To kick off the Labor Day weekend wet meadow restoration project we are offering a “tour day” led by our project leaders. We will not be undertaking any restoration work--this outing is intended to be educational, informal, and fun. Attendees will see restoration sites that volunteers helped with in past years.

This is an opportunity to monitor these sites and understand how structures operate years after construction.

Please meet at the parking area (information found below) at 11:00AM on Friday, September 2nd.

Meeting Location:

• Miller Ranch State Wildlife Area (SWA) - Colorado Parks & Wildlife

• Parking location coordinates: 38.674246, -106.992585 (copy and paste coordinates straight to your search bar or to an online map)

• Driving directions from Gunnison:

  • Head north on HWY 135. In 3 miles, turn left onto CR-730. In 6.8 miles, take slight left turn onto County Road 7. Keep left onto County Road 7 for 0.7 miles past some livestock gates. Destination is the ranch headquarters.

From there, participants will carpool to restoration sites at South Cottonwood drainage on Flat Top Mountain.

We request that participants with high clearance vehicles help carpool others up to project sites. Please bring a mask to wear when in vehicles.

Here are a few things you should know:

• We will provide lunch (dietary preferences will be completed after registration)

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

• Wear close-toed shoes and comfortable outdoor layers

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

Wet meadows and riparian areas in sagebrush shrublands provide important brood-rearing habitat for the threatened Gunnison Sage-grouse. These habitats are also important for numerous other species, including neo-tropical migratory birds, elk and mule deer, as well as ranchers for livestock grazing. A number of wet meadows and riparian areas, already compromised by erosion and lower water tables, are likely to be further altered from drought and high intensity rainstorms associated with a changing climate.

We request that participants with high clearance vehicles help carpool others up to project sites. Please Eli Smith, HCCA’s Stewardship Director, know if you have any questions or concerns at eli@hccacb.org.