The Upper Colorado River Alliance was founded to give voice to the people who live, work, and depend on the Upper Basin. We’re a nonprofit coalition focused on grassroots solutions, policy advocacy, and cultural preservation. Our mission is to keep water in the hands of those who know it best.
The Upper Colorado River Alliance (UCRA) was founded on the life, leadership, and legacy of Vernon A. Isaacs, Jr.—known to most simply as Bud. A decorated veteran, petroleum engineer, conservationist, and fierce defender of the Upper Basin, Bud built a life at the intersection of industry, integrity, and stewardship.
Bud graduated from the Colorado School of Mines in 1964 with a degree in Petroleum Engineering. Soon after, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and served with distinction in combat operations in Vietnam with the 1st Brigade, 101st Airborne Division. His military record includes the Silver Star, Bronze Star with Valor, Purple Heart, the Combat Infantry Badge, and multiple Vietnamese combat ribbons.
After returning home, Bud became a respected leader in the oil and gas industry. He held senior executive roles with Coquina Oil Corporation, Union Oil Company, CALCO, and Petro-Lewis Corporation, where he rose to the rank of Senior Vice President. In 1985, he founded VA Isaacs & Associates, Inc., advising energy companies on asset acquisitions. A few years later, he launched RIM Operating, a private oil and gas management firm, which went on to oversee operations across the central United States.Yet Bud’s legacy reaches far beyond business.
Yet Bud’s legacy reaches far beyond business.
As he witnessed firsthand the environmental cost of unchecked development in the Colorado River Basin, Bud became a whistleblower and advocate. For more than 15 years, he worked to expose the fragile state of the river’s headwaters and the impact of poorly managed infrastructure and water policy.
In 2022, Bud’s life’s work was captured in Oil and Water by author Stephen Grace—a book that details his transformation from oil executive to outspoken defender of the Upper Basin. The story reveals the complex, and often conflicting, relationship between energy, water, and community—and Bud’s conviction that the river deserved better.
That belief led him to establish the Upper Colorado River Alliance.
UCRA continues Bud’s mission: to empower rural communities, protect natural watersheds, and ensure that those who live on the land have a say in its future. His life reminds us that stewardship can come from unexpected places—and that real leadership is measured not just by what you build, but by what you fight to protect.
Where the River Runs, So Does the Work
At UCRA, impact isn’t measured in press releases—it’s measured in real change on the ground. We work hand-in-hand with ranchers, tribal leaders, town councils, and conservationists to protect what matters most: access to clean water, local autonomy, and the ability to sustain a rural way of life. From small-town irrigation upgrades to collaborative drought plans, our initiatives aren’t top-down—they’re bottom-up. Powered by trust, built on relationships, and rooted in place.
Helping producers adopt conservation methods that protect both their water rights and their bottom line.
Empowering small towns to shape their own water future through voluntary agreements and educational partnerships.
The Upper Colorado River Alliance (UCRA) was founded by Vernon “Bud” A. Isaacs, Jr.—a rancher, oilman, and relentless advocate for the health of the Upper Basin. For over fifteen years, Bud sounded the alarm on an abused stretch of one of the West’s most iconic rivers, long before it was headline news.Rado Capital is a proud supporter of Upper Colorado River Alliance (UCRA) 501(c)(3) which was founded by our founder Vernon "Bud" A Isaacs, Jr. UCRA underlines our commitment as a company devoted to advancing significant infrastructure projects that aligns with our vision to protect our rivers and streams.
UCRA was born from that fight.
Our mission reflects Bud’s belief that rivers are not pipelines—they’re living systems. That local communities deserve a voice in their future. And that protecting water isn’t just about conservation—it’s about defending culture, land, and livelihood.
Bud’s story is captured in the acclaimed book Oil and Water by author Stephen Grace. The book traces Bud’s unlikely journey to heal the Colorado River headwaters—highlighting the ecological damage caused by a century of mismanagement and the human consequences of viewing rivers as commodities instead of ecosystems.
Through Grace’s lens, Oil and Water introduces the cast of characters fighting alongside Bud: ranchers, tribal leaders, scientists, and locals who know the river not from maps, but from memory. Their collective mission? To restore balance, protect watersheds, and rethink how we manage one of America’s most critical natural resources.
At its heart, UCRA carries forward the legacy of that work.
We build coalitions, not categories—bringing together conservationists, producers, small towns, and sovereign nations to protect what’s irreplaceable. We don’t just advocate. We act. And we believe the future of the Upper Basin belongs to those who know it best.
