Friends of the San Luis Valley National Wildlife Refuges

The Friends formed in 1999 as an independent nonprofit. The Friends along with the Refuge staff, the Monte Vista Chamber, Rio Grande County and the City of Monte Vista: plan and operate the annual Monte Vista Crane Festival which brings thousands of visitors from all over the world to the refuges. To date, the Friends have contributed to the building of the Meadow Lark Trail on the Monte Vista NWR, the Discovery Room at the Alamosa NWR, many years of Kid’s Crane Festivals, and Fishing days (alas, fish disease and drought has stopped this activity). We also assist the refuge with the yearly Friends and Neighbors Picnic that brings the neighbors of the refuge up to date on the refuge happenings. Friends members worked hard to advocate for the establishment of the Baca NWR in 2005. In 2021 the Friends received a $15,000 grant to improve a critical parking area on the Monte Vista Refuge, wildlife camera installation, and an educational kiosk.

Partner Category

Conservation, Science, and Land Management Organizations

We often partner with non-governmental conservation organizations on conservation projects, whether it's to conserve identified species such as the monarch butterfly or to advise on land acquisition for conservation so that it has the greatest benefit for species.

Nature, Outdoor, and Recreation

Those who experience the outdoors and wildlife first-hand become its greatest conservationists. We partner with these groups to foster their love of wildlife and conservation.

Non-Governmental Organizations

Here we partner with a wider variety of other organizations on projects to meet shared conservation goals.

Friends of the San Luis Valley National Wildlife Refuges

Other Partners

Here are just a few of our National Partners. You can view the full list of FWS partners, along with the regions and areas of focus our work together entails.