Hazard Reporting
Identification
Before any action begins regarding the removal or repurposing of debris as habitat, bank stabilization, or to simply make safe passage for paddlers and recreators, hazardous debris needs to be identified. Much of our work continues to be the process of scouting waterways to develop a map of Large Woody Debris or LWD in the waterway that may be posing a threat to recreators, causing or contributing to flooding, or threatening infrastructure such as bridge abutments or eroding roadways. Many volunteers also assist with hazard identification.
Reporting
Once hazardous debris has been identified, along with the size, scale, and location, we develop reports for agencies and the general public. Reports may include specific concerns about the hazard, along with the agency(ies) with jurisdiction to properly address the problem areas. As a nonprofit, one of the ways we achieve our mission is by posting brief versions of the reports online for people to see. Additionally, we rely heavily on volunteers to submit their own hazard report to us through this interface. Once verified, the hazard appears on our map and is available to the public at all times.
Plan Development
Reported hazards then move into plan development, where we work with local volunteers, government agencies, and civic organizations to find funding and create a plan to best address the hazard, while minimizing the impact on the riparian corridor. Our proprietary methods of remediation allow for minimal impact on the ecosystem, while achieving the greatest impact on paddler safety and protection of infrastructure. We are able to accommodate special needs of Scenic Rivers, nature preserves, tribal lands, or anywhere heavy equipment cannot be used, either due to the difficulty to access the site, or because of the desire to protect the land and waterway.