Our Board

I was born the poor son of a science teacher. My mother gave birth on the confluence of the Grand and Gunnison rivers when their banks were covered in the bent metal of wrecking yards. My father always preached to leave every place we ventured  better than we found it. “Pick up the trash and move on” he would say as we traversed the canyons cut by ephemeral waterways. My education in the high plains desert casts a long shadow on the classroom lessons of engineering ,art and environmental restoration. My love of the river runs deep. The access to secret places and great memories with friends fill my life and drive me to secure these spaces for my daughter. I look forward to interacting with our community to secure these sacred places for all of us to share.

Dave grew up on the banks of the Animas River in Western Colorado and figured out early on that he is happiest living in a place with a river running through it. He is a SUP instructor, retired fly fishing guide, mountain bike instructor, packrafter, and has a woodworking studio just upstream from the confluence of the Gunnison and Colorado Rivers. When he isn’t making furniture, guiding, or teaching, Dave loves photography and exploring the backcountry with his daughters and dogs.

Stokes landed in Grand Junction about five years ago and is still trying to forgive her parents for raising her in Dallas. She is passionate about exploring the world around her by any means possible. She started exploring local waterways by ducky and paddleboard and is awestruck by the beauty and grandeur of the canyons and rivers in our backyard. Last spring she helped coordinate the river clean up and wants to see more people get involved in community efforts for preservation. Stokes is passionate about inclusivity and accessibility and wants more people to have the ability to explore the gems of the Grand Valley by whatever means they’re interested in.