Whether you are interested in our River Watch water quality monitoring program, Paonia River Park workdays, want to review BLM or Forest Service proposals for environmental concerns, or think you have a particular skill that might be useful, we want to hear from you! From rock haulers to grant writers, to event extraordinaires, we are always in need of help from people in the community. Click the links below for volunteer position descriptions and sign ups.
Our committees are essential to the grassroots action of our organization. Committee members attend monthly meetings, organize around local initiatives, plan and volunteer at events, and use their individual skills to share our mission across the western slope. We are always accepting new committee members, so please stop by for our next meeting or contact us for more info.
Watershed Committee: Second Thursday of the Month
Public Lands Committee: Last Monday of the Month
Fundraising and Events Committee: First Wednesday of the Month
Our River Watch volunteers meet four times a year (usually April, June, August, and October) to collect water samples from ten sites along the North Fork and the Gunnison Rivers. In pairs of two or three, volunteers collect samples to test for five parameters at the CSU Organic Research Station and additional samples that are sent back to River Watch of Colorado for further testing. All data is reported back to River Watch of Colorado which then is compiled and is presented to decision makers of the state.
Location: We meet at the CSU Organic Research Station on Hwy 92, west of Hotchkiss, and carpool to several sites along the North Fork.
Time commitment: Typically 8:00 am – 3:00 pm, or until your group has completed data collection.
Training/support provided: We pair new volunteers with an experienced volunteer to go to sampling sites. Back at the lab, volunteers pair up in teams of two or three to complete in-house testing. Thorough instructions are always provided and experienced volunteers are always in attendance.
Benefits: Become a part of the community of people working to protect our watershed, get the opportunity to do titrations and get to see colorful chemical reactions, be a part of the 2nd oldest River Watch program in the state, and meet representatives from River Watch Colorado in January!
Want to join our team? E-mail: [email protected]
Visit our River Watch page for more information on our program!
Stewardship Days
WSCC typically hosts several stewardship days throughout the summer and fall, ranging from Paonia River Park workdays in town to Trail Days in collaboration with USFS. These projects can have a wide range of responsibilities, from shearing branches and picking weeds, to hauling rocks and lifting logs. There is something for anyone!
Qualifications: Able-bodied individuals.
Time commitment: Usually 8am-3pm. (10am-12pm for River Park Workdays)
Want to help us out? Look out for social media updates or visit our calendar! Or, reach out at [email protected].
E-mail: [email protected]
Mike’s Hikes Volunteers Leaders are individuals who want to guide one of our popular hikes in the summer. These hikes are free and open to the public. We look for a diversity of hike difficulties and locations, and plan several hikes that have a natural history, cultural history, or other educational element.
Qualifications: Interest in the outdoors and familiarity with nearby public lands, and/or knowledge of natural or cultural history of this region.
Time Commitment: It is up to you! Each Mike’s Hike is unique in terms of distance, time, topic, location, and difficulty. You shape your Hike.
Interested in leading a Mike? Reach out to [email protected].
