Fort Lewis College students, faculty and staff soon will have access to rafting permits on the Rio Chama and San Juan rivers in New Mexico and the Salt River in Arizona.

The Fort Lewis College Foundation, a nonprofit that raises funds for the college, conducted the campaign to raise private funds to purchase a New Mexico-based river company. The foundation announced it exceeded its goal of $100,000 for the purchase.

Final donations came in at $115,000, including a $25,000 crowdfunding effort.

With fundraising complete, FLC officials will now move forward on negotiations to complete the purchase of the river company.

FLC will not operate a commercial enterprise. Instead, the college will gain ownership of the firm’s river permits and equipment.

“This is about creating unique opportunities and to expand our access so that we can fully integrate our location’s amazing offerings into our academic curriculum and student-life programs, which helps with recruitment and retention,” Vice President of Advancement Mark Jastorff said when the idea was first announced in early June.

“The idea of having a resource that would integrate into majors from across campus, and that provides additional chances for our students to fully appreciate what the Southwest has to offer, would make Fort Lewis College a stronger choice to live and learn,” he said.

parmijo@durangoherald.com