Despite increased numbers of early recreators, things seem to be gearing up at a reasonable pace. A couple of late spring mountain snowstorms and the price of gas may be slowing down some visitors’ travel plans. Last weekend at the popular Ice Lake Trail, San Juan Mountains Association’s seasonal Forest Ambassadors clocked visitation numbers in the 40s. Our Alpine Loop Ambassadors said visitation on the loop was at about 30% compared with prior seasons. But with the Fourth of July looming, and temperatures on the rise, we fully expect visitation to steadily rise in both the front and backcountry, once again putting the pressure on natural resources and land management agencies.
As visitation to the National Forests and Bureau of Land Management destinations starts earlier, our partners need support in the field earlier than in previous seasons. Crews will need to start clearing trails before people naturally make their own trails around downed trees. Ambassadors will need to be out talking to recreationists about conditions they may encounter at higher elevations and about early-season fire restrictions that may be in effect.
This season, SJMA is fortunate to have 16 seasonal stewardship employees through grants, agreements and our supporters. Our team includes seven “pass-through” employees who are working directly with our Forest Service partners. But SJMA’s Forest Ambassador crew is smaller than prior years because of reduced funding.
Our average crew of seven to nine ambassadors has shrunk to a mighty five, spread across San Juan National Forest, and the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. We worked with BLM to bring back two Alpine Loop Ambassadors since they have reduced agency staffing, and thanks to a combination of federal support and state grants, we have a four-person crew working in the Weminuche Wilderness for a full season, logging out trails and monitoring conditions.
In addition to SJMA’s paid seasonal staff members, we have a wonderful group of volunteers dedicated to the stewardship of our surrounding public lands. Through this group of people, we know that people want to help and do good. Interested? Start small. Start local. There is a place for everyone on our public lands and opportunities of all interest and skill levels to volunteer and make a difference.
Meghann Burke is SJMA’s Stewardship director and lives in Mancos with her five rescue dogs and menagerie of chickens.