**THIS PROJECT INVOLVES WHITEWATER RAFTING**

The Landscape

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.

The Work

As river recreation has increased over recent years, so have impacts to natural resources along and within the Westwater Canyon Wilderness Study Area. Achieving camping compliance is a tall order and our project will support local agency efforts to ensure well-managed wilderness-quality lands.

Our work will focus on campsites along the river corridor where impactful camping has led to resource damage. We will  remove invasive and exotic vegetation, remediate social trails, remove trash (including our ongoing project of pulling discarded vehicle tires mirded in the muck of the banks), and beautify designated developed and dispersed campsites.

Project Rating

Moderate – Expect walking or hiking on uneven terrain; rafts will likely be nearby or a short walk away. Project work may include mid- to heavy-lifting, various tool use such as raking and shovelling, and potential to carry fencing, signage or natural materials. Participants must be comfortable in moving water and assisting in their own rescue should an accidental swim happen.

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.

•  Friday, September 19th – Sunday, September 21st

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.

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