Conversations with Gary Wockner

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gary Wockner.

Hi Gary, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
I began river conservation work in the early 2000s, with a pivotal start in 2004 when I co-founded the organization Save The Poudre alongside fellow Colorado State University research scientist Mark Easter. The group formed specifically to oppose the proposed Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP), a major dam and diversion initiative that threatened to further deplete flows in the Cache la Poudre River in northern Colorado — where I lived and which became the focal point of my early activism.

My passion for rivers traces back to my childhood, having grown up along a river in central Illinois, and deepened after moving to Colorado in 1986, where I spent years exploring mountains and waterways, including my first western “river trip” on the San Juan River in 1987. After earning advanced degrees (including a PhD) and working as a research scientist, I transitioned into full-time advocacy. The Poudre River efforts marked my entry into organized and professionally paid river protection, earning much recognition over the years. This local work expanded in 2010 when I co-founded the Save The Colorado River campaign, and I have since found and led broader initiatives, including Save The World’s Rivers.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The biggest struggle is the work itself which tries to keep water in Colorado’s rivers. The entire political, legal, and economic machine in Colorado works toward the exact opposite — to get water out of rivers to feed and fuel more growth.

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I work as a consultant to environmental organizations where I advocate for my personal passion of river protection and conservation. 2025 was a banner year for my work because I helped achieve a record-breaking $100 million conservation settlement for the Cache la Poudre River in Larimer County, and also helped achieve a landmark court victory protecting the Colorado River.

My river conservation work has been intense over the last two decades including numerous awards and accolades including:
* In 2007 and 2008, I received the “Friend of the Poudre” award for my efforts at saving the Poudre River, and I was nominated for the Colorado Book Award for the publication of “Pulse of the River.
* Also in 2008, I was given the “Outstanding Achievement Award” from the Sierra Club Poudre Canyon Group for my work protecting the Poudre River.
* In 2010, I received the “E-Chievement” award from E-Town, the national syndicated radio show, also for my work protecting the Poudre River.
* In 2012, the Save The Colorado River campaign — which I co-founded with New Belgium Brewing — received the first ever River Stewardship Award from Colorado Trout Unlimited.
* In 2012, the Fort Collins Coloradoan newspaper said I was a “prolific writer and activist,” the Northern Colorado Business Report said I was one of Colorado’s “more recognized faces in the campaign against fracking,” Earthjustice Magazine said I was the “driving force” behind the campaign to save the Colorado River, and Ecowatch news service named me an “Insights Renowned Environmental Leader.”
* In December of 2012, the New York Times highlighted the work of my Save The Colorado River campaign on its website.
* In March of 2013, Origin Magazine named me an “EcoRockstar Impacting The Planet.”
* In September of 2013, as a result of the catastrophic floods in the oil and gas fields of Colorado, National Public Radio, the New York Times, and Rachel Maddow all highlighted my work speaking out to protect the public’s health and Colorado’s waterways.
* In 2014, I provided communications guiddance to Global Greengants Fund to help bring attention to the devastating environmental and human rights impacts of the Sochi, Russia Olympics — including to the Mzymta River — which resulted in many media reports including a New York Times article. Also in 2014, EcoCentric Blog named me a “River Hero, ” WildEarth Guardians profiled me and said I was “one of Colorado’s conrnerstone environmental activists,” and E&E News Service said I was “one of the most vocal anti-drilling activists in the state.”
*In 2015, Adventure.Travel Magazine said I was an “impassioned and sometimes outraged activist with entrepreneurial tendencies, and PR-savvy.”
* Also in 2015, I began expanding my work internationally — writing, advocating, and consulting for publications and organizations addressing threats to rivers and water around the globe including Global Greengrants Fund, International Waterkeeper Alliance, and International Rivers. About my January 2016 article, “Will Climate Change Swamp Cartagena?” in Waterkeeper Magazine, Bill McKibben said it is a “Telling, thorough report on the menace of seal level rise in Cartagena — and doubtless a thousand other places.”
*My provocative March 2016 column, “Disaster Capitalism On The Colorado River,” appeared in one of America’s largest-circulation newspapers, USA Today.
* Also in November of 2016, I collected many of my recent writings into a book titled, “River Warrior: Fighting to Protect the World’s Rivers,” published by Wolverine Farm Publishing.
* In 2018, the Colorado Independent said I was “one of Colorado’s most outspoken water watchdogs”. Also in 2018, I co-founded Boulder Waterkeeper which works to protect the Boulder Creek watershed in Boulder County.
* In October 2020, I became the host of the EarthX TV show #OvercomingOvershoot, which interviewed environmental leaders and thinkers across the planet to ask the hard questions and have the hard conversations about Environmental Overshoot and threats to water.
* In 2021, I was given the “Jim Crain Award” by PLAN Boulder County for my decades of work protecting rivers across the planet and fighting to stop the Gross Dam expansion in Boulder County. Also in 2021, I founded “Save The World’s Rivers” that focuses protecting rivers across the planet.
* In 2022, I was selected as a “Guardian of the River” by Guardians Worldwide. Also in 2022, I was named the Colorado River Chapter Director for the Center for the Advancement of the Steady State Economy — the announcement was accompanied by my article, “The Colorado River: Devoured By Growth”.
*In 2022, I began directing “Tell The Dam Truth” — an organization that highlights the climate impacts caused by dams.
* I have traveled to and written articles about water and river protection in Costa Rica, Colombia, Mexico, Belize, Spain, Thailand, Peru, Nepal, Ecuador, Hawaii, Nicaragua, New Zealand, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Montenegro, Slovenia, Baja Mexico, Zambia, Guatemala, Iceland, Albania, and Italy. My environmental advocacy work has generated thousands of news stories and, most importantly, makes a difference.

We’d be interested to hear your thoughts on luck and what role, if any, you feel it’s played for you?
I’ve had some good luck. I also believe in good fortune created by hard work, and that is what I mostly get and do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://garywockner.com

Image Credits
All photos credit: Gary Wockner