photos by Todd Newcomer

 The Five Rivers chapter of Trout Unlimited and a host of locals took on the admirable task of cleaning up the banks of Durango's Animas River last Saturday. Volunteers gathered at Santa Rita Park early that morning to load up on trash bags and get instructions before pairing up and heading out. Pick-up crews were dispersed throughout town collecting everything from the common beer can to the discarded  bicycle. Saturday morning proved to be a picture perfect day to spend along the banks of the Animas River as the cool, crisp air continued in autumns advance.  
Volunteers worked throughout the morning collecting trash and debris from the banks of the Animas as well as from the rivers bottom.   Animas River trail users check out a bicycle which was pulled from the river and awaits pick-up. The waters of the Animas River pass through a fallen tree in the midst of its fall color transformation Saturday morning. Buck Skillen helps coordinate volunteers at Santa Rita Park before clean up began Saturday morning.   The crystal clear waters of the Animas flow below the north end of Santa Rita Park Saturday.   A volunteer t-shirt rests atop a picnic table at Santa Rita Park before things got underway Saturday morning. Ben Gould, left, and Jerry Sulkosky load up on trash bags before hitting the banks of the Animas River.