A Letter from Marcie Bidwell, Executive Director
Dear Friends and Supporters of MSI,
I am excited to kick off our yearlong celebration of Mountain Studies Institute’s (MSI) 20th anniversary. In 2022, we are celebrating 20 years of empowering mountain communities to innovate solutions to challenges— old and new—through advancing mountain science, promoting education, and elevating best practices. We also take this opportunity to honor the First Nations, cultures, and communities in recognition that their time in these mountains is big and our time (even as we celebrate) is a small step and a beginning. As we start to take bigger steps, we appreciate the communities that have been here for millennia, including the Ute Mountain, Southern Ute, Apache, Pueblo, Diné, and other indigenous peoples. We seek to learn from them and others who are a vital part of our community and respect their continuing connection with it.
MSI began with a dream- the dream of our founder Dr. Robert Blair. Dr. Blair was a retired Fort Lewis College professor living in Durango, Colorado, when he envisioned the creation of an institution that would implement and promote mountain science in the San Juan Mountains. Through no small amount of work that dream was achieved, and 20 years later here we are.
You can hear more about the origins of MSI from Dr. Blair himself.
Throughout our 20 years of advancing mountain science, we have celebrated accomplishments and overcome obstacles large and small. From monitoring water quality during and after the Gold King Mine Spill and the 416 Burn, to the restoration of precious forest and wetland habitats across the San Juan region, MSI has always been committed to connecting and protecting our communities through conservation. No matter whether the river ran orange, black or blue, MSI has been there to dig for answers, provide real-time monitoring, and share timely information and assessment with our San Juan communities.
The next 20 years promise to bring even more successes and new unpredictable and perhaps unprecedented challenges. As climate change forces environments and communities to adapt and evolve, we must all be more resilient than ever. And, we must find solutions together, side by side with the vibrant and diverse San Juan communities. MSI is proud to be a leader of mountain science and environmental stewardship facing these challenges in the San Juans. We have much in store for this year, including our annual Forest & Fire Learning series, water quality results from our 3-year study of the 416 Fire, hands-on stewardship days, and citizen science project trainings. And there will be so much more- so join us for the next hike, the next horizon, where more mountain memories await us.
None of this could happen without your support, and we are grateful to be a part of this community. Let's climb the next peak together!
Warmly,
Marcie Bidwell
