Desert tortoise monitoring camera servicing - Volunteers are needed to service wildlife cameras that are in and near the Woodbury Desert Study Area of the Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area. Tasks include replacing data cards and batteries, checking camera alignment and stability, and trimming vegetation. Each pair or trio team will hike to 4-6 camera locations for 1-2 miles over uneven and sometimes rugged terrain. You will be navigating to and documenting locations with the Avenza maps phone app.
Vegetation restoration plot monitoring - Volunteers are needed to monitor survival success rate of Joshua tree seedlings and other natives planted on a restoration plot in the Beaver Dam Wash National Conservation Area. Based on visual condition and relative soil moisture we may be providing supplemental water to some plants and pulling weeds to reduce competition. This will require carrying buckets of water several hundred feet to reach some plants over gently sloping but uneven terrain.
Wildlife camera data card review and logging - Volunteers are needed to review images collected by the wildlife cameras to identify target species and to cull unnecessary photos. Reviewers will use their home computer to log date, time and species information on a spreadsheet. We can provide training for you to recognize key species.
Where to Meet - Project volunteers will meet and leave from the Fire Lake/Ivins Reservoir parking lot closest to Old Hwy 91 or from the Terrible's/Chevron near I-15 and Sun River Pkwy. We will carpool but it may require driving your vehicle about 65 miles roundtrip from the St George area; up to 5 miles will be over a graded dirt road off of old Highway 91. Project days will take from 4-5 hours, including driving time.
Once you have provided your availability, our Stewardship Coordinator Fred Armstrong will contact you about the days you are needed. You may contact him at 435-668-2454 with specific questions.
