Gold Basin Wet Meadow Restoration Volunteer Recap

High Country Conservation Advocates partnered with the Upper Gunnison River Water Conservancy District (UGRWCD) and the Bureau of Land Management in restoring critical wet meadow habitat in Gold Basin for our final stewardship project of the 2025 season.

With the help of 26 volunteers, along with project partners and HCCA staff, we completed maintenance on five existing structures—originally built by UGRWCD—and hand-built 13 new structures, including one Zuni bowl. In total, volunteers contributed over 156 hours of hard work!

While the numbers speak volumes about the dedication of our volunteers, the true impact lies in the long-term benefits: healthier wet meadows that support the threatened Gunnison Sage-Grouse through enhanced water retention, limited erosion and vegetation promotion. By strategically stacking and placing rock, we promote the slow spread of water, encouraging native plants and insects to return and thrive in formerly degraded soils.

To kick off the project, volunteers were treated to a rare and inspiring sight—Gunnison Sage-Grouse spotted along the roadside near the project site. This showed how the wet meadow is an active habitat for these birds, and that restoring it to its natural state is essential for their survival.

We extend our heartfelt thanks to every volunteer who gave their time and energy to this project, to our incredible partners who make this work possible, and to the Dilly Deli for fueling us on Day 1 with their delicious sandwiches.

That’s a wrap on HCCA’s 2025 Stewardship Season—we can’t wait to see you out in the field again next year!

Support HCCA’s Stewardship program! Donate here or join our mailing list here to stay informed for next year’s field season.