Jump into the world of the conservation corps. Who are they and what exactly do they do? The mission of our partner, Conservation Legacy, succinctly captures it—engaging future leaders who protect and enhance our nation’s lands through community-based service. They are a diverse group of young adults (usually 18-35) and veterans who plant trees, fight wildfires and remove graffiti. They also test water quality and weatherize homes in underserved communities. And when disaster strikes, teams jump right in to mitigate flooding or remove debris. When you look at the list, it feels like the corps does a little bit of everything!
The roots of the conservation corps stretch back to 1933, during the challenging times of the Great Depression, when President Roosevelt established the Civilian Conservation Corps. The Corps provided jobs and in-demand skills training to young men for conservation projects. In exchange for a paycheck, a roof over their heads and warm meals, they built retaining walls along the Virgin River in Zion National Park and created fishponds in parks throughout Colorado. In the Southwest, the Corps planted millions of trees to anchor watersheds and prevent soil erosion. They also completed a fire watch tower in Lincoln National Forest in New Mexico.
Today, Conservation Legacy continues this historic work. This spring, Forever Our Rivers awarded $159,296 to Conservation Legacy to monitor and manage the health of three watersheds—the Dolores, Escalante and Verde. These rivers are crucial tributaries to the Colorado River.
