Where You’ll Be:
Spend the weekend exploring the Baca Wildlife Refuge, a 93,000-acre area at the base of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in the San Luis Valley. The project site is a short drive from the refuge, passing through the town of Crestone to the Willow Lake Trailhead in Wilcox Gulch. Wilcox Gulch is one of the headwater drainages of the Willow Creek Watershed, making it a key area for restoration work.
What You’ll Do:
Help restore the Willow Creek Watershed by building Beaver Dam Analogs (BDAs) and Post-Assisted Log Structures (PALs). These structures are designed to mimic natural beaver dams, improving water quality, restoring habitats, and stabilizing stream systems.
To construct these structures we'll collect and use on-site materials, such as dead and downed willow and aspen, to simulate a beaver dam. Aside from the wooden posts that will be used to secure the dam into the sediment using post-pounders, all material will be sourced from the site. Depending on the need, you may also assist with beaver activity monitoring. Certified sawyers (B or A level) are also needed to cut materials to size.
Breakfast and lunch are provided on Saturday and Sunday, along with dinner on Saturday.
Bring your own dinner for Friday night and enough snacks for the weekend.
Free campsites are available on Friday and Saturday nights, and we recommend arriving at base camp before 8 pm on Friday.
Support This Project as a Crew Chef Helper!
We provide full meals on our overnight projects to ensure volunteers are well-fed and ready for a day of volunteering — and we could use your help to make it happen!
View this document to learn more about how to support and sign up!
The Willow Creek Watershed is facing challenges like erosion, habitat loss, and declining water quality. Native wetland and riparian plants are struggling to reestablish, and the water table is dropping rapidly.
Beaver Dam Analogs (BDAs) and Post-Assisted Log Structures (PALs) offer simple, cost-effective solutions to these problems. By mimicking the function of natural beaver dams, these structures slow down water, reduce erosion, raise water tables, and create habitats for wildlife.
They also increase the probability of successful beaver translocation by creating an immediate deep-water habitat that reduces the risk of predation. Your work will play a critical role in restoring this watershed and supporting a range of common restoration goals.
Eligibility Requirements:
Ages 16+
Sawyers must be 18+
For overnight projects, all youth under 18 must be accompanied by an adult aged 21 or older.
For this project, we need one B-certified Chainsaw Sawyer. A-certified Sawyers will be able to work under the supervision of the B Sawyer. If you are certified, please include this in the Comments of your registration and send your certificate to the project manager. ALL SAWYERS MUST HOLD A CURRENT FIRST AID AND CPR CERTIFICATION IN ORDER TO OPERATE A SAW. Interested in getting certified? Visit our Training Calendar for upcoming training opportunities.
Project Difficulty:
This project is considered moderate to difficult. Please check our difficulty rating criteria here for more details.
Physical Considerations:
Activities may include standing and working in a stream, carrying posts over uneven terrain, and using a mechanized post pounder.
Willow collection involves working in muddy areas, crossing water, and navigating uneven surfaces.
Access Factors:
Vehicle Access: No vehicle restrictions – 2WD accessible
Other Notes: Tent, car, van, and trailer camping are all acceptable. Indoor bathrooms are available at the campsite. The worksite is at 8,800 feet, so prepare to be working at higher elevation.
Join us in reducing our carbon footprint by carpooling!
Click here to sign up for the carpool (please do this after registering for the project).
