BEAVER RIVER WATERSHED DAYS

Nelson, R M.1
1USU Extension Professor, UTAH STATE UNIVERSITY, BEAVER, UT, 84713

Abstract:

The purpose of this educational program was to let people know that there were water quality problems in the Beaver River and to involve youth and the public in addressing these concerns. The Beaver River is the life blood of Beaver County. It is used as a fishery, a recreation area and provides irrigation water for homes, gardens and farms throughout the county.  Monitoring of the Beaver River in the early 1990’s identified a variety of problems ranging from high rates of sediment movement to high amounts of phosphorus. We have worked with many different agencies, schools and private organizations to increase public awareness of the importance of taking care of the Beaver River and surrounding watershed.   One method to accomplish this has been to create an annual Beaver River Watershed day.  For 18 years more than 2900 volunteers have participated in this conservation activity.  High school students, 4-H & FFA members, dedicated hunters, state and federal agency people and anyone who cares about the environment has all joined together to complete hands on projects that have improved the watershed. Projects that we have worked on for 18 years include: planting willows along the Beaver River, planting windbreaks, chopping thistles, planting browse for deer and cutting down small juniper trees. The Beaver Soil Conservation District has provided lunch for all the participants each year. The success of this program has been two fold. The obvious value of the watershed days is the improvement of the riparian areas in the watershed. Possibly a greater value is making the students and adults that participate, aware of the importance of improving and protecting the Beaver River Watershed.



 

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