
YAMPA VALLEY CLIMATE CREW
Empowering Volunteers Through Climate Action Projects
The Yampa Valley Climate Crew links community members to volunteer opportunities that address the climate threat facing our planet, so that they, too, can be a part of the climate action solution.
These projects include tree planting, wetland and riparian habitat restoration, data collection, and site maintenance, all of which increase carbon sequestration and resilience. People of all ages are welcome to participate and give back to the natural landscapes we all appreciate and receive so much from. You’ll have the opportunity to work alongside organizations like the US Forest Service, Colorado Parks and Wildlife, the Natural Resources Conservation Service, and the Yampa Valley Sustainability Council. There are many projects here in the Yampa Valley that address our climate crisis through resiliency and carbon sequestration, and all they need are impassioned volunteers to do the job!
Please note the difficulty settings for each project to ensure that the one you sign up for is right for you.

Upcoming Events
june 2022
16jun8:00 amYampa Valley Climate Crew - Wet Meadows Restoration with WRV

Event Details
Title: Wet Meadows Restoration with WRV Short Description: Come restore wet meadows and riparian areas in collaboration with Wildlands Restoration Volunteers near Craig. Camping is optional!
more
Event Details
Title: Wet Meadows Restoration with WRV
Short Description: Come restore wet meadows and riparian areas in collaboration with Wildlands Restoration Volunteers near Craig. Camping is optional!
Difficulty: Hard (lifting stones, using tools, working alongside steep embankments)
Project Details: Join us with Wildlands Restoration Volunteers to help restore wet meadows and riparian areas! These ecosystems are vital for carbon storage and wildlife habitat, including Greater-Sage grouse, migratory birds, elk, and mule deer. 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. To address these challenges, we will use innovative, yet simple, restoration methods called one-rock dams to raise the water table and re-establish wetland meadows and riparian areas in sagebrush habitat.
Volunteers may also camp before and after the project on Wednesday and Sunday evenings.
This project is being run by Wildlands Restoration Volunteers. Please follow the link to their website to sign-up for the event.
Time
(Thursday) 8:00 am
Registration
Wildlands Restoration Volunteers Link17jun8:00 amYampa Valley Climate Crew - Wet Meadows Restoration with WRV

Event Details
Title: Wet Meadows Restoration with WRV Short Description: Come restore wet meadows and riparian areas in collaboration with Wildlands Restoration Volunteers near Craig. Camping is optional!
more
Event Details
Title: Wet Meadows Restoration with WRV
Short Description: Come restore wet meadows and riparian areas in collaboration with Wildlands Restoration Volunteers near Craig. Camping is optional!
Difficulty: Hard (lifting stones, using tools, working alongside steep embankments)
Project Details: Join us with Wildlands Restoration Volunteers to help restore wet meadows and riparian areas! These ecosystems are vital for carbon storage and wildlife habitat, including Greater-Sage grouse, migratory birds, elk, and mule deer. 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. To address these challenges, we will use innovative, yet simple, restoration methods called one-rock dams to raise the water table and re-establish wetland meadows and riparian areas in sagebrush habitat.
Volunteers may also camp before and after the project on Wednesday and Sunday evenings.
This project is being run by Wildlands Restoration Volunteers. Please follow the link to their website to sign-up for the event.
Time
(Friday) 8:00 am
Registration
Wildlands Restoration Volunteers Link18jun8:00 amYampa Valley Climate Crew - Wet Meadows Restoration with WRV

Event Details
Title: Wet Meadows Restoration with WRV Short Description: Come restore wet meadows and riparian areas in collaboration with Wildlands Restoration Volunteers near Craig. Camping is optional!
more
Event Details
Title: Wet Meadows Restoration with WRV
Short Description: Come restore wet meadows and riparian areas in collaboration with Wildlands Restoration Volunteers near Craig. Camping is optional!
Difficulty: Hard (lifting stones, using tools, working alongside steep embankments)
Project Details: Join us with Wildlands Restoration Volunteers to help restore wet meadows and riparian areas! These ecosystems are vital for carbon storage and wildlife habitat, including Greater-Sage grouse, migratory birds, elk, and mule deer. 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. To address these challenges, we will use innovative, yet simple, restoration methods called one-rock dams to raise the water table and re-establish wetland meadows and riparian areas in sagebrush habitat.
Volunteers may also camp before and after the project on Wednesday and Sunday evenings.
This project is being run by Wildlands Restoration Volunteers. Please follow the link to their website to sign-up for the event.
Time
(Saturday) 8:00 am
Registration
Wildlands Restoration Volunteers Link19jun8:00 amYampa Valley Climate Crew - Wet Meadows Restoration with WRV

