UPCOMING PROJECTS: 
Cebolla Canyon
October 7-9, 2022

Project
AWF continues to follow our Covid-19 safety protocols, as well as those of our partner organizations.

LOCATION: Cebolla Canyon in the El Malpais National Conservation Area, south of Grants, NM

THE PROJECT: Our work will focus on hand-building rock structures designed to allow water to infiltrate more gradually into the landscape and prevent down-cutting and gully formation. AWF has organized restoration projects at Cebolla Canyon for more than two decades, and our work has successfully expanded the size of the wetlands around Cebolla Spring from seven acres to over 40, providing critical wildlife habitat in an arid region.

SCHEDULE: Friday, October 7 – Sunday, October 9
Volunteers do not need to be present for the entire weekend to participate. You are welcome to join us just for the work day Saturday, or camp for just one of the two nights

GEAR: Bring everything you need for a weekend of camping and restoration work, including warm clothes for the chilly evenings. For the work, don’t forget gloves, hat, long sleeves, long pants, sturdy boots, sunglasses, and sunscreen. Be prepared for rain and wet weather (we recommend bringing a change of shoes, and waterproof boots or boots you don’t mind getting wet). Plenty of water is always essential. 

FOOD: AWF will provide coffee and breakfast burritos on Saturday morning and bison or veggie burgers on Saturday evening. Please bring a dish to share for the Saturday potluck dinner, along with your own lunches, Friday dinner, Sunday breakfast, plate, cup, and eating utensils and lots of water!

TO SIGN UP TO PARTICIPATE: Contact Scial at rioscial@gmail.com
​
Directions and further details will be sent to you once you sign up.
​
*********************************************************
Rolling Hills Ranch
October 28-30, 2022

LOCATION: Rolling Hills Ranch near Anton Chico and Dilia, NM

THE PROJECT: At the end of this month, AWF is partnering with Impact Outdoors on a second project at Rolling Hills Ranch. A year ago, we began working to  restore historic wetlands and acequias on this historic ranch, which has belonged to the Martinez family for many generations. The family is creating a range management plan for the ranch and implementing rotational grazing and other sustainable management methods to improve habitat for both livestock and wildlife. This project will build on the work we did last year to remediate erosion and hold more water on the landscape.

SCHEDULE: Friday, October 28– Sunday, October 30
Volunteers do not need to be present for the entire weekend to participate. You are welcome to join us just for the work day Saturday, or camp for just one of the two nights

GEAR: Bring everything you need for a weekend of camping and restoration work, including work gloves, hat, long sleeves, long pants, sturdy boots, and sunscreen. We recommend bringing clothes you don’t mind getting very dirty, as well as a change of shoes and waterproof boots or boots you don’t mind getting wet and muddy. Rain gear, layers, warm clothes for the evenings, and plenty of water are essential.

FOOD: AWF will provide coffee and breakfast burritos on Saturday morning and bison or veggie burgers on Saturday evening. Please bring a dish to share for the Saturday potluck dinner, along with your own lunches, Friday dinner, Sunday breakfast, plate, cup, and eating utensils and lots of water!

TO SIGN UP TO PARTICIPATE: Contact Kristina at abqwildlifefederation@gmail.com

Directions and further details will be sent to you once you sign up.

**********************************************************
Albuquerque Bosque
November 5, 2022​
LOCATION: Rio Bravo Open Space and picnic area in the Albuquerque bosque

THE PROJECT: For our final volunteer restoration service project of the year, we will be working to remove invasive plans from the Albuquerque bosque.Those of you who have joined us at Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge, where we often kick off our project season in March, may remember a group of high school students that have joined us from Atrisco Heritage Academy High School. They are part of Jaguars for Positive Change, a high school community service club sponsored by AWF volunteer Tanya Critchfield, who teaches at the school.

The Jaguars for Positive Change are teaming up with Albuquerque City Open Space and other partners to host Take Back the Bosque Day on Saturday, November 5, and AWF is proud to be part of this effort. The project’s main focus will be to remove non-native/invasive plants, especially Ravenna grass. There will also be clean-up of tumbleweeds and litter, and likely some other activities. The target area is the Bosque near Rio Bravo. When the work is done, you will be treated to a picnic lunch. Further details will be provided when you sign up.

SCHEDULE: Saturday, November 5, 9:00 am-1:00 pm

GEAR: Dress in layers to be prepared for New Mexico’s variable weather. Besides plenty of water, please bring work gloves, hat, long sleeves, long pants, sturdy boots, sunglasses, and sunscreen.

FOOD: Lunch will be provided

TO SIGN UP TO PARTICIPATE: Contact Scial at rioscial@gmail.com

Directions and further details will be sent to you once you sign up.
contact the Projects Committee Chair

Support AWF's work!  

2022 AWF Project Schedule

MARCH 5 & 6 - Valle de Oro Wildlife Refuge
APRIL 1-3 - Ft. Union Ranch
APRIL 22-24 - Red Canyon Reserve
JUNE 10-12 - Gutierrez Family Ranch
JULY 22-24 -  San Ignacio post-fire restoration
AUGUST 12-14 - Ft. Union Ranch
SEPTEMBER 2-5 - Limestone Canyon, near Magdalena, NM
SEPTEMBER 9-11 - Gallinas Canyon post-fire restoration
SEPTEMBER 23-25 - Midnight Meadows, near Questa, NM
OCTOBER 7-9 - Cebolla Canyon in El Malpais  
OCTOBER 28-30 - Rolling Hills Ranch, near Anton Chico, NM
NOVEMBER 5 - Local day project in the Abq Bosque

awf projects

One of AWF's primary missions is to improve and preserve wildlife habitat for present and future uses. To further this goal, AWF hosts several volunteer restoration projects each year in locations around New Mexico. Project tasks include building rock structures in streambeds using the techniques developed by Bill Zeedyk, planting trees, installing fence exclosures to protect riparian areas, and removing old wire fencing that is hazardous to wildlife.

Some of the projects are one-day events at local venues in and around Albuquerque. Most are weekend camping trips in beautiful public lands in the state. Typically, participants arrive on Friday afternoon or evening, camp Friday and Saturday nights, and depart by Sunday noon. However, volunteers are welcome to join us just for the Saturday work day, or camp for just one of the two nights.

The camping events feature Saturday morning breakfast burritos and coffee, and a Saturday evening potluck dinner with grilled bison burgers and veggie options provided by AWF. Participants bring a dish to share to create a bountiful meal.

We welcome participants of all ages; individuals under 18 years of age require parental permission or supervision.

Safety Talk

Keeping our volunteers safe is AWF’s top priority on our restoration projects! One way we keep you safe is to make sure that you are aware of the potential risks involved in camping and working outside, as well as the actions that AWF takes to reduce those risks. We go over these hazards during our safety talk at the start of each project, but we also wanted to provide it here for you to review in advance of coming out on a project. Before starting work, we will ask you to sign a liability waiver indicating that you understand the potential risks of participating in a restoration project and that you accept responsibility for your safety on the project.

Click here to download AWF's Safety Talk as a pdf document.

AWF also has specific safety protocols in effect for the duration of the Covid-19 pandemic. Click here to review them.

AWF's Project Liability Waiver is available here.