UPCOMING RESTORATION PROJECT: 

Project
Galisteo Basin, September 21

LOCATION: Galisteo Basin off Highway 14 between Albuquerque & Santa Fe

THE PROJECT: Join AWF for a day project at a new site in the Galisteo Basin! We will be teaming up with Ecotone Landscape Planning to build several low-tech, process-based restoration structures on private land near Cerrillos, NM. The types of structures we will work on include one-rock dams, rock rundowns, Zuni bowls, and wicker weirs, which will be used to terrace a steep slope.

SCHEDULE: Saturday, September 21, 9:00 am-4:00 pmFor anyone who would like to do some work on Sunday, September 22, Ecotone staff will be available to lead a second workshop at the site that day from 9:00 am-1:00 pm.

AWF recently added this bonus project to our schedule, and we are organizing it as a day project, meaning AWF is not providing meals or setting up the camp kitchen. However, the owners of the land where we are working have welcomed volunteers to camp on their land Friday and/or Saturday nights, and campers will have access to a nearby indoor kitchen and a bathroom. Please let us know if you are interested in camping when you RSVP.


GEAR: Bring everything you need for a day of restoration work, including work gloves, hat, long sleeves, long pants, sturdy boots, and sunscreen. Rain gear, layers, and plenty of water are essential.If you are planning to camp, please bring all the camp gear you will need.


FOOD: Please bring your own lunch and snacks for Saturday, as well as lots of water! If you are camping, please provide all your own meals.

TO SIGN UP:
Email Phil at [email protected]
Directions and further details will be sent to you once you sign up.

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Cebolla Canyon, October 2-4

LOCATION: Cebolla Canyon, 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 4 – Sunday, October 6
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 a change of shoes, and waterproof boots or boots you don’t mind getting wet. 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:
Email Phil at [email protected]
Directions and further details will be sent to you once you sign up.
Support AWF's work!  

2024 AWF Project Schedule
click here for a map of 2024 project locations

MARCH 9 - Valle de Oro Wildlife Refuge
APRIL 12-14 - Ft. Union Ranch
MAY 17-19 - Rio Mora Wildlife Refuge
MAY 31- JUNE - Rito Peñas Negras
JUNE 21-23 - San Antonio Creek, Jemez Mtns
JULY 19-21 - Gallinas post-fire restoration
AUGUST 9-11 - Midnight Meadows, near Questa, NM
AUGUST 30-SEPT 1 - Limestone Canyon, near Magdalena, NM 
SEPTEMBER 21 - Galisteo Basin
OCTOBER 4-6 - Cebolla Canyon in El Malpais  
OCTOBER 26 - 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.