program overview
Rivers are the lifeblood of our natural areas and communities, but they get a lot of abuse. Join us as we stabilize banks damaged by floods and wildfires, plant native trees & shrubs, build in-stream structures, create beaver dam analogs, and host clean-up days to restore miles of Colorado’s streams and rivers.
Volunteer opportunities are posted on our calendar, where you can browse upcoming projects, view details, and sign up based on your interests, location, and availability.
Restoring Colorado’s Rivers: WRV teams up with Audubon
Resilience: Short film about our community’s response to historic flooding
‘Black Friday’ Tradition: Skip the stores & volunteer outside (CBS4 Denver)
WRV works with local watershed coalition partners to improve fish & wildlife habitat, native vegetation, and flood resiliency. Our focus is the South Platte river basin and waterways in the northern Front Range, including the St. Vrain, Poudre, Big Thompson, Boulder Creek, Left Hand Creek, and South Platte.
Volunteer river projects usually consist of full-day planting events, or half-days for watering and clean-ups. Activities are rated as Moderate and may include digging, planting, seeding, mulching, installing erosion matting, carrying water and seedlings, weed control, trash/debris removal, and more. The ground is uneven and can be rocky, wet, or muddy in places. We also offer related opportunities elsewhere in Colorado in our Habitats program.
WRV thanks our Rivers Partners, including:
- Coalition for the Poudre River Watershed, Big Thompson Watershed Coalition
- Cities of Longmont, Loveland, Greeley
- Colorado Water Conservation Board
- Colorado Dept. of Public Health & Environment
Ellen Bergly, Nate Boschmann & Morgan Crowley, WRV staff