Seeking volunteers and crew leaders!
Project Description:Wet meadows and riparian areas in sagebrush shrublands provide important brood-rearing habitat for the Gunnison Sage-Grouse, listed as Threatened by the US Fish & Wildlife Service. These habitats are also important for numerous other species, including neo-tropical migratory birds, elk and mule deer, as well as to ranchers for livestock grazing. Wet meadows and riparian areas, already compromised by erosion and lower water tables, are at great risk from drought and high intensity rainstorms associated with a changing climate.
Volunteers will address these challenges by working to restore riparian and wet meadow habitats in sagebrush shrublands in the Upper Gunnison Basin. We will apply the approach of restoration expert Bill Zeedyk, author of Let the Water do the Work: Induced Meandering, An Evolving Method for Restoring Incised Channels (2012).
Working above 8000ft, Volunteers will help to build small rock structures in small streams and drainages to raise the water table helping to support plants and insects needed by wildlife.
Camping is available and encouraged at the nearby Miller Ranch State Wildlife Area, owned and managed by Colorado Parks and Wildlife. Food will be provided by talented WRV Volunteer Cooks!
Wildlands Restoration Volunteers is happy to be a partner with so many groups including: Gunnison Climate Working Group Members: Bureau of Land Management-Gunnison Field Office, Colorado Natural Heritage Program; Colorado Parks & Wildlife, Gunnison County, Gunnison Conservation District, Gunnison County Stockgrowers Association, Lake Fork Valley Conservancy, National Center for Atmospheric Research, National Park Service, Natural Resources Conservation Service, Rocky Mountain Biological Lab, The Nature Conservancy, Trout Unlimited, Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District, US Fish & Wildlife Service, US Forest Service, Western State Colorado University, and Western Water Assessment.
Crew Leadership Training and Volunteering:
Crew leadership is a great way to enhance your stewardship of public lands and build your professional leadership skills while helping other volunteers get the most out of a project! This training will help you develop team building skills, situational leadership skills, proper tool usage techniques, and volunteer care and safety protocols.
Crew Leaders attending this training must be available for the project dates as well, mentorship on projects is an important component of the training. A training fee of $75 is required, which is reimbursable once trainees have completed both the training and the project in September.
For more information related to this project, click on the link below.
--Crew Leadership Training: Monday-Tuesday, August 3-4, 2015 8:00 am - 4:00 pm each day ($75 deposit)
--Volunteer: Wednesday-Saturday, September 9-12, 2015 8:00 am - 4:00 pm each day
To register for either or both portions, go to www.wlrv.org or contact Morgan (morgan@wlrv.org or 303 543-1411, extension 3). Volunteers may participate between 1-4 days. Each day, 30 volunteers will be needed.