May, 29 2012, 11:13am EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Amy Souers Kober,Communications Director,206-213-0330 x 23
Crystal Clear And Beautiful, But Endangered
Today is Crystal River Day! The Crystal River appeared as #8 on American Rivers' 2012 list of America's Most Endangered Rivers(r). Today we are talking about ways to help the Crystal River in order to give it a boost on the road to Wild and Scenic River designation.
WASHINGTON
Today is Crystal River Day! The Crystal River appeared as #8 on American Rivers' 2012 list of America's Most Endangered Rivers(r). Today we are talking about ways to help the Crystal River in order to give it a boost on the road to Wild and Scenic River designation.
The Crystal River is one of the last free-flowing rivers in Colorado. Such a resource in the western U.S. is both a rarity and a true treasure. The Crystal is a tributary to the Colorado River by way of the Roaring Fork River. It boasts beautiful mountain vistas, scenic wilderness areas, adventurous paddling and fishing, and supplies drinking water to thousands of Colorado residents. However, the river is threatened with a harmful dam project that could change the river forever.
We have seen coverage of this river listing in articles from the Aspen Business Journal, Aspen Daily New, Aspen Times, and Colorado Independent. A great column in the Aspen Daily News by Steve Skinner was also published last week.
On May 15, we had a press conference on the river led by Matt Rice, our Colorado Director. Matt was joined by an array of partners, including Gail Schwartz (Colorado State Senator), Roger Wilson (Colorado State Representative), George Newman (Pitkin County Commissioner), William Jochems (Crystal Valley Environmental Protection Association), and Sharon Clarke (Roaring Fork Conservancy). As a result, we have seen video and audio coverage on KBUT, KDNK, KUNC, and KJCT. You can also see Matt Rice talking about the river listing at the press conference!
In celebration of Crystal River Day, Pete McBride, an award-winning photographer and visual storyteller for National Geographic and other major national and international publications, has compiled a fantastic new video about the river. This is a real treat!
Pete's video will debut today at Dos Gringos Burritos (588 Hwy 133, Carbondale, CO) at 5pm. If you are nearby, please stop by to talk with local experts and learn about how you can protect the Crystal River!
American Rivers is the only national organization standing up for healthy rivers so our communities can thrive. Through national advocacy, innovative solutions and our growing network of strategic partners, we protect and promote our rivers as valuable assets that are vital to our health, safety and quality of life. Founded in 1973, American Rivers has more than 65,000 members and supporters nationwide, with offices in Washington, DC and the Mid-Atlantic, Northeast, Midwest, Southeast, California and Northwest regions.
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