Origin: The
Golden Earth Days Council (GEDC) was formed in 1989, in anticipation of the 20th
anniversary of the first Earth Day (respectively on April 22 in 1990 and 1970).
Purpose: To
promote awareness of the environment and to carry out projects in the Golden
area that would continue the annual observance of Earth Day.
History:
The initial group of GEDC members,
after considerable thought and discussion decided to “adopt” Clear Creek
canyon and to work for its continuing cleanup and general preservation.
This is primarily a cleanup along US-6, but it also includes the banks of
Clear Creek as much as possible. There
has been a cleanup every year but one – with numbers of participants normally
being around 100, but being as large as 400.
There has been little turn-over of the original members, although the
initial group has slowly grown over time to eleven Board members representing 7
families, with the average tenure being about 10 years (out of the 13 years of
GEDC existence).
GEDC was
active in the campaign to bring the Clear Creek Canyon corridor into the Jeffco
Open Space system.
GEDC took a
leadership role in the 30 th anniversary of Earth Day in Colorado, with two GEDC
members being part of the three-member state Executive Committee for the year
2000 event.
We have received a Governor’s award for outstanding environmental
activity. We are an organizational
member of the Colorado Environmental Coalition (CEC).
GEDC
is a registered 501(c)(3).
Present
Activities:
GEDC
organizes an annual spring cleanup of US-6 in Clear Creek Canyon over a span of
almost 20 miles from Tunnel 1 almost to Idaho Springs.
Our own smaller stretch is cleaned up several other times during the
year.
GEDC representatives is currently active in the planning activities of
Jeffco Open Space for the Clear Creek County Park – and has been active in
trail planning for the region for about 10 years.
GEDC is also an active member of the Lariat Loop Heritage Alliance.
The groups two web sites are linked.
Contact
Information:
Ron Larson, President
website:
http://home.earthlink.net~bhinnen/gedc