Series of Public Events Will Celebrate the Poudre River
50th Anniversary of Wild and Scenic Rivers Act Puts Cache la Poudre River in Spotlight
An upcoming series of events in the Fort Collins area will give members of the public a chance to discover and celebrate the Cache la Poudre River, Colorado’s only Wild and Scenic River, permanently protected in 1986. The events in September and October include film festivals and volunteer projects, as well as storytelling and learning opportunities.
October 2, 2018 will mark the 50th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act, one of the most important conservation successes in our nation’s history. Wild and Scenic designation protects free-flowing rivers with outstanding natural, cultural and recreational values. The designation prohibits harmful development, preserves historic uses, and safeguards the river for future generations. Of the roughly three million miles of rivers in the country, only a little over 12,000 are protected as Wild and Scenic. In Colorado, a groundswell of local support spurred Congress to grant Wild and Scenic protection to the Cache la Poudre in 1986. The river flows from its headwaters in Rocky Mountain National Park through Poudre Canyon before making its way through Fort Collins.
In Fort Collins and across the state, healthy rivers like the Poudre are vital to our drinking water, health, economy and communities. Rivers support a thriving outdoor industry, creating jobs and business opportunities, as well as supporting this region’s high quality of life. The Poudre is one of a kind, and this event series is a chance for people to celebrate and connect with the river the community loves so much.
Events include:
Thursday, September 6th, Wild & Scenic River Celebration, 5:00 – 8:00 PM at New Belgium Brewing
Info: Celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act! We’ll have swag giveaways and opportunities take action on behalf of rivers near and far. Featuring the short film, PROTECTED: A Wild and Scenic River Portrait.
Hosts: American Rivers, American Whitewater, Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed, and New Belgium Brewing
Learn more at www.WildAndScenic-Co.EventBrite.com
Wednesday, September 12th, Party for the Poudre, 5:30 PM – 7:30 PM at the Island Grove Bunkhouse
Info: Join other lovers of the Poudre River for an informal mid-week, after-work benefit for the Poudre River Trail Corridor & Partners, The Poudre Learning Center, and Cache la Poudre National River Heritage Area! The event includes fancy foods and drink, and live entertainment by The Briana Harris Collective. Enjoy the refreshments, river program exhibits, and entertainment close to the River and in the company of others who appreciate the groups whose wonderful work on the river benefits us all.
Hosts: Poudre River Trail Corridor & Partners, The Poudre Learning Center, and Cache la Poudre National River Heritage Area
Learn more at https://www.poudreheritage.org/event/party-for-the-poudre-the-river/
Sunday, September 16th, Wild & Scenic Poudre River Celebration, 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM at the Mishawaka Amphitheater
Info: In observation of the signing of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act that preserves the Cache la Poudre and other rivers in the U.S., join us for a day of river education, preservation, restoration and celebration. Volunteers will have the choice of three concurrent opportunities in the morning to help restore, protect, and learn about important areas in the Wild and Scenic corridor. Activities move to Mishawaka Amphitheatre in the afternoon, with more opportunities to learn about the work partner organizations are doing to keep the Poudre healthy, flycasting with Rocky Mountain Flycasters, and live music from Ginger Whale and The Movers & Shakers.
Hosts: Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed, Wildlands Restoration Volunteers, US Forest Service, Odell Brewing Company, and The Mishawaka
Lean more at https://www.poudrewatershed.org/cprw-events/wild-scenic-celebration
Friday, September 28th, Wild and Scenic Film Festival, 6:30 PM at the Lory Student Center
Info: The Wild and Scenic Film Festival offers incredible stories of adventure and conservation, paired with stunning cinematography. This year, we’ve selected films that offer our audience a journey into some of the most beautiful places on earth, complemented by stories of inspiration, activism and finding solutions to restore our planet. In addition to films, we will celebrate 25 years in the community and 50 years of the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act! All proceeds will support programs of the Larimer County Conservation Corps.
Hosts: Larimer County Conservation Corps
Learn more at larimerworkforce.org/wildandscenic
Wednesday, October 17th, River Stories at the Lyric Theater, 6:00 PM
Info: Part film festival, part Story Swap, part art exhibit, this event will bring together different stories about our own Poudre River. The event will also feature unique craft beers and kombucha, brewed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act.
Hosts: CreatePlaces, Spruce Moose Foundation, and NoCoast Artists
Learn more at https://www.facebook.com/events/2164763823797775/
Participating Organizations include:
American Rivers
American Whitewater
BreWater
Cache la Poudre National River Heritage Area
Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed
CreatePlaces
Downtown Creative District
Horse & Dragon Brewing Company
Larimer County Conservation Corps
The Lyric
The Mishawaka
National Park Service
New Belgium Brewing
NoCoast Artists
Odell Brewing Company
The Poudre Learning Center
Poudre River Trail Corridor & Partners
Spruce Moose Foundation
US Forest Service
The VIA Company
Wildlands Restoration Volunteers