BLM Grand Junction Field Office volunteers honored Wednesday
Organization
Media Contact:
GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. – Volunteers who donated their time last year helping the Bureau of Land Management manage public lands and resources were recognized at the annual BLM Volunteer Appreciation Event Wednesday.
Volunteers help the BLM’s Grand Junction Field Office with everything from building and maintaining trails to removing invasive species to monitoring the Little Books Cliffs wild horse herd.
“Our volunteers and partner groups provide critical work for the BLM Grand Junction Field Office that we would otherwise not complete,” said Katie Stevens, BLM Grand Junction Field Manager. “Their dedication to public lands is a huge service not only for public lands, but also for people who use the public lands.”
Last year, 554 volunteers donated 15,045 hours helping the Grand Junction Field Office. These donated hours are valued at $327,831. Partner groups also donated 12,562 hosted-worker hours to BLM, valued at $273,726.
Seventeen volunteers were recognized Wednesday for 250 or more hours of service last year:
John Boughton, Judy Cady, Bill Cort, Beckie Diehl, Bobby Evans, Marty Felix, Kevin Foote, Joyce Frost, Dave Grossman, Betty Jensen, Georgia Manus, Joseph Moreng, Carl Quist, Sherry Schenk, Janice Shepherd, John Strand, and Dean Talbot.
Georgia Manus was the Renewable Resources Volunteer of the Year for her leadership as President of the Friends of the Mustangs and for her many hours helping with the Little Book Cliffs Wild Horse Range fertility control program.
Jeff Bates was the Recreation Volunteer of the Year for organizing the Billings Canyon and Tabeguache Trail maintenance projects, actively engaging and encouraging members of the public to engage in travel management planning, and developing innovative suggestions for public outreach.
Joyce Frost was the Cultural Volunteer of the Year for her dedication to cultural resources, and her ongoing work in report editing and quality control.
John Strand was the New Volunteer of the Year for assisting the public and BLM staff at the front desk in Grand Junction as well as helping monitor wilderness study areas.
The Grand Mesa Backcountry Horsemen was the Collaborative Group of the Year for providing logistical support for building the Palisade Rim and Mesa Top trails as well as active participation in the Grand Junction Field Office Travel Management Plan.
The Bookcliff Rattlers was the New Volunteer Group of the Year for its extensive work in the motorized area of the North Fruita Desert.
The Western Colorado Conservation Corps was the Partner of the Year for engaging youth in public lands stewardship through seasonal internships in natural resource management, trail work crews, and work on tamarisk control projects along the Dolores and Colorado Rivers.
For more information about volunteering on BLM public lands in the Grand Junction Field Office, contact Fran Parker, 970 244-3031.
People interested in volunteering on BLM public lands outside of Grand Junction can contact Jack Placchi, 303 239-3832.
The BLM manages more than 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of sub-surface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.