Volunteers needed for local climate change pilot project
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GUNNISON, Colo. - Volunteers are invited to join the Bureau of Land Management, the Nature Conservancy, Colorado Parks and Wildlife and other partners of the Gunnison Climate Working Group for the Wolf Creek Restoration/Resilience Building Volunteer Day on Saturday, Aug. 3.
The Gunnison Climate Working Group, a partnership of federal, state and private partners, is working to understand the threats posed by climate change, identify strategies to reduce impacts and promote coordinated action. The group is seeking volunteers to help implement a climate adaptation pilot project to help riparian areas/wet meadows retain water, thereby enhancing the resilience of this critical habitat and the long-term viability of the Gunnison Sage-grouse in the face of a changing climate.
“We will be building simple rock structures designed by restoration expert Bill Zeedyk along Wolf Creek to ’let the water do the work’ to control erosion and raise the water table to support grasses and insects needed by the Gunnison Sage-grouse and other species,” said Andrew Breibart, BLM hydrologist.
To volunteer, please RSVP by contacting Betsy Neely at 303-881-4144 or bneely@tnc.org. Locally you can contact Andrew Breibart at 970-642-4944 or abreibart@blm.gov. Volunteers need to bring water, boots, hat, sunglasses and rain jacket/coat. Lunch, drinks and snacks will be provided. Volunteers will meet at 8:30 a.m. at the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Office, 300 West New York Ave. in Gunnison (behind the Safeway store; corner of S. Pine and New York Ave.), to carpool to the sites which are about 20 miles southwest of Gunnison. The day concludes in Gunnison about 4:30 p.m.
If you are unable to attend this volunteer day, there are other opportunities between July 22-26 and through July 31 and August 3.
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.