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4. Volunteer Opportunities <br />The process of stakeholder outreach identified hands-on volunteer opportunities to help in <br />watershed protection. Nearly every entity visited had at least one idea how commuiity members <br />could aid their agency or user group in accomplishing their watershed protection goals (Tables 4 <br />& 5, Potential Volunteer Opportunities 1 & Potential Volunteer Opportunities 2). <br />4a. Education and Outreach <br />Education and outreach was deemed as the volunteer activity most valued by stakeholders. <br />Sixteen entities stressed the importance of this volunteer activity. Some programs, including <br />PACE and the Keep it Clean Partnership (KICP), have been very successful. However, as <br />highlighted in section 3f, Awareness Issues, much more could and needs to be done to provide <br />the citizens of the Boulder Creek watershed the "tools" to act progressively on a day-to-day <br />basis, towards implementing individual practices that will lead to watershed protection. <br />Examples of opportunities for education and outreach are as follows: <br />• The Boulder County managed PACE program could utilize citizen volunteers to visit <br />local hospitals, dentists and other medical facilities. Volunteers could highlight to them <br />the need for proper medical waste disposal to counteract the growing fear of <br />pharmaceutical compounds (emerging contaminants) entering our waste stream. <br />• The same could be done on the University of Colorado campus to highlight residents of <br />campus dormitories and other students on proper waste disposal and what that means; <br />• The City of Boulder sees a need for neighborhood outreach via Backyard Stewardship <br />Programs by visiting residents whose property borders Boulder Creek and its tributaries. <br />Residents would be infonlled of the need for proper disposal of yard waste and educated <br />on what happens when that yard waste is thrown in the creek. Volunteer assistance in <br />moving that yard waste out to the street for pick-up could also be incorporated into this <br />activity. <br />• The City of Boulder, City of Louisville, Town of Superior, Town of Nederland, Roclcy <br />Mountain Anglers and 2 Guys Fly Shop all see the advantages of one-on-one interactions <br />with trail users, fisherman, tubers, hikers and other recreationists to inform and educate <br />them on ways to protect riparian and instream habitats, including awareness of invasive <br />species issues. <br />• The Town of Nederland, US Forest Service, Northern Colorado Water Conservancy <br />District (NCWCD) and Denver Water have the same views as the above mentioned <br />entities in iiiforning and educating recreationists on ways to protect reservoirs and lakes <br />within the watershed. <br />4b. Water Quality Monitoring <br />There were a total of 10 entities that highlighted potential opportunties for citizen-based water <br />quality montoring. Monitoring activities utilizing data that can be reviewed by decision makers <br />will be incorporated into the plan. This could lead to changes in policy and/or regulations <br />concerning water quality. The usefulness of water quality monitoring strictly as an educational <br />tool was also valued. <br />