Slate River Integrated monitoring project

Upper Slate River (USR) Watershed Plan

In 2014, CCWC finalized the Upper Slate River (USR) Watershed Plan. Stakeholders identified human and pet waste as a pressing concern

INCREASING RECREATION

In 2014, CCWC finalized the Upper Slate River (USR) Watershed Plan. Stakeholders identified human and pet waste as a pressing concern.

During a six-week period beginning in July 2013, Bureau of Land Management staff estimated that nearly 50,000 users visited the Oh-Be-Joyful Campground.
​Recreational use in the USR Watershed consistently fills the campground and dispersed camping areas throughout the USR Watershed from late June to mid-October.

PORTABLE TOILET INITIATIVE

In 2014, CCWC initiated a pilot program, to provide portable toilets at key locations in the USR Watershed. The portable toilets are in such high demand that units must be pumped at least weekly to prevent overflow.

In the past three summers, portable toilets have prevented approximately 5,000 gallons of human waste from reaching the Slate River and its tributaries.
​These preventive actions have likely helped preclude increases in E. coli concentrations in the upper portions of the Slate River Watershed.

PERMANENT TOILETS

In 2018, CCWC installed a permanent toilet at Musician's Camp, in partnership with USFS and UGRWCD.

In 2020 CCWC partnered with the Town of Crested Butte and the USFS to install a permanent toilet in the Washington Gulch Watershed upstream of Meridian Lake Park Reservoir.

E. coli monitoring

In 2020, monitoring activities will provide data to evaluate attainment with applicable water quality standards, identify nonpoint sources, and factors that influence E. coli concentrations.

​The results of the study, along with stakeholder outreach, will be used to develop voluntary management strategies to reduce E. coli concentrations and protect recreational uses of waterbodies in the Slate River Watershed.
At the request of local stakeholders this on-going study was expanded to include a watershed planning effort.