Event Details
Title: Wet Meadows Restoration with WRV Short Description: Come restore wet meadows and riparian areas in collaboration with Wildlands Restoration Volunteers near Craig. Camping is optional!
more
Event Details
Title: Wet Meadows Restoration with WRV
Short Description: Come restore wet meadows and riparian areas in collaboration with Wildlands Restoration Volunteers near Craig. Camping is optional!
Difficulty: Hard (lifting stones, using tools, working alongside steep embankments)
Project Details: Join us with Wildlands Restoration Volunteers to help restore wet meadows and riparian areas! These ecosystems are vital for carbon storage and wildlife habitat, including Greater-Sage grouse, migratory birds, elk, and mule deer. 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. To address these challenges, we will use innovative, yet simple, restoration methods called Zeedyk structures to raise the water table and re-establish wetland meadows and riparian areas in sagebrush habitat.
Volunteers may also camp before and after the project on Wednesday and Sunday evenings.
This project is being run by Wildlands Restoration Volunteers. Please follow the link to their website to sign-up for the event.
Time
(Sunday) 8:00 am
Registration
Wildlands Restoration Volunteers Linkjuly 2022
22jul7:30 amYampa Valley Climate Crew - Wetlands Restoration at Jensen State Wildlife Area

Event Details
Title: Come help restore wetlands at Jensen State Wildlife Area! Short description: Join us, alongside Colorado Parks and Wildlife, to construct human-made beaver dams that will help
more
Event Details
Title: Come help restore wetlands at Jensen State Wildlife Area!
Short description: Join us, alongside Colorado Parks and Wildlife, to construct human-made beaver dams that will help restore wetlands.
Difficulty: Medium (trimming branches, pounding posts, shoveling mud)
Project details: There was once an abundance of beavers and beaver dams on James Creek in Jensen State Wildlife Area. Now there are none, the consequences being fewer wetlands and increased water runoff. To amend this, we will be working with Colorado Parks and Wildlife to construct beaver dam analogs (BDAs), or human-made structures that mimic the work of beavers. They are made by pounding posts into the streambed, then weaving trimmed branches in between to create a “dam”. The resulting water build-up creates wetland areas, which are vital to wildlife and will allow for the eventual reintroduction of beavers. Wetlands also sequester and store more carbon than forests, making them an essential tool in the fight against climate change.
Please contact ryan@yvsc.org with any questions.
Time
(Friday) 7:30 am
Registration
SignUp Linkaugust 2022
06aug9:00 amYampa Valley Climate Crew - Wet Meadows Restoration in California Park

Event Details
Title: Come Restore Wet Meadows and Riparian Areas in California Park! Short Description: Join us, alongside the US Forest Service, to construct rock structures in stream beds
more
Event Details
Title: Come Restore Wet Meadows and Riparian Areas in California Park!
Short Description: Join us, alongside the US Forest Service, to construct rock structures in stream beds to improve water-flow and restore wet meadows, which are vital to wildlife habitat and carbon sequestration.
Difficulty: Medium (lifting and carrying rocks, using tools, working alongside streambanks)
Project Details: Come help restore wet meadows and riparian areas in beautiful California Park! These ecosystems are vital for carbon storage and wildlife habitat, including sandhill crane, boreal toads, and Greater sage-grouse. However, erosion has disconnected these wet meadows and riparian areas from the floodplain, resulting in decreased water retention and loss of vegetation. They are at further risk of deterioration in coming years from drought and intense rainstorms. By using innovative restoration techniques called Zeedyk structures, we will raise the water table, decrease erosion, and re-establish wet meadows and riparian areas in California Park.
Camping is encouraged if you plan to attend multiple days!
Please contact ryan@yvsc.org with any questions.
Time
(Saturday) 9:00 am
Registration
Signup Link07aug9:00 amYampa Valley Climate Crew - Wet Meadows Restoration in California Park

Event Details
Title: Come Restore Wet Meadows and Riparian Areas in California Park! Short Description: Join us, alongside the US Forest Service, to construct rock structures in stream beds
more
Event Details
Title: Come Restore Wet Meadows and Riparian Areas in California Park!
Short Description: Join us, alongside the US Forest Service, to construct rock structures in stream beds to improve water-flow and restore wet meadows, which are vital to wildlife habitat and carbon sequestration.
Difficulty: Hard (lifting and carrying rocks, using tools, working alongside streambanks)
Project Details: Come help restore wet meadows and riparian areas in beautiful California Park! These ecosystems are vital for carbon storage and wildlife habitat, including sandhill crane, boreal toads, and Greater sage-grouse. However, erosion has disconnected these wet meadows and riparian areas from the floodplain, resulting in decreased water retention and loss of vegetation. They are at further risk of deterioration in coming years from drought and intense rainstorms. By using innovative restoration techniques called Zeedyk structures, we will raise the water table, decrease erosion, and re-establish wet meadows and riparian areas in California Park.
Camping is encouraged if you plan to attend multiple days!
Please contact ryan@yvsc.org with any questions.
Time
(Sunday) 9:00 am
Registration
Signup Link23aug8:00 amYampa Valley Climate Crew - Reforestation Survey near Rabbit Ears Pass

