The W.N. Clark Power Plant operated in Cañon City, Colorado, between 1897 through 2011. Originally operated as a coal-fired power plant, the facility was demolished in 2014 and the property has been vacant since then. The operator of the power plant, Black Hills Energy, has been working with the City of Cañon City to develop a vision for repurposing this site since 2017. The property is located adjacent to the Arkansas River on the west side of the City and is one of the first things seen when driving into town along U.S. 50. Historically an eye sore and a blight, Black Hills and the City wished for something more from this property and to transform it into an asset to residents and visitors. Pinyon was engaged to evaluate potential contamination issues, as well as to identify pragmatic solutions to remediate the property to a level where it would be protective to human health and the environment to reuse the property as a nature park with amenities to include trails; whitewater features; a boat ramp; camping areas; and picnic facilities.

Pinyon worked with Black Hills and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to enroll the property into the Colorado Voluntary Cleanup Program (VCUP) with the intent to conduct site characterization and remediation sufficient for use as a future nature park. Pinyon completed site characterization activities including soil and groundwater sampling; identified areas where residual impacts – generally related to coal storage which resulted in elevated concentrations of heavy metals and petroleum hydrocarbons – developed a cleanup plan and completed confirmational sampling and reporting. Ultimately, the CDPHE issued a No Action Determination, approving the use of the property as a nature park.