Apply Now <– Submit your application today!
Don’t forget to complete the Volunteer Agreement.

If you have questions, please don’t hesitate to contact our program coordinator:
volunteer@suwa.org  or  (435) 259-9151.

Read on to learn more about our project and site!

The Land

The Westwater Canyon WSA spans the Westwater Canyon portion of the Colorado River with the eastern two-thirds of these protected lands located in the Dolores Triangle. Major tributary canyons on the east side of the river include Little Dolores, Marble, and Star canyons. A short box canyon, Little Hole, and a rincon (Big Hole) are the main features northwest of the river corridor. Up on the highlands, pinyon-juniper woodlands cover over half of the WSA, with the remaining cover consisting of sagebrush and blackbrush. The canyon itself features unique geologic features including black, pre-Cambrian rock, the oldest exposed rock in Utah, which forms Westwater’s inner canyon.

Local land management is facing increased impacts from motorized travel beyond authorized routes in the Dolores Triangle and into the Westwater Canyon WSA. This travel results in damage to local ecologies, as well as significant disturbance to the wilderness quality and characteristics of the WSA.

The Work

Our crew will work to define the boundary of the Westwater Canyon WSA where it interfaces with the Dolores Triangle’s motorized travel areas. We will install fencing and reclaim the illegal route into the WSA. Our strategies will focus on naturalization and preventing further illegal travel.  8-10 spaces are available.

Work tasks will vary by need, and are slated to include:

• fence and wilderness boundary sign installation;
• vertical mulching and track/tread raking;
• manual reclamation (with hand tools) of visually disturbed surface

Our Objective: To remediate the existing impacts of illegal motorized travel and prevent subsequent travel into protected wilderness study areas. To protect the wilderness-quality of Westwater Canyon WSA.

Itinerary
A comprehensive itinerary will be provided to registered volunteers.

• Friday, Sept 28th: Optional Camping at Roberts Bottom or nearby.
• Saturday, Sept 29th: Day 1. Meet at Roberts Bottom @ 9:00AM. Carpool/caravan to site.
• Sunday, Sept 30th: Day 2. Breakfast 8:00AM. Work into the afternoon.

Project Rating 

Level 2 – Our most common trip incorporates mid- to heavy-lifting, work in remote landscapes at varying elevations, an increased diversity of tool use, and an emphasis on physical fitness and hiking competency.

Camping & Meals

Volunteers will camp on site. Specific location will be indicated in the Welcome Letter provided to registered volunteers.

SUWA provides (1) dinner, (1) breakfast, and snacks during the project. Volunteers are responsible for all additional meals – and water – during their stay.

*Please Note: We are required to carry out all [human & other] waste for this project. Please bring wagbags or an appropriate personal waste management system.

Volunteer Responsibilities

Participants are responsible for their own food, water and camping gear as well as transportation to and from the project site(s). Volunteers should plan to be away from camp all day each of the work days. A recommended pack list will be sent along with the project Welcome Letter two weeks prior to the start date.

Registration

A Volunteer Agreement is required for this project. 

When we have received your form, you will receive a confirmation e-mail within 5 working days of submission. The confirmation e-mail will indicate whether you have been placed on the “project roster” or a “waiting list.”

Three weeks before the start of the trip, you will receive an RSVP to confirm your participation. Individuals on the Waitlist will be contacted if spaces open due to cancellation.

Two weeks before the project start date, registered and confirmed participants will receive a Welcome Letter, with a comprehensive itinerary, including: driving instructions, a Project Map (for mobile devices), a notification about carpools and/or caravans, and additional information in a Pre-Departure email.

If you have any questions at any point throughout the process, please don’t hesitate to contact our program coordinator: volunteer@suwa.org  or  (435) 259-9151.