Coalition Clears Four Sites Near Colfax in Great Sierra River Cleanup
On September 20, 2014, five canyon groups cleaned four sites near Colfax along the North Fork American River as part of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy's Great Sierra River Cleanup.
American River Canyon Alliance
On September 20, 2014, five canyon groups worked four sites near Colfax, California, along the North Fork American River. The effort was part of the Sierra Nevada Conservancy's Great Sierra River Cleanup, the region's annual coordinated pull of trash from Sierra rivers and their banks.
The Upper American River Foundation reports that the day drew a coalition of groups that each know this stretch of river:
- North Fork American River Alliance (NFARA)
- Canyon Keepers
- Protect American River Canyons (PARC)
- Auburn State Recreation Area
- Sac-Sierra Trout Unlimited
Working four sites at once let the partners cover more ground in a single day than any one group could reach alone. Crews pulled trash out of the water and off the banks near Colfax, a heavily used access point where the North Fork runs below the Colfax-Iowa Hill Bridge.
The Great Sierra River Cleanup runs each September and is coordinated by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy. Groups across the range pick sites, recruit volunteers, and haul out what gets left behind. NFARA helps organize North Fork cleanups twice a year.
If you want to join the next one, NFARA and PARC both post cleanup dates and meeting points ahead of each event. Bring gloves, water, and sturdy shoes. The access roads near Colfax are steep.
Credit for the September 2014 effort goes to the Upper American River Foundation and its partners. Read their account at upperamerican.org.