The Land

With the designation of Bears Ears National Monument on December 28th, 2016, a new layer of protection was granted to some of the most spectacular places in southern Utah. There is Cedar Mesa, with its incredible canyons running toward the San Juan River. There is White Canyon to the west of Natural Bridges. There are the Bears Ears themselves and the high ponderosa forests of Elk Ridge. To the north there’s Beef Basin and Indian Creek. Nearly 100,000 archaeological and cultural sites were covered by the proclamation, with protections afforded to a historied landscape long-neglected and actively undermined by private interests.

The Work

We are returning to Cedar Mesa to work with the BLM Monticello on recreation impact restoration projects. Work tasks will vary by need and are slated to include: remediating impacts caused by nonpermitted ORV travel using manual tools and strategies use as dead planting and vertical mulch.  If needed, signs and other infrastructure will be installed to further manage travel.

Volunteers Needed: (8)
Project Lead: Talitha McGuire
Contact: talitha@suwa.org

Itinerary
A comprehensive itinerary will be provided to registered volunteers.

• Tue Jun 4 – Fri Jun 7

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

Specific location of camping site(s) will be provided in the Welcome Letter sent to registered volunteers.

SUWA provides select meals, snacks and drinks during the project. Volunteers are responsible for all additional meals not specified in the Welcome Letter during their stay.

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  (4) weeks prior to the start date.

Registration & Acceptance Timeline

A 2024 General Volunteer Application is required for this project. 

• When we have received your form, you will receive a confirmation e-mail within (5) working days of submission.
• In order to ensure participation by the most diverse applicants, we log all applications until (8) weeks prior to the project. At this point, you will first receive a call from our stewardship team to further discuss the project.
• Following this call, you will receive an e-mail confirming whether you have been placed on the “project roster” or a “waiting list.”
• If you are selected for the project roster, you will then complete a Volunteer Agreement.
• Individuals on the Waitlist List will be contacted if space opens due to cancellation within (2) weeks of the project start date.
• At (4) 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 (when applicable), a notification about carpools and/or caravans, and any additional information pertinent to the project.
• Within (2) weeks of the project you will receive a direct call from our stewardship coordinator to answer any additional questions you may have.

If you have any questions at any point throughout the process, please do not hesitate to contact us here or by calling  (435) 259-9151.

APPLY NOW