Alex Pavon

Outdoor Enthusiast, Athlete

Alex Pavon grew up in Flagstaff, Arizona, exploring the Grand Canyon, Lake Powell, and the Colorado River from a very young age. As a Forever Our Rivers Ambassador, she views rivers as resilient lifeblood ecosystems connecting wildlife, food systems, and communities across the Southwest. Driven by a desire to protect the Colorado River amidst ongoing water crises, Alex advocates for river conservation so future generations can continue to experience, cherish, and learn from these essential natural spaces.

Matt Payne

Nature and Landscape Photographer

Matt Payne is a nature and landscape photographer based in Durango, Colorado. Raised in the state, he spent his early years mountaineering through Colorado's backcountry, eventually completing all 100 of Colorado's highest peaks. That time in the mountains shifted from summit-chasing to image-making, and photography became his way of honoring the landscapes that shaped him. He hosts the podcast F-Stop Collaborate and Listen, co-founded Nature First Photography, and is the co-creator of the Natural Landscape Photography Awards, an international competition dedicated to realistic and ethical nature photography. His work is grounded in a commitment to truthful representation and conservation.

Halley Hornberger

River Enthusiast , Mountain Athlete

Halley Hornberger is a river enthusiast and mountain athlete based in Crested Butte, Colorado. Her work as a whitewater kayak instructor at Mountain Sports Kayak School and as a River Ambassador with Friends of the Yampa sparked her interest in how watershed science, water law, and recreation can work together to protect our rivers and communities.

A philosophy from her mentor, Pete Van de Carr, continues to shape her connection to rivers: "You have to know it to love it, and you have to love it to protect it." As a Forever Our Rivers Ambassador and master's candidate in Environmental Management at Western Colorado University, with an emphasis in Ecological River Restoration, Halley is excited to bring this philosophy into both her work and her graduate studies. She looks forward to getting to know the Upper Gunnison Basin and connecting with others in the community who share her interests.

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