Coalition for the Upper South Platte

Chip In for a Chipper

This year, we are raising funds to purchase a new woodchipper. After 22 years of service, our trusty chipper "Matilda" is looking forward to a well-deserved retirement. She has spent over two decades chipping in to reduce fuels and build more wildfire resilient neighborhoods and Upper South Platte Watershed.

Now it is our turn to chip in!

We are already 80% of the way to our goal of $70,000 for a new chipper! We are kindly asking you to help us close that gap this Colorado Gives Day! Matching funds supporting this chipper stem from the Colorado State Forest Service, CUSP's chipper program, and in-kind labor from our dedicated team of volunteers.

Letter from the Director

I am intensely proud to be a part of the growth and development of CUSP. From our start in 1998, CUSP has always been a highly responsive and mission-driven organization steered by passionate individuals. This is an organization that has evolved to address great challenges and demands that face this crucial watershed. 

CUSP has created a new model of watershed protection that looks at the "big picture" and supports proactive, science-based programs that promote health and resiliency throughout the watershed. By trailblazing innovative resource protection practices and applications, as well as emergency response approaches to fire and flood, CUSP has gained national attention and prominence as an expert in post-fire recovery and ecological restoration.

We work to create a culture of collaboration and partnership with an extensive group of agencies, organizations, and individuals to accomplish goals and tasks that none of us could do alone. These invaluable relationships and projects have helped CUSP become highly successful at receiving and administering grants, helping us to become an effective regional economic force, not just by growing our own staff, but also by providing work to many local contractors and their employees.

I hope you consider chipping in for our 2026 campaign to purchase a new woodchipper so that we can continue serving Upper South Platte Watershed communities for decades to come.

Sincerely,
John Geerdes, Executive Director

Testimonials

" My husband, James Bennett, and I volunteer because we love our beautiful state (CO natives!) and want to keep it that way for our children and future generations. We feel honored and compelled to help restore local areas that have been affected by fire or flood, and CUSP gets out there and makes it happen! We chose you because you make yourselves known (active on Facebook, etc) and you always show love for your volunteers! So thanks and hopefully we'll be seeing you again soon!"

"Getting to live in South Park is a dream come true. However, it carries a responsibility to be stewards of the land to protect our neighbors and promote a healthy ecosystem. CUSP was instrumental in chipping hundreds of dead trees just months after purchasing our home. It has been incredible to see the trees, wildflowers, deer, bobcats, and bears flourish on our property now that they have more space and sunlight." Nate

"Volunteering with CUSP has been an educational experience. Every time I volunteer with CUSP I learn something new. The leadership, knowledge, and friendly staff keep me coming back to help out with projects year after year. These guys are the true stewards of the land."

"I had the privilege of volunteering with two groups of students for you all! I brought a group of students to do work on the Hayman Fire burn area in 2007, and another in 2013 on the Waldo Canyon fire on the Flying W Ranch property. It was wonderful to work alongside great CUSP staff, but the best part was educating students about the purpose of restoration efforts. The Waldo Canyon fire was in our back yard (I'm from Colorado Springs), so the work we did was especially meaningful, because we were close to home. Thank you for your willingness to work with a bunch of high school kids and their teacher, but thanks even more for educating the next generation about so many things: restoration, the importance of fire mitigation, what the urban interface means...and helping kids see how they impact and are impacted by all of these!" Sue Knopp

"Had the CUSP crew over to do some fire mitigation, and it was a pleasure to volunteer with a group of professional foresters. They worked like Tasmanian devils to clear and chip an acre of dense scrub oak in a matter of days. Will definitely have them back..."