Summary
Organization name
Coal Creek Watershed Coalition
other names
CCWC
2003
Tax id (EIN)
26-0894694
Category
Environment
Organization Size
Small Organization
Address
PO Box 962Crested Butte, CO 81224
Gunnison County, CO, US
About
Projects
Members of the Coal Creek family are superheroes!
They are passionate people like you, securing a healthier future for aquatic life, wildlife, and human life.
Would you like to join the Coal Creek family?
YOU can protect and restore Crested Butte's watersheds!
Your passion for clean water and a thriving environment will ensure a vibrant future for your family, your community, and cherished aquatic life and wildlife.
Without the support of caring neighbors like you, local watersheds would not have the protection necessary to secure a sustainable future for generations to come.
You too, are a superhero! Your love of the environment will echo through generations.
In 2023 inspiring community members like you achieved the following:
Collected 121 water quality samples in the Coal Creek watershed.*
Collected 34 water quality samples from Standard Mine and Elk Creek.*
Prevented over 165 pounds of cadmium, copper, and zinc and 0.6 tons of sediment from entering the Slate River due to successful reclamation at the Gunsight Processing Area.
Intercepted 16,000 gallons of human waste from entering local watersheds by collaboratively sponsoring portable toilets in the Crested Butte area.
Empowered 200 recreationists to protect our watersheds through outreach and education.
Removed 600 invasive chamomile plants from the reclaimed Gunsight Processing Area.
*Water quality sample data is analyzed to improve our understanding of the condition of the rivers being measured. This information is used to inform decision makers and drive management actions.
Visit coalcreek.org to see what the Coal Creek family has accomplished over the years.
Testimonials
"The Colorado Water Quality Control Division's Measurable Results Program worked with the Coal Creek Watershed Coalition to conduct environmental assessments of abandoned mines impacting water quality. They provided extensive local area knowledge and experienced volunteers to support sample collection and restoration efforts. Additionally, the Coal Creek Watershed Coalition provides water quality data to support the development of Colorado's 303(d) List of Impaired Waters. These efforts help protect and restore Colorado's waterways."
- Skip Feeney, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment
Mission
The mission of the Coal Creek Watershed Coalition is to maintain, restore and enhance the environmental integrity of Crested Butte's local watersheds to ensure those local watersheds and habitats are of the highest possible quality necessary to support wildlife, aquatic life, and human life.
Background Statement
In 2003, the High Country Citizens' Alliance (HCCA) initiated an investigation of water quality impairment in Coal Creek. Once the extent of the impairment was understood, HCCA engaged community at large and found considerable interest in the issues in Coal Creek. This public interest eventually led to the founding of the Coal Creek Watershed Coalition (CCWC), which held its first meeting in 2004.
Since it's inception, the CCWC has acted as the leader in watershed protection and restoration serving the Crested Butte community and surrounding watersheds and environment. The CCWC provides high quality data from Coal Creek to identify environmental concerns in the watershed. With this information CCWC enhances the Coal Creek Watershed by reducing or eliminating the existing and potential environmental problems, as well as restoring degraded habitats to achieve high water quality. CCWC also communicates water quality and watershed related information to increase public awareness of watershed issues, as Coal Creek provides the drinking water for the town of Crested Butte.
Media gallery
Organization Data
Crested Butte, CO 81224