BLM Field Conservation Work
This fall the Moab BLM Field Office staff have been working together to give back and help restore some of the popular locations around Moab. These organized events have been a great way for the staff to work together safely outside, educate the public, and participate in the conservation of our public lands.
In honor of National Public Lands Day 2020, the Field Office organized an office-wide trash removal day at Ken’s Lake. Staff members from all divisions participated in the cleanup effort. Over twenty employees joined the fun and collected twelve large bags of trash. Ken’s Lake is an open water reservoir that is a popular swimming, boating, and camping destination in the heat of summer.
Another popular spot is Grandstaff Canyon. With the increase in visitation, we are seeing more hikers leaving their mark. This newly designated National Recreation Trail received a facelift from Moab BLM Recreation Division in October. The staff removed graffiti throughout the length of the entire trail and educated curious hikers about their work along the way. If you see graffiti on public lands, record it, report it, and let us remove it.
CNHA Funds Research on Sediment Transport
Canyonlands National Park is working with the US Geological Survey to identify instream flows and sediment transport regimes that will maintain or improve riverine-related resources and geomorphic processes of the Colorado and Green rivers in Canyonlands. Resources of particular interest include Threatened and Endangered native fish species, native riparian communities, river channel complexity, sediment transport, and river recreation. These efforts require in-depth understanding of the flow and sediment regimes of these rivers and research is designed to achieve the following goals:
- Understand how reservoir and dam operations, such as Flaming Gorge, affect riverine resources in Canyonlands
- Evaluate how flows proposed for recovery of native fish species may affect other resources such as riparian systems.
- Define desired future conditions for critical water-related resource and process.
- Identify a suite of recommended flows to maintain and protect the desired future conditions of water-related resources and processes.
Avalanche Awareness Week is December 6 -12
The Utah State Legislature has declared the first week of December as Avalanche Awareness Week. If you are a winter backcountry recreationist, please join the Utah Avalanche Center in celebrating the Second Annual Avalanche Awareness Week December 6-12.
During Avalanche Awareness Week, the Utah Avalanche Center and its partners will host events, classes, and other activities to promote avalanche awareness, education and safety. Due to the COVID pandemic, most of the events including the annual Know Before You Go Talk presented by the USFS Utah Avalanche Center Moab will be held virtually.
Please go to the Utah Avalanche Center website https://utahavalanchecenter.org and click on Moab for more information.
This is an excerpt from the Canyonlands Natural History Association’s Member Newsletter. To find out more about CNHA and how to get your own copy delivered, visit the Canyonlands Natural History Association website.