VOLUNTEER PROJECT: Wednesday-Saturday, September 7-10th, 2016 - 8am-4pm each day
CREW LEADER TRAINING: Tuesday, September 6th, 2016
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).
VOLUNTEER ACTIVITIES:
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! Volunteer for 1 or all 4 days.
REGISTER TODAY!
Register @ www.wlrv.org – follow the links for the Project and Training Schedules - 30 volunteers/ day needed. Or contact Morgan Crowley at WRV for more information: morgan@wlrv.org or (303) 543-1411 x 3#
WRV 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.