STREAM HABITAT RESTORATION. DURING 2024, WE LEAD OR SUPPORTED SIX ACTIVE WATERSHED RESTORATION PROJECTS AND PLANTED MORE THAN 800 NATIVE PLANTS TO RESTORE RIPERIAN AREAS IN THE EAGLE RIVER VALLEY.
  2. $200,472 spent. EAGLE RIVER COMMUNITY WATER PLAN: THIS IS AN EAGLE RIVER WATERSHED COUNCIL-LED EFFORT TO CREATE A PATH FORWARD IN ORDER TO PROTECT OUR WATERSHED AGAINST UNDESIRABLE FUTURE CONDITIONS. MANY OTHER PLANNING EFFORTS HAVE FOCUSED ON A SNAPSHOT IN TIME AND WATER QUALITY; HOWEVER, THIS PLAN HAS A LARGE FOCUS ON WATER QUANTITY AND HOW IT WILL BE IMPACTED BY POPULATION GROWTH, CLIMATE CHANGE, AND POTENTIAL WATER RIGHTS DEVELOPMENT. FROM THIS, OUR COMMUNITY WILL HAVE A PATH FORWARD TO IMPLEMENT PROJECTS, PROGRAMS AND POLICIES THAT UPHOLD OUR COMMUNITY VALUES AND PROTECT OUR RIVERS. IN 2024, WE DISTRIBUTED 40 RAIN BARRELS TO COMMUNITY MEMBERS, HELPING TO CONSERVE WATER IN THE EAGLE RIVER VALLEY.
  3. $166,905 spent. EDUCATION: IT'S BEEN SAID THAT PEOPLE CONSERVE WHAT THEY LOVE; THEY LOVE WHAT THEY UNDERSTAND; THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY LEARN. THIS PERSPECTIVE INFORMS US AND HAS HELPED US IMPLEMENT A VIBRANT EDUCATION PROGRAM THAT CONNECTS OUR COMMUNITY TO THE RIVERS, CREATING LIFELONG RIVER LOVERS AND ADVOCATES. THROUGH PROGRAMS LIKE THE EAGLE RIVER WATER FESTIVAL THAT BRINGS TOGETHER MORE THAN 450 5TH GRADERS, AND OUR WATERSHED IMMERSIONS THAT PROVIDE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCES, WE ARE ABLE TO SHOWCASE OUR WATERSHED AND INSPIRE ACTION TO PROTECT IT. DURING 2024, WE EDUCATED MORE THAN 950 COMMUNITY MEMBERS ON PROTECTING WATERSHED HEALTH, AND WE HOSTED A FREE WATER EDUCATION DAY FOR 350 LOCAL 5TH GRADERS IN THE EAGLE RIVER VALLEY.
  4. $280,662 spent. WATER QUALITY MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAM: THIS IS A COORDINATED EFFORT LED BY THE WATERSHED COUNCIL TO COLLECT, ANALYZE AND REPORT ON WATER QUALITY DATA AT 75 SITES ON THE EAGLE RIVER WITH 12 OTHER ENTITIES WITHIN THE EAGLE VALLEY. THROUGH THIS EFFORT, WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE GUIDED DECISIONS ON RESTORATION EFFORTS, EDUCATION FOCUSES AND PROVIDE CONTEXT TO COMMUNITY DECISION-MAKERS REGARDING WATER QUALITY WITHIN THE WATERSHED. 2024 EXPENSE 153,240 EAGLE RIVER FUND: AS OUR COMMUNITY COMPLETES THE EAGLE RIVER COMMUNITY WATER PLAN, THERE WILL BE A STRONG LIST OF PROJECTS, POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS THAT WILL NEED TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN ORDER TO MITIGATE UNDESIRABLE FUTURE CONDITIONS. TO HELP ACHIEVE THAT, THE WATERSHED COUNCIL IS WORKING TO ESTABLISH AN ENDOWMENT FUND - THE EAGLE RIVER FUND - THAT WOULD HELP TO LEVERAGE STATE AND FEDERAL DOLLARS AND ENABLE MORE LOCAL WORK WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION AND BEYOND. 2024 EXPENSE 92,007 CLEANUPS: THE COMMUNITY PRIDE HIGHWAY CLEANUP AND EAGLE RIVER CLEANUP ARE TWO LONGSTANDING, COMMUNITY-WIDE EVENTS THAT MOBILIZE HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS AND REMOVE LITERAL TONS OF TRASH FROM OUR WATERSHED. THIS HELPS TO PROTECT THE NATURAL RESOURCE THAT OUR RIVERS AND STREAMS PROVIDE AS A DRINKING WATER SOURCE, RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES, AND HABITAT FOR NUMEROUS FLORA AND FAUNA, WHILE ALSO PROVIDING BEAUTIFICATION TO OUR WATERSHED FOR PASSERSBY, VISITORS, AND LOCALS ALIKE. DURING 2024, WE REMOVED OVER 20 TONS OF TRASH DURING OUR CLEANUPS. 2024 EXPENSE 35,415
  5. WATER QUALITY MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT PROGRAM: THIS IS A COORDINATED EFFORT LED BY THE WATERSHED COUNCIL TO COLLECT, ANALYZE AND REPORT ON WATER QUALITY DATA AT 75 SITES ON THE EAGLE RIVER WITH 12 OTHER ENTITIES WITHIN THE EAGLE VALLEY. THROUGH THIS EFFORT, WE ARE ABLE TO MAKE GUIDED DECISIONS ON RESTORATION EFFORTS, EDUCATION FOCUSES AND PROVIDE CONTEXT TO COMMUNITY DECISION-MAKERS REGARDING WATER QUALITY WITHIN THE WATERSHED. 2024 EXPENSE 153,240 EAGLE RIVER FUND: AS OUR COMMUNITY COMPLETES THE EAGLE RIVER COMMUNITY WATER PLAN, THERE WILL BE A STRONG LIST OF PROJECTS, POLICIES, AND PROGRAMS THAT WILL NEED TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN ORDER TO MITIGATE UNDESIRABLE FUTURE CONDITIONS. TO HELP ACHIEVE THAT, THE WATERSHED COUNCIL IS WORKING TO ESTABLISH AN ENDOWMENT FUND - THE EAGLE RIVER FUND - THAT WOULD HELP TO LEVERAGE STATE AND FEDERAL DOLLARS AND ENABLE MORE LOCAL WORK WITHIN OUR ORGANIZATION AND BEYOND. 2024 EXPENSE 92,007 CLEANUPS: THE COMMUNITY PRIDE HIGHWAY CLEANUP AND EAGLE RIVER CLEANUP ARE TWO LONGSTANDING, COMMUNITY-WIDE EVENTS THAT MOBILIZE HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS AND REMOVE LITERAL TONS OF TRASH FROM OUR WATERSHED. THIS HELPS TO PROTECT THE NATURAL RESOURCE THAT OUR RIVERS AND STREAMS PROVIDE AS A DRINKING WATER SOURCE, RECREATION OPPORTUNITIES, AND HABITAT FOR NUMEROUS FLORA AND FAUNA, WHILE ALSO PROVIDING BEAUTIFICATION TO OUR WATERSHED FOR PASSERSBY, VISITORS, AND LOCALS ALIKE. DURING 2024, WE REMOVED OVER 20 TONS OF TRASH DURING OUR CLEANUPS. 2024 EXPENSE 35,415

Source: Form 990 for the year ending December 31, 2024, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 30, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 10, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending December 2024.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since August 2006.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated September 7, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 7, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.