PUP Program
Keeping our trailheads and waterways clean.
The ERC collaborates with the US Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management (BLM), and other user groups to reduce the negative environmental, health, and aesthetic impacts of unattended dog waste on local trails. Through the Pick Up for the Planet (PUP) program, the ERC provides educational signage, baggies, and weekly bin servicing to 16 highly-trafficked trailheads valley-wide. This service is provided at no cost to the community and is funded through individual donations and grants.
Why we do it
- Every time dog waste is left on the trail, it adds to the pollution of our local waterways – the waterways that we depend on for drinking, irrigation, and recreation.
- One gram of dog poop contains 23 million fecal bacteria. Unlike horse, deer, and wild animal waste, dog poop contains microbes that can be harmful to humans and dogs alike, including parasites, E coli, salmonella, giardia, and many more.
- Domestic dog waste is often the result of a preservative-rich diet, which makes decomposition time longer and adds more chemicals to the environment. As it decomposes, components can seep into the groundwater or run off into surface waters during rain events or snowmelt. The rivers and streams of the Wood River basin are fed almost entirely by rain and snow runoff, making our water systems particularly vulnerable.
- Dog waste contains extremely high levels of phosphorus and nitrogen, which encourage rampant algae growth when added to water.
Support the PUP program
Any donation will help sustain and expand the program’s reach. You can also sponsor a bin individually or with friends for two years at $2,500 (with a $1,000/year renewal rate after that). Sponsorships are tax-deductible and include customizable bin signage. Current trailhead options include: Chocolate Gulch, Lake Creek East, Adams Gulch, and Quigley Canyon.
Contact ERC Executive Director Ashton Wilson at ashton@ercsv.org for more information about the PUP Program or to sponsor a bin today!