Book - Yampa Yearnings: An ode to one of the last wild rivers in the West

Yampa Yearnings isn't just another nature book—it's a love letter to one of America's most endangered waterways and a call to action for anyone who believes wild rivers are worth protecting. And in this day and age, there's never been more attention on protecting our public lands and waterways. As the last remaining free-flowing tributary to the Colorado River Basin that still retains its natural hydrograph, the Yampa River faces unprecedented threats from development, climate change, and competing water demands. But there's still time to save it. And getting people to care about it is the best way to accomplish that. 

Why this Book Matters Now: The Yampa represents what we stand to lose—and what we can still save. Every page instills a deeper connection to the rivers in your own backyard and the knowledge to protect them.

Award-winning author Eugene Buchanan has spent three decades exploring every bend of the Yampa, from its headwaters near the birthplace of America's wilderness movement to its confluence with the Green River 250 miles downstream in Dinosaur National Monument. The river supports world-class skiing in Steamboat Springs, sustains endangered fish species, nourishes agricultural communities, and provides sanctuary for unique wildlife and riparian zones.

Through intimate storytelling reminiscent of David James Duncan's My Story as Told by Water, Buchanan weaves together his own experiences with the river with its natural history, cultural significance, and the urgent conservation challenges it faces, instilling a sense of waterway preservation in everyone who turns its pages. His 30-year relationship with the Yampa transforms from personal passion into universal truth: when we protect our local waterways, we protect our future.

About Eugene Buchanan: Writing about the outdoors for nearly 40 years, from covering the X Games for ESPN.com to working for NBC at the Beijing Olympics, Eugene Buchanan's work has appeared in such publications as the New York Times, Outside, Men's Journal, Sports Afield, Popular Mechanics, National Geographic Adventure, and more. As the former editor-in-chief of Paddler magazine, founder of PaddlingLife.com, and author of five books, his adventures have taken him from Africa and the Amazon's headwaters to Siberia, but his heart remains with the Yampa. A member of New York's prestigious Explorer's Club, he's also a former ski patrol and river guide, bringing both technical expertise and a deep emotional connection to this critical conservation story. The book promises to increase awareness for readers’ own backyard rivers through Buchanan’s 30-year relationship with his beloved Yampa in Steamboat Springs. Eugene is a former board member and long-time supporter of Friends of the Yampa.