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Stewardship

Caring for our natural resources deepens our connection to the landscapes, wildlife, and ecosystems that make Southern Utah extraordinary. Stewardship is both a responsibility and a privilege, allowing us to protect what sustains us while fostering a greater appreciation for the land’s beauty and vitality. By honoring this duty, we ensure these treasures endure for generations to come.

Program Goals

The Stewardship Program aims to inspire and empower the community to protect, restore, and preserve Southern Utah's plants, wildlife and natural resources for future generations. This includes efforts to:

    • Foster hands-on volunteer opportunities for community involvement.

    • Restore degraded habitats and support native species recovery.

    • Strengthen public awareness of challenges to our desert ecosystems, so that the local community is invested in the fate of public lands.

Volunteer With Us

Conserve Southwest Utah organizes a variety of volunteer opportunies throughout the year. It's a great way to give back and connect with like-minded people. We hope you will join us!

  • VOLUNTEER: Beaver Dam Slope Wildlife Camera Servicing
    VOLUNTEER: Beaver Dam Slope Wildlife Camera Servicing
    Sat, May 17
    Beaver Dam Slope - Two Carpool Locations
    May 17, 2025, 7:30 AM – 11:30 AM
    Beaver Dam Slope - Two Carpool Locations
    Join us to service wildlife monitoring cameras in the Beaver Dam Wash NCA.
  • VOLUNTEER: Snow Canyon Backcountry Sahara Mustard Removal
    VOLUNTEER: Snow Canyon Backcountry Sahara Mustard Removal
    May 13, 2025, 7:00 AM – 11:00 AM
    BlackRocks Climbing Area, BlackRocks Climbing Area, St. George, UT 84770, USA
    Calling physically capable volunteers to help get ahead of a growing Sahara mustard problem in the Cougar Cliffs back-country. You must register to attend because we need to hike in as a group on an undesignated route.
  • VOLUNTEER: Red Cliffs NCA - Shivwits Milkvetch Conservation/Weed Control.
    VOLUNTEER: Red Cliffs NCA - Shivwits Milkvetch Conservation/Weed Control.
    May 02, 2025, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
    White Reef Trailhead, Hurricane, UT 84737, USA
    Help protect one of our region’s rarest plants—Shivwits milkvetch, a federally endangered species found only in Washington County.
  • VOLUNTEER: Snow Canyon Backcountry Sahara Mustard Removal
    VOLUNTEER: Snow Canyon Backcountry Sahara Mustard Removal
    Multiple Dates
    Wed, Apr 30
    Apr 30, 2025, 7:30 AM – 11:30 AM
    BlackRocks Climbing Area, BlackRocks Climbing Area, St. George, UT 84770, USA
    Calling physically capable volunteers to help get ahead of a growing Sahara mustard problem in the Cougar Cliffs back-country. There are 3 dates for this volunteer opportunity. Please sign up for as many days as you’re available.
  • VOLUNTEER: Beaver Dam Slope Revegetation Project
    VOLUNTEER: Beaver Dam Slope Revegetation Project
    Tue, Apr 15
    Beaver Dam Slope - Two Carpool Locations
    Apr 15, 2025, 8:30 AM – 12:30 PM
    Beaver Dam Slope - Two Carpool Locations
    Join us for a follow-up survey on our December 2023 revegetation project on the Beaver Dam Slope. We’ll be checking for seedling success around the protective cages we installed last winter.
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Past Projects

Desert Tortoise Monitoring

CSU volunteers dedicated over 2,600 hours to this two-year sensitive species study for the BLM - setting up wildlife cameras in the field and combing through millions of images. A BLM biologist reported that CSU's work is the most comprehensive documentation of wildlife on the Beaver Dam Slope in several decades, and it will help them make better-informed land management decisions.

Wildfire Habitat
Restoration

In 2020, 4 human-caused fires burned nearly 25% of the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve, devastating native vegetation. Over the next 3 years, CSU volunteers teamed up with the BLM to restore the Cottonwood Trail Fire Habitat Restoration Plot—planting thousands of native shrubs, building protective cages, and maintaining the area. With a 65.3% plant survival rate, this project highlights the incredible impact of community-driven conservation.

Bearclaw Poppy Restoration

The dwarf bearclaw poppy, found only in Washington County, Utah, is a critcially endangered plants due to habitat loss from development, off-road vehicle use, and declining native pollinators. CSU volunteers partnered with the BLM to improve a rare habitat by removing tumbleweeds and debris and hand-sowing native seeds to help reclaim an old road scar. This effort aims to heal damaged habitat, offering hope for the survival of this rare desert plant.

Conserve Southwest Utah

321 N Mall Dr, Ste B202

St George, UT 84790

Email: email@conserveswu.org

Phone: (435) 200-4712

EIN: 56-2600858

Conserve Southwest Utah is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to protecting Southern Utah's lands, water and livability —your support makes our work possible.

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