Partners, community members, river lovers:
We are continuing on our Fall 2021 efforts to clean up the debris in the Cache la Poudre following the Black Hollow rain event last July and are looking for volunteers for a clean up day April 16th 9am to 4pm (weather dependent) with a diversity of skills and experience for a difficult job. There is material that is easily recovered by picking up and placing in garbage bags, while other material will necessitate rope work, rafting items to easier pick up locations, and other human powered means. Some material is on dry land and some is caught on rocks in the river flow.
If your organization has experience, ability, and capacity for this type of effort (easy river clean-up through more complex water retrievals) please contact either Katie Buchan, USFS North Zone Hydrologist; or Chris Carroll, USFS North Zone Fisheries Biologist or Matt Cowan Wilderness and Trails (emails and phone numbers below) by close of business Monday, April 11th.
As Colorado’s only designated Wild and Scenic River, the Cache la Poudre River is beloved throughout the community. A lot of material was removed last fall with volunteers (Propane tank, I-beams, Styrofoam etc.) but we still need help to accomplish more. In meeting the outstanding qualities and values of the Wild and Scenic River designation, staff on Canyon Lakes Ranger District believe the best way to accomplish removal of the manmade debris is through a large volunteer effort spurred by our partners, our community, and those that feel passionate about the river and wild places.
US Forest Service and Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed will be organizing segments and directing volunteer groups for clean-up depending on ability and capacity to best suit each group. We are also looking for team leads to attend the pre-meeting brief on April 12th and be a representative for their group. We will go over paperwork, logistics, estimated volunteer numbers/assignments at this meeting (invite will be sent separately). Please let us know if your group has liability insurance or another type of volunteer waiver that can be utilized. Tools and safety gear that can be self-provided are a plus. Material is on both dry land and in-channel so waders/waterproof gear is very helpful, but not required.
We would really love to make this effort collaborative, so do let us know how you or your organization feel you might best support this endeavor. Feel free to share this email with appropriate contacts.
Katie Buchan
970-286-5726
Chris Carroll
970-237-2599
Matt Cowan
970-531-8921