Wildfire in the Watershed
Trees torching at the High Park Wildfire on the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and Pawnee National Grassland on Thursday, June 17, 2012. (Photo credit: US Dept. of Agriculture)
The Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed (CPRW) was established following the devastating Hewlett Gulch and High Park Fires in 2012. These wildfires scorched 95,172 acres in the upper watershed, triggering severe erosion, unusually high runoff, and debris flows. As a result, water quality in both the mainstem and tributaries of the Cache la Poudre Watershed deteriorated significantly. This degradation impacted aquatic ecosystems and posed a serious risk to vital water supply infrastructure. The Upper Poudre River Watershed provides drinking and industrial water to much of northern Colorado’s Front Range and serves as the primary raw water source for the cities of Fort Collins and Greeley. In the aftermath of the fires, elevated sediment and turbidity levels—especially after summer storms—forced these cities to stop using the Poudre River for their drinking water supply.
The High Park Fire was a call to action for many organizations in Larimer County. Shortly after the fires began, a group of natural resource agencies, nonprofits, representatives from the cities of Fort Collins and Greeley, Larimer County local businesses, and individuals gathered to discuss how they could work together to rehabilitate land impacted by the burn. Initially formed as an informal network known as the High Park Restoration Coalition, the group was successful at identifying the top priorities for restoration efforts, finding funding to implement the plans, and training volunteers to help with implementation. Based on the success of these early efforts, in May 2013, members of the High Park Restoration Coalition evolved into a formal nonprofit - the Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed (CPRW) - with the goal of providing leadership and coordination for the collaborative stewardship of the Cache La Poudre River Watershed.
About Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed (CPRW)
CPRW is a 501(c)3 non-profit based in Fort Collins, Colorado. Our mission is to improve and maintain the ecological health of the Poudre River watershed through community collaboration. CPRW stakeholders have expertise in restoration science, ecology, collaboration, forestry, and local government. Our stakeholder committees include representatives from the US Forest Service, Colorado State University, Larimer County, City of Fort Collins, City of Greeley, Colorado State Forest Service, Town of Windsor, and Weld County among others.
Awards
2024 - Community Builder Award - presented by BizWest
2024 - Starburst Award - presented by the Colorado Lottery - Elkhorn Creek Forest Health Initiative
2023 - BizWest 40 Under 40 - Hally Strevey, CPRW Executive Director
2023 - Larimer County Environmental Stewardship Award: “North Fork Cache la Poudre River Site Conservation Team - Preble’s Mouse Recovery Through Local Engagement and Riparian Habitat Improvements”
2022 - Chief’s Award from the USDA Forest Service - Post-Fire Collaborative Recovery & Assessment Team
2018 - Excellence in Environmental Stewardship award from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
2017 - Larimer County Environmental Stewardship Award: “Elkhorn Creek Forest Health Initiative – Wildfire risk mitigation in the Elkhorn Creek”
2014 - Larimer County Environmental Stewardship Award: “Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed”