• Skip to main content
  • Skip to header right navigation
  • Skip to after header navigation
  • Skip to site footer
The Greenway Foundation

The Greenway Foundation

Revitalizing Rivers. Reconnecting Communities.

  • About Us
    • Our History
    • Our Team
    • Employment
    • Blog
    • Annual Report
    • Contact Us
  • SPREE
    • Elementary
      • Field Trips
        • Preschool SPREE Field Trip
        • Kindergarten SPREE Field Trip
        • First Grade SPREE Field Trip
        • Second Grade SPREE Field Trip
        • Third Grade SPREE Field Trip
        • Fourth Grade SPREE Field Trip
        • Fifth Grade SPREE Field Trip
      • Camps
        • Summer Camp
        • School Break Camp
    • Middle School
      • Leaders In Training
    • High School
      • River Rangers
      • Greenway Leadership Corps
    • Families
      • Family Events
      • Camps
        • Summer Camp
        • School Break Camp
      • Just for Kids
  • Stewardship
    • Clean Water Challenge
    • Nautilus
    • Gutter Bins
    • Volunteer
  • Projects
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • Family Events
    • Stewardship Events
    • CROSSCURRENTS
    • Reception on the River
    • Gala on the Bridge
  • Give

Nautilus

You are here: Home / Stewardship / Nautilus
The Greenway Foundation installs the Nautilus Passive Trash Collection device along the Cherry Creek

Passive Trash Collection Pioneered by Greenway

Nautilus is an exciting project for Colorado’s waterways. By passively collecting trash, it’s making a substantial difference in water quality and riparian environment. During its 10-month pilot, the Nautilus passively collected trash along the north side of the Cherry Creek between Blake Street and Market Street. 

At this single location, Nautilus collected these trash items:

  • Plastic Bags: 195
  • Plastic Bottles: 36
  • Food Wrappers/Bags: 28
  • Styrofoam Pieces: 25
  • Misc. Plastic: 12
  • Cups: 9
  • Disposable Gloves: 8

What is listed above (and more!) was collected in 32 site visits. Nautilus was serviced regularly by Mile High Flood District and ArborForce— thank you for being such integral partners during this pilot process and for collecting valuable information regarding the device’s function and what types of debris were caught. Other partners for this pilot include ClayDean Electric, who built this version of Nautilus, as well as Denver Parks and Recreation and Naranjo Civil Constructors.  

The concept for the Nautilus design was created by two students at Metropolitan State University of Denver, Mara Maxwell and TJ DiTallo, as part of the Clean Water Challenge held during the 2015-2016 academic year. The Clean Water Challenge is a year-long competition that engages teams of undergraduate students to research a local water pollution issue and come up with a potential solution.

An engineering team at Stantec is working on the next iteration of Nautilus right now. This next version will be a full-scale installation on the north side of Cherry Creek by the stormwater outfall between Blake Street and Market Street. Stay tuned for updates! 

Nautilus installation by The Greenway Foundation along the Cherry Creek
Nautilus collecting trash along the Cherry Creek as part of The Greenway Foundation’s pilot program.

Nautilus Updates

Nautilus installation by The Greenway Foundation along the Cherry Creek

Nautilus Installed in Cherry Creek!

The Greenway Foundation is excited to announce the pilot of an instream trash removal device– the Nautilus! This half-scale prototype will passively collect trash along…

Continue Reading Nautilus Installed in Cherry Creek!

Read The Greenway Blog
Thank You to Our Nautilus Sponsors
 
Mile High Flood District
ArborForce
Colorado Water Conservation Board
Riverfront Park Community Foundation
Denver Department of Parks and Recreation
Stantec
 

Sidebar

Stewardship Events

Apr 22
9:00 am - 11:00 am

Family South Platte Stewardship Day

Apr 29
8:00 am - 11:00 am

Spring South Platte Stewardship Day

Apr 29
10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Spring High School Stewardship Day

Sep 1
September 1 @ 8:00 am - September 30 @ 11:00 am

Fall South Platte Stewardship Day

Sep 23
10:00 am - 1:00 pm

Fall High School Stewardship Day

View Calendar

Current News

February GLC:Snowshoeing and outdoor skills

In February GLC partnered with Boulder county open space to learn more about survival in the outdoors. We then took a beautiful hike in our snowshoes and learned all about …

More Blog Posts

Mayoral Candidates on the Future of Denver’s Urban Waterways

2022 RECAP: River Rangers

January GLC: Youth Career Exploration Day!

2022 RECAP- The Greenway Leadership Corps (GLC)


The Greenway Foundation

1820 Platte Street, Denver, CO 80202

info@greenwayfoundation.org

303.481.1974

FEIN: 51-0193575

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • Vimeo
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
1% for the Planet Nonprofit Partner
About Us
SPREE
Stewardship
Projects
Events
DONATE TODAY
SIGN UP FOR OUR EMAIL LIST
CONTACT US

Copyright © 2023 · The Greenway Foundation · All Rights Reserved