Crystal Valley Environmental Protection Association

Help Us Protect Our Valley

Since 1972 the Crystal River Environmental Protection Association (CVEPA) has been fighting for the water, land, air, and rural and wilderness culture of the Crystal River Valley. Although we are a small, volunteer organization with no paid staff, we have an impressive history of fighting to protect the incredible environment surrounding us. CVEPA stopped the development of an alpine ski area above Marble, helped to oversee the reclamation of a major coal mine, helped prevent a proposed dam from destroying the upper Crystal River Valley, and continuously works to ensure public access to public lands around the valley.

We hope your mission matches ours. Dues start at $20 per year. Visit our Join Us page and complete the New Membership Form and/or sign-up for our Newsletter.

We'd be happy to have you join us!

The Latest

TAKE ACTION TODAY on OHV Use in Marble

May 2021

Please email the Gunnison Board of Commissioners TODAY asking them not to allow ATVs on the Daniels Hill section of County Rd 3.

After receiving considerable feedback from the Marble community, residents of the surrounding area, and CVEPA, regarding unwanted impacts of unregulated OHV traffic headed to the environmentally sensitive Lead King Loop, the Gunnison County Board of County Commissioners has responded by proposing a resolution authorizing OHV traffic on a previously restricted portion of County Road 3 east of Marble. The resolution is on the May 4 meeting agenda.

Read the Pending Gunnison County Commissioners' OHV Resolution

Call to Action on Lead King Loop

Crystal River Wild & Scenic

TAKE ACTION TODAY on OHV Use in Marble

February 2021

After a four-year hiatus, residents of the Crystal River valley are reviving efforts to protect the upper portion of the river through a federal designation. The Crystal River Caucus, Pitkin County, the Crystal Valley Environmental Protection Association and others are once again discussing designating the upper 39 miles of the river — from the two branches of its headwaters in the Snowmass-Maroon Bells Wilderness to the first major downstream irrigation diversion, the Sweet Jessup Canal — as Wild & Scenic.

Read Heather Sackett's article in Aspen Journalism

Wild & Scenic Designation

Frank Mechau Offer

Devastation of Yule Creek

January 2021
Well-known American artist, Frank Mechau, was a resident of Redstone Colorado. His life in the Crystal Valley helped shape and inspire the unique style and sense of place his work is known for. Frank’s wife, Paula, was a founding member of CVEPA, and his son, Mike, is a board member emeritus. Thanks to a new documentary on PBS, you can learn more about the amazing work and life of this great artist.

Reproductions, note cards and books of Mechau’s work can be purchased at frankmechau.com. The foundation will generously donate 15% of purchases by CVEPA members to our organization.

View Documentary

Devastation of Yule Creek

January 2021

Beginning in November of 2018, and with no permits, Colorado Stone Quarries diverted approximately 1,600 linear feet of the creek through a constructed channel that flows approximately 1,700 linear feet around the east side of Franklin Ridge. (There is some evidence the Creek had been on that side in geologic time.) After forcing the stream to the east, the creek bed was buried under approximately 97,000 cubic yards of waste rock and other materials to create a new road access to the existing mining operation and to facilitate surface mining of Franklin Ridge itself.

Destruction of Yule Creek