The Landscape

Near Vernal, Utah, the Green, White, and Yampa Rivers carve winding corridors through layered cliffs and colorful badlands, linking high-elevation forests to arid lowlands. Pinyon-juniper woodlands give way to expansive sagebrush flats, while rugged ridges rise in bands of red, gray, and gold, telling a geologic story millions of years in the making. This landscape is rich in both natural and cultural history. World-renowned dinosaur fossils lie beneath the surface, while cultural sites speak to millennia of human presence along these rivers. The region supports a diverse array of wildlife, including year-round populations of cougar, elk, mule deer, and black bear, as well as several sensitive species such as peregrine falcons and bald eagles that depend on intact habitat and quiet canyon systems.

The same geologic forces that shaped this dramatic terrain have also made the Uinta Basin a center for fossil fuel development. Combined with increasing recreational use—particularly off-route motorized travel—these pressures create an urgent need for thoughtful stewardship to protect wildlife habitat, cultural resources, and the wild character of the landscape. In addition, decades of cattle ranching has impacted watersheds, leading to the need for habitat restoration.

The Work

This project will focus on cultural resource protection and campsite management. Volunteers will support the Bureau of Land Management in building a wooden, low-impact fence to protect a cultural site and also help manage invasive Russian Olive along the White River. Volunteers may also participate in some trail work and installing signage.

Volunteers will:

• Utilize tools such as hammers, rakes, shovels, and hand-saws
• Hike over uneven terrain and brushy conditions
• Install educational signage
• Build fencing

All work tools will be provided, including gloves, eye protection, and ear-protection. Volunteers will be trained on tool use.

Project Rating

Moderate – Expect walking or hiking on uneven terrain; work vehicles will likely be nearby or a short walk away. Project work may include mid- to heavy-lifting, various tool use such as raking and shoveling, and potential to carry fencing, signage or natural 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)
Contact: volunteer@suwa.org

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

•  Monday, September 28th – Wednesday, September 30th

*This project is still in development; as a result, the listed dates are a window in which the project will occur. This project will likely be a 3-day project occurring within 25th-30th of September. Dates will be narrowed and posted as the project is finalized. Contact the project lead for more details.

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 2026 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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