Volunteer Now!

To get involved call the Tamarisk Coalition at 970-256-7400 or email Bill at wcooper@tamariskcoalition.org.

"Working with the Tamarisk Coalition is a way for me to give back to the environment that I live in. Growing up as a kid in this area I used to hike the back country trails and I do not remember tammies growing in the canyons, there was always wide open views. Now the views are shrouded by these nasty trees, