UCC Receives National Park Foundation Grant for Bryce Canyon Conservation Projects

LOGAN, Utah — The Utah Conservation Corps has been awarded $106,000 by the National Park Foundation to complete wildfire mitigation and habitat restoration projects at Bryce Canyon National Park.

Crews from Utah Conservation Corps, an AmeriCorps program within the Utah State University Center for Community Engagement, will partner with Bryce Canyon National Park through the end of the year to complete 20 weeks of work on these critical projects.

Utah Conservation Corps AmeriCorps members will develop valuable workforce skills and receive mentorship from Bryce Canyon National Park staff while completing crucial projects around historic buildings and in high impact areas.

"Bryce Canyon National Park is excited to partner with the Utah Conservation Corps to complete this important work made possible by the grant from the National Park Foundation,” said Eric Vasquez, vegetation technician. “The invasive species management, native plant community restoration and hazardous fuels reduction will increase the resiliency of the park’s ecosystems and infrastructure and help the park manage the natural and cultural resources we are mandated to protect and keep accessible for all to enjoy"

The National Park Foundation is a nonprofit leader and catalyst in safeguarding the more than 430 parks and preserves in America's National Park System and ensuring they are accessible and enjoyable — for everyone, forever. As the official nonprofit partner to the National Park Service, NPF works to conserve and preserve threatened wildlife and land, inspire the next generation of park stewards, tell the complete story of American history, and ensure a world-class visitor experience.

“We’re grateful for the support from NPF to fund these fuel reduction and habitat restoration projects at Bryce Canyon National Park, especially at a time when drought and fire are at the forefront of Utahns’ minds” said Sean Damitz, executive director of USU’s Center for Community Engagement.

Since 2001, more than 3,000 Utah Conservation Corps AmeriCorps members have served 2.2 million hours creating or maintaining over 5,000 miles of trail and nearly 600 miles of fence, restoring approximately 80,000 acres of public land and reaching over 540,000 students and individuals with environmental education. For more information about the Utah Conservation Corps please visit www.usu.edu/ucc.