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$10,000 Goal
Give today to support our work throughout the Poudre River Watershed! Your donation will fund projects such as post-fire restoration in the Cameron Peak burn area, river restoration, forest health, watershed planning and citizen science water quality monitoring that create a more resilient Cache la Poudre River watershed.
The Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed (CPRW) partners with land owners, government agencies, water utilities, and non-profits to collaboratively address some of the most challenging issues facing our watershed. Together, we identify the biggest problems, use science and expert input to prioritize where our projects will have the most impact and then together, we implement actions on the ground that will protect our rivers, communities, and water supply.
“Hands down working with CPRW has been the most impactful way to move us forward so quickly. You are small in staff yet SO mighty in outreach. Because of your ability to help partner us with key players, we’ve been able to address land erosion issues in creative ways. You’ve empowered our community to take action on restoration” — Amy Williams, Owner, Amy’s Grass Fed Beef
"We couldn't do this without working through our local non-governmental organizations that really coordinate a lot this funding - Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed (CPRW) and Big Thompson Watershed Coalition (BTWC). These entities are integral in turning the money into projects on the ground." - Adam Jokerst, former Deputy Director, Water Resources, City of Greeley
"CPRW has proven their ability to accomplish large-scale forest resilience projects and we fully support their efforts to expand their ongoing work in the upper Poudre. Since 2015, CPRW has been leading and coordinating the Elkhorn Creek Forest Health Initiative, a partnership that aims to increase the resiliency of this Poudre sub-drainage to catastrophic wildfires and protect communities, water supply, and river habitat." -Boyd Lebeda, Smoke Management Specialist, Colorado Dept. of Public Health & Environment
"CPRW is designed specifically to help members work across jurisdictional boundaries and with land stewards to get the work done. In addition, CPRW coordinates a robust science stakeholder group with a vast array of technical expertise to help guide planning and implementation." -Jill Oropeza, City of Fort Collins Utilities
CPRW's mission is to improve and maintain the ecological health of the Poudre River watershed through community collaboration.
In the summer of 2012, the Hewlett Gulch and High Park fires burned 95,172 acres of the Cache La Poudre Watershed. At the time, the High Park Fire was Larimer County's most destructive wildfire. In addition to the loss of homes and trees, the charred watershed also saw enormous increases in runoff, flooding, sediment erosion, and debris flows. With every rain after the fires, sediment and ash flowed into the Poudre River, affecting not just the aesthetics of the river but its ecology and its ability to reliably deliver clean drinking water. The increased runoff also led to road closures as roads flooded during each rain event, compromising the safety of our roadways.
The High Park Fire was a call to action for many organizations in Larimer County. Shortly after the fires were contained, a group of natural resource agencies, non-profits, representatives from the cities of Greeley, Fort Collins, and Larimer County, local businesses, and individuals, gathered to discuss how they could work together to rehabilitate the lands affected 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, we evolved into a formal non-profit coalition - the Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed - with the goal of providing leadership and coordination for the stewardship of the Cache La Poudre River Watershed.
CPRW has worked hard to build strong relationships with our stakeholders and communities. We continuously strive to bring value add to our watershed and stakeholders.
Since the High Park and Hewlett Gulch Fires in 2012, and the most recent Cameron Peak Fire of 2020, we continue to implement post-fire restoration projects in the upper watershed. These projects are focused on both reducing erosion and preventing excess sediment from entering the river, stabilizing stream banks, protecting important infrastructure, and reestablishing native vegetation.
Organization name
Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed
other names
CPRW, High Park Restoration Coalition
2013
Tax id (EIN)
46-2850042
Category
Environment
Organization Size
Large Organization
Address
320 East Vine Drive Suite 317Larimer County, CO, US