The Crested Butte News Serving the Gunnison Valley since 1999
High Country Conservation Advocates (HCCA), in partnership with local governments, agencies and nonprofit organizations, completed three stewardship projects across the Gunnison Country in September. The projects focused on improving native wildlife and plant habitat, protecting water resources and supporting the ongoing stewardship of the landscape—all with the shared goal of creating a healthier watershed.
Town Ranch Wetland Restoration Project—in partnership with the Town of Crested Butte
• 26 volunteers
• Approximately 700 yards of degraded wetland treated
• 16 attenuation structures repaired
• 4 new structures constructed, including one post-assisted log structure.
Working Lands Irrigation Project—in partnership with the Crested Butte Land Trust and the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District (UGRWCD)
• 12 volunteers
• 700 feet of irrigation pipe were installed
• 372 control gates were attached
Antelope Creek Wet Meadow Restoration Project—in partnership with UGRWCD, Bird Conservancy of the Rockies and the Bureau of Land Management
• 15 volunteers
• 8 acres of wet meadow were treated across 0.015 stream miles
• 6 restoration structures were completed, with work beginning on a seventh
HCCA extends a heartfelt thank you to all of the volunteers who contributed their time and energy the past month. These projects would not be possible without the dedicated community members who give back to the public lands, waters and wildlife that keep the Gunnison Country vital. We also extend our appreciation to our project lunch sponsors, the Crested Butte Deli and the Dilly Deli in Gunnison, for helping keep our volunteers fueled in the field.
We look forward to another productive field season next year. In the meantime, stay up to date on HCCA’s stewardship projects and other conservation efforts by visiting hccacb.org, and be sure to learn more about the organizations and agencies that are involved in this important stewardship work.
