Where: Trail Creek, Taylor Park (near Almont, CO)

Parking: Go past Taylor Reservoir on FS 742, go left or west on 748 (turn for Spring Creek), follow 748 for 2 miles and then park on the side of the road above Trail Creek. The coordinates are: 38.907976, -106.619529

What: Volunteers will use low-tech restoration methods to strengthen the resiliency of riparian systems, thereby improving watershed health. Mimicking beaver structures helps attenuate water on the landscape and return complexity to struggling and drying riverscapes, allowing more wetland vegetation to grow.

Why: Restoring riparian systems cycles nutrients, restores top-soils through sedimentation, and provides groundwater recharge. On a landscape scale, we aim to increase the resilience of these headwaters to mitigate, or even reverse, climate change effects on the ground, which ultimately provides healthy watersheds.

Here are a few things you should know:

• We will provide lunch and water for refills

• Bring a water bottle & weather-appropriate clothes/gear (hat, sunscreen, sunglasses, etc.)

• We provide work gloves and tools

• Wear close-toed shoes (we will be working in wet areas), comfortable outdoor layers, and clothes you aren’t afraid to get dirty. Bring muck boots or hip waders if you have access to them. HCCA will have some extra waders for volunteers to use.

• We recommend bringing a small pack to carry anything you may need (water, snacks, bug spray, extra clothes)

Stewardship of public lands helps ensure their sustainability into the future. The above project entails spending a fun-filled day with like-minded community members giving back to YOUR public lands and supporting our lovable wildlife. They are great opportunities to get your hands dirty – and experience personal fulfillment – in furtherance of a worthy cause. Their success is dependent on public participation.