Conversations with Katie Berning

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Berning.

Hi Katie, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers.
Our mission is to protect and enhance the environmental and recreational integrity of the Yampa River and its tributaries, through stewardship, advocacy, education, and partnerships. Established in 1981, we have a long-standing history of working to develop wide support for a healthy Yampa River that supports a vibrant, diverse economy and is accessible for all to enjoy.

Today, the Yampa River and its tributaries remain a model of a healthy river system, not only here in Northwest Colorado but in the entire Colorado River Basin and the Western United States. In a world where most rivers have been dammed, diverted, and dewatered, the Yampa River still remains intact, supporting a diverse riverine and terrestrial environment while allowing for multiple recreational and consumptive uses.

What started as a group of people celebrating the river and building a river recreation community, has grown to be a nonprofit that has a board of directors, full-time staff, and a robust volunteer network. FOTY now focuses on its four pillars: education, stewardship, partnerships, and advocacy to complete its mission through events, programs, and working with other groups in the Yampa Valley.

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
With the increase of drought in the Mountain West, the Yampa River isn’t alone in feeling the effects of climate change. Friends of the Yampa is facing a future where there is lower snowpack, drier soils, and lower runoff.

Along with trying to keep all of the stakeholders in mind, we will need to look for solutions that respect the valley’s ranching heritage, advocate for the Yampa and its tributaries, as well as supporting the recreation economy that the valley relies on. As a nonprofit, finding funding to run our programs will always be a struggle.

As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
I am the Outreach Program Manager. I specialize in communications and outreach for Friends of the Yampa. I am the most proud of working to get scholarship floats for local nonprofits to get on the Yampa River, many for the first time. River recreation is expensive and hard to get into. Being able to share that with people who are part of the BIPOC community is going to help move the needle for outdoor recreation!

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My favorite childhood memory is of being young and running around the Woodland Resort on Devil’s Lake in North Dakota. We had the joy of parking the camper running around the lake and campground and finding a passion for the water. Whether we were catching tadpoles or playing games in the water, this taught me a love that went from the lakes of the Midwest to the rivers of the Mountain West!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://friendsoftheyampa.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/friendsoftheyampa/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/friendsoftheyampa
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@friendsoftheyampa9570