I contacted Neighbors in Need Alliance, which according to their webpages has assumed oversight of the Purple Cliffs camp. My message to NINA was:
I occasionally fly-fish the Animas River below the Purple Cliffs homeless/transient campsite. On Sept. 25, I encountered an occupied campsite between La Posta Road and the river that was within 100 feet of the river. Colorado guidelines do not permit camping within 200 feet of a body of water (and roads and trails). I contacted county authorities about this activity and was assured the occupant would be contacted to move campsite.
In the past, I have observed other sites in this corridor between the river and La Posta Road. I returned to fish Oct. 11; the campsite was gone, but substantial trash at this site, older campsites and between La Posta Road and the river remains. A county administrator stated that campers planned an area cleanup Oct. 8-15; I saw no evidence that any trash had been picked up.
I suggest NINA inform, coordinate and monitor the illegal camp and trash issues; the gift card stipend your organization provides to assure a clean camp needs to cover the river corridor issues created by the homeless/transients at Purple Cliffs. Trash dumping is illegal.
Charles MacKown
Ignacio
