The Land

The La Sal Mountains or La Sal Range are located in Grand and San Juan County in southeastern Utah and are managed by the Manti-La Sal office of the United States Forest Service. The range rises above and southeast of Moab, Utah and is an integral component of the Moab area watershed. It’s rain-fed streams form multiple creek drainages and these waters – along with localized infiltration – recharge the areas many springs, providing a primary source of drinking water for the valley. Recreation abounds and is expanding along the corridor between the mountains and Sand Flats infiltration zones, including the pinyon-juniper plateaus linking these upper and lower portions of the greater watershed. Our project site resides here, at the crossroads of impacts derivative of a highly traveled mountain biking trail and the presence of abundant range cattle.

The Work

Our crew will work to protect a cultural/archaeological site from the increased impacts of people and cattle. We will install brush fencing using natural, found materials to deter livestock and people from trampling and obscuring cultural resources.  8-10 spaces are available.

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

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

Our Objective: To protect a cultural site from the impacts of people and cattle. To naturalize the surrounding landscape and ensure clear – though subtle – point of access for visitors.

Itinerary
A comprehensive itinerary will be provided to registered volunteers.

• Friday, April 26th: Optional early arrival and camping.
• Saturday, April 27th: Orientation & Project.

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) lunch and snacks during the project. Volunteers are responsible for all additional meals 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 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.

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