Colorado Trout Unlimited Leads Great Colorado Rivers Cleanup on Sept. 16
Hundreds of Volunteers Will Scour 16 Rivers Statewide in Massive Cleanup Effort

- Colorado Trout Unlimited (CTU), a nonprofit organization dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring Colorado's coldwater fisheries, will lead the third annual Great Colorado Rivers Cleanup on Sept. 16, to remove trash and debris from river banks and channels throughout the state. CTU and volunteers from throughout the community will patrol designated river stretches near Aspen, Basalt, Boulder, Denver, Durango, Carbondale, Estes Park, Evergreen, Fort Collins, Glenwood Springs, Golden/Idaho Springs, Granby, Grand Junction, Lake George, Longmont, Montrose, Pueblo, Silverthorne and Salida to remove trash and elevate the health of Colorado's water sources.

"Water is one of Colorado's most precious natural resources, and its importance to our daily lives is critical," said David Nickum, executive director of Colorado Trout Unlimited. "The water found in our rivers is the same water we drink and use every day. It also promotes Colorado's strong tourism industry, and supports activities such as fishing, kayaking and skiing that make life in Colorado so exceptional. The Great Colorado Rivers Cleanup is a way for anyone in the community to get involved and make a difference. By picking up trash along the rivers, volunteers can help restore and protect the water sources we all rely upon."

The majority of the Great Colorado Rivers Cleanup events are planned for the morning of Saturday, Sept. 16, with a few events taking place on September 9, Sept.30 and Oct. 14. Visit www.cotrout.org for more information about specific cleanup events, including times, contacts, and meeting locations. With most of the cleanup efforts on a single day, CTU hopes to attract hundreds of volunteers for a large-scale, coordinated cleanup effort. CTU plans the Great Colorado Rivers Cleanup for the fall season because river flow is generally lower, making access to the rivers and cleanup efforts easier and safer.

"Last year, the Great Colorado Rivers Cleanup attracted hundreds of volunteers," said Nickum. "We expect this year to be even bigger. We encourage people to find the event in their local community and get involved."

Seventeen CTU chapters across the state will host cleanup events on 15 Colorado rivers, including: South Platte River in Denver (in partnership with Greenway Foundation), Animas River, Arkansas River in Pueblo, Upper Arkansas River, Bear Creek, Big Thompson River, Blue River (in partnership with Summit County Make a Difference), Boulder Creek, Cache la Poudre, Clear Creek above Golden, Colorado River, Roaring Fork River, South Platte River in Elevenmile Canyon, St. Vrain River, Uncompaghre River and West Creek. For more information about the Great Colorado Rivers Cleanup or Colorado Trout Unlimited, visit www.cotrout.org.

About Colorado Trout Unlimited

Colorado Trout Unlimited is dedicated to conserving, protecting and restoring Colorado's coldwater fisheries and their watersheds. The statewide organization has nearly 10,000 members and is part of the national Trout Unlimited organization. Colorado Trout Unlimited fulfills its mission through advocacy and education efforts regarding the impact of drought and pollution on water-based ecosystems, and by engaging volunteers in hands-on projects to improve and rehabilitate Colorado's river systems. For more information about Colorado Trout Unlimited, visit www.cotrout.org.

September 16
· Animas River (Five Rivers Chapter) Contact: Steve Linn, 970-884-5081.
· Upper Arkansas River (Collegiate Peaks Chapter) Contact: Mark Cole, 719-486-0176.
· Arkansas River - Pueblo (Southern Colorado Greenbacks Chapter) Contact: Pat McGraw, 719-566-6834
· Big Thompson (Alpine Anglers Chapter) Contact: Dallas Maurer, 970-669-7729
· Boulder Creek (Boulder Flycasters Chapter) Contact: Paul Prentiss, 720-394-1115
· Cache la Poudre (Rocky Mountain Flycasters Chapter) Contact: Paul Fromme, 970-282-9387
· Clear Creek above Golden (Cherry Creek, Cutthroat, and West Denver Chapters) Contact: Ray Carney 303-972-2976.
· Colorado River - below Shadow Mountain Dam (Colorado Headwaters Chapter) Contact: Scott Linn, 970-726-5652.
· South Platte - Elevenmile Canyon (Cheyenne Mountain Chapter) Contact: Sam Humpert, 719-268-1762.
· St. Vrain River (St. Vrain Anglers Chapter) Contact: Bret Duston, 303-588-0916.
· Uncompaghre River (Gunnison Gorge Chapter) Contact: Ben Olson, 970-901-8135.

September 30
· Bear Creek (Evergreen Chapter) Contact: Hal Garwood, 303-526-2901
· South Platte - in Denver (Denver Chapter, through partnership with The Greenway Foundation) Contact: Elbert Bivins, 303-960-6709.

October 14
· Blue River (Gore Range Chapter, with Summit County Make A Difference Day) Contact: Andy Gentry, 970-668-0265.
West Creek (Grand Valley Anglers Chapter) Contact: Jeff Freeland, 970-250-4191.

J.D. McCartney is the public relations official for Colorado Trout Unlimited.