Event Details
Title: Come help conduct reforestation surveys near Rabbit Ears Pass! Short description: Join us, alongside the US Forest Service, to conduct surveys on post-fire seedling regeneration, which will help inform
more
Event Details
Title: Come help conduct reforestation surveys near Rabbit Ears Pass!
Short description: Join us, alongside the US Forest Service, to conduct surveys on post-fire seedling regeneration, which will help inform future reforestation efforts.
Difficulty: Medium (up to 5 miles of walking through forested terrain)
Project details: The Routt National Forest in Buffalo Park was ravaged by the Silver Creek fire in 2018. Conifer forests are vitally important in the fight against climate change, as they both sequester carbon and store moisture in our watersheds. The US Forest Service is planning to reforest the area in spring 2023, but must first determine priority sites. To help in this effort, we will be measuring seedling regeneration and mapping future reforestation sites to determine where tree planting will be necessary. This project will occur over three days, so please sign up for whichever days work best for you!
Please contact ryan@yvsc.org with any questions.
Time
(Tuesday) 8:00 am
Registration
SignUp Link24aug8:00 amYampa Valley Climate Crew - Reforestation Survey near Rabbit Ears Pass

Event Details
Title: Come help conduct reforestation surveys near Rabbit Ears Pass! Short description: Join us, alongside the US Forest Service, to conduct surveys on post-fire seedling regeneration, which will help inform
more
Event Details
Title: Come help conduct reforestation surveys near Rabbit Ears Pass!
Short description: Join us, alongside the US Forest Service, to conduct surveys on post-fire seedling regeneration, which will help inform future reforestation efforts.
Difficulty: Medium (up to 5 miles of walking through forested terrain)
Project details: The Routt National Forest in Buffalo Park was ravaged by the Silver Creek fire in 2018. Conifer forests are vitally important in the fight against climate change, as they both sequester carbon and store moisture in our watersheds. The US Forest Service is planning to reforest the area in spring 2023, but must first determine priority sites. To help in this effort, we will be measuring seedling regeneration and mapping future reforestation sites to determine where tree planting will be necessary. This project will occur over three days, so please sign up for whichever days work best for you!
Please contact ryan@yvsc.org with any questions.
Time
(Wednesday) 8:00 am
Registration
SignUp Link25aug8:00 amYampa Valley Climate Crew - Reforestation Survey near Rabbit Ears Pass

Event Details
Title: Come help conduct reforestation surveys near Rabbit Ears Pass! Short description: Join us, alongside the US Forest Service, to conduct surveys on post-fire seedling regeneration, which will help inform
more
Event Details
Title: Come help conduct reforestation surveys near Rabbit Ears Pass!
Short description: Join us, alongside the US Forest Service, to conduct surveys on post-fire seedling regeneration, which will help inform future reforestation efforts.
Difficulty: Medium (up to 5 miles of walking through forested terrain)
Project details: The Routt National Forest in Buffalo Park was ravaged by the Silver Creek fire in 2018. Conifer forests are vitally important in the fight against climate change, as they both sequester carbon and store moisture in our watersheds. The US Forest Service is planning to reforest the area in spring 2023, but must first determine priority sites. To help in this effort, we will be measuring seedling regeneration and mapping future reforestation sites to determine where tree planting will be necessary. This project will occur over three days, so please sign up for whichever days work best for you!
Please contact ryan@yvsc.org with any questions.
Time
(Thursday) 8:00 am
Registration
SignUp Linkseptember 2022
20sep8:00 amYampa Valley Climate Crew - Willow Planting at California Park

Event Details
Title: Come plant willows along First Creek in California Park! Short Description: Come work with the US Forest Service to help restore First Creek by planting willows
more
Event Details
Title: Come plant willows along First Creek in California Park!
Short Description: Come work with the US Forest Service to help restore First Creek by planting willows along its bank.
Difficulty: Easy (working along a steep embankment)
Project Details: California Park is an ecologically important area in Northwest Colorado. It serves as part of the Upper Yampa River Basin and provides miles of stream habitat for native fish populations. However, vegetation loss and erosion threaten some of California Park’s waterways. Currently, First Creek is undergoing a restoration process that will create a more climate-resistant ecosystem by reconnecting the stream to the floodplain. As part of this process, we will be planting approximately 300-500 willows along 5 miles of First Creek to provide bank stabilization and more resilient native fish habitat.
Please contact ryan@yvsc.org with any questions.
Time
(Tuesday) 8:00 am
Registration
SignUp LinkDifficulty Description
Appropriate for all ages and abilities; no strenuous activities; no difficult terrain
May not be appropriate for young children or those with physical limitations; some strenuous activities; some difficult terrain
Not suitable for children or those with physical limitations; lots of strenuous activities; difficult terrain
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