What: Building Beaver Dam Analogs in Fish Creek and it's tributaries near Coalville, Utah
When: September 5, 2024
Time: 9am-3pm
Where: We will meet at a locked gate along Fish Creek Road, 40.907530, -111.227508 (Google Map link here).
Location notes: The project site is approximately 1h driving from the Salt Lake City area. Please plan accordingly to arrive on time because we will be traveling as a group through locked gates to access the stream. Some driving on well-maintained dirt roads is necessary to access the site.
What to expect: We will be building beaver dam analogs (BDAs) and other low-tech wood, mud & rock structures in the stream to improve water quality and riparian habitat. No special training needed. We will provide all tools and instruction. Wear layers including sun protection & rain. Bring lunch, plenty of water, sunscreen, bug spray, and closed toe footwear (sneakers, work boots, muck boots, or waders all work). Projects typically involve walking/hiking over uneven surfaces for up to 2 miles total during the day. Some tasks involve wading in streams with variable flow conditions from a dry trickle to 3' deep water, and using hand tools (clippers, loppers, hammers, shovels). We will return to vehicles by 3pm.
What we'll provide:
- A high-quality, SAFE and fun volunteer experience
- Opportunities to learn about riverscape restoration, science, and local flora and fauna
- Opportunities to connect with local restoration practitioners and community members with shared interest in healthy riverscapes
- Resume-building skills relevant to natural resources careers
- Extra water, snacks
- Extra sunscreen, bug spray
- Extra safety equipment (work gloves, safety glasses), and a first aid kit
- Muck boots/ waders in various sizes (W's 5 - M's 13)
How to sign up: Please RSVP for any of the day(s) that you can commit to using the form below. After signing up, you will receive an immediate confirmation email. We will follow up with any relevant updates between now and the event date, including reminder emails one week and one day before each event. If you can no longer commit, please email Rose and Jens (rose@sagelandcollaborative.org, jens@sagelandcollaborative.org) as soon as possible so we can recruit another person to fill your spot. We rely on volunteers like you to reach restoration goals!
**This site qualifies for service hours for Utah's Dedicated Hunter Program. We will have time sheets available for those interested.
Read our Frequently Asked Questions linked here. Reach out via email if you have additional questions. Find more information about the science around Riverscape Restoration on our program website!