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San Rafael Swell: Wilderness Implementation 1

April 2 - April 4

The Landscape

On March 12, 2019, the Emery County Public Land Management Act was signed into law as the John D. Dingell Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act. As part of that act, the Emery County Public Land Management Act protected 663,000 acres of public lands as designated wilderness, including acreage in Muddy Creek, Desolation Canyon, Labyrinth Canyon, and beyond.

However, in the years since designation, on-the-ground management is still needed to implement the designated wilderness. The San Rafael River and its remote, labyrinthine tributaries cut a gorge through one such Wilderness unit, but off-route travel, camping and mechanized recreation are increasingly popular on its rims, dotted with pinyon & juniper and offering incredible viewpoints.


The Work

This project will focus on wilderness implementation, specifically involving fence installation, off-road vehicle travel and camping compliance, as well as installing educational signage to ensure natural resource protection. Expect to engage in:

  • Building fences to delineate motorized use boundaries;
  • Raking, vertical mulching, and other surface naturalization strategies;
  • Placing heavy stone and downed logs to naturalize the impacted travel area;
  • Installation of educational signage to prevent future incursions.

All work tools will be provided, including gloves, eye protection, and ear-protection.

Project Rating

Strenuous – Expect hiking over uneven terrain. Project work may include lots of lifting and tool use. Strenuous trips often involve large fencing projects in which materials need to be carried into work sites, or backpacking trips in which participants are responsible for hiking in tools and personal overnight gear to work and campsites. This trip is NOT a backpacking trip, but it will involve moving heavy materials.

All projects take place outdoors: Please consider your comfortability working in remote landscapes at varying elevations and under variable weather conditions. Our team strives to ensure that all projects provide meaningful work for volunteers of all abilities. Please reach out to the Project Lead if you have questions or concerns.

Volunteers Needed: (8)
Project Lead: Ellie Swanson
Contact: ellie@suwa.org


Itinerary
A general itinerary will be provided to registered volunteers in a Welcome Letter.

  •  Wednesday, April 2nd – Friday, April 4th

Camping & Meals

Specific location of camping site(s) will be provided in the Welcome Letter sent to registered volunteers. Campsites are often remote dispersed sites with no running water or pit toilets.

SUWA provides dinners during the project dates as well as snacks and drinks during workdays. Volunteers are responsible for all additional meals (breakfast, lunch) 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 packlist will be sent along with the project Welcome Letter (4) weeks prior to the start date. If camping gear is a barrier to your attendance, please reach out to the Project Lead to discuss options.


Registration & Acceptance Timeline

A 2025 General Volunteer Application is required for this project.

  • Once we have received your application, you will receive a confirmation email within (5) working days of submission.
  • We log all applications until (8) weeks prior to the project. At this point, you will first receive an email confirming whether you have been placed on the“project roster” or a “waitlist.” If you are selected for the project roster, you will then complete a Volunteer Agreement.
  • 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 the Project Lead to answer any additional questions you may have.
  • Individuals on the waitlist will be contacted if space opens due to cancellation within (2) weeks of the project start date.

If you have any questions at any point throughout the process, please do not hesitate to contact us here.

APPLY NOW

 

Details

Start:
April 2
End:
April 4
Event Category: