My name is Bri Hicks, and I am the resilient land and water intern at Yampa Valley Sustainability Council (YVSC) this spring. My time working with YVSC has been a joy. I have learned so much about working within a nonprofit and gained such valuable knowledge on wet meadow restoration that I hope to take with me into a career. My project for the term has been creating a one rock dam model. A one rock dam structure is used in Low Tech Process Based Restoration (LTPBR). LTPBR is a restoration approach that uses simple, cost-effective, and natural materials — like wood, rocks, and vegetation to mimic natural processes and support ecosystem recovery over time. You can learn more about LTPBR in this article from the National Forest Foundation.
As spring begins in the Yampa Valley, I’ve been paying close attention to the seasonal shifts, and how these shifts are changing as our climate does. From early budding cottonwood trees to elk movement, the signs of spring bring excitement; however there is concern as to how our climate has been changing. Restoration projects like the one I modeled can help us to mitigate the worst impacts of these changes.
Yampa Valley Sustainability Council intern Bri Hicks shows off her wet meadow restoration structure model at an Earth Fest event at Colorado Mountain College April 17, 2025.
The narrowleaf cottonwoods that are native to this area and produce drooping flowers called catkins in early spring. These catkins look different based on if the tree is a female or male tree. The female tree catkins are more of a green color and their job is to release seed. The male tree catkins appear more purple in color.
Cottonwoods have a vital role in the health of our river. With our climate warming this has impacted the river in drastic ways. YVSC’s ReTree team has been planting narrowleaf cottonwoods along the river in suitable locations to help build river resilience. Over the past 12 years, they have planted over 32,000 trees. These cottonwoods can grow up to 60 feet tall and provide large amounts of shade to the river, riparian habitat, and bank stabilization, which is so important as our river is warming.
“Paying close attention to the little things makes me feel more connected to my environment and aware of the impacts our warming climate has on it. YVSC is doing meaningful work to help build a more resilient Yampa Valley that can combat these changes.”
The cottonwood catkins are not the only sign of spring in the valley. Another sign to be looking out for is elk migration. During the winter months, our elk populations in the Yampa Valley move down in elevation to survive the winter. They grow a winter coat that traps heat and helps them stay significantly warmer. You might notice trail heads and recreation areas are closed in the spring to protect the elk. Click the link here to see what areas around the Yampa Valley are affected by elk closures. This happens because spring is when the calves are born. Usually late May and the first few weeks of June, the baby elk will be born. Spring has definitely changed in the last few years with a decreasing snow pack and warming temperatures. The vegetation elk depends on does not last as long as it used to. Elk need to be eating high quality vegitation from late August through September to build their fat reserves for lactation and birth.
Noticing the early signs of spring in the valley has brought me such joy, and made me more aware of how quickly our spring has changed. Paying close attention to the little things makes me feel more connected to my environment and aware of the impacts our warming climate has on it. YVSC is doing meaningful work to help build a more resilient Yampa Valley that can combat these changes.
One way YVSC is helping is through wet meadow restoration projects. These projects have taken place in California Park and will continue to this summer. Yampa Valley Climate Crew and other partners have been using LTPBR in California Park just like the model I have built for my project. If you’re looking for ways to get involved, sign up for the YVSC Newsletter to get notified about upcoming events and volunteer opportunities.
Bri Hicks | 22 April 2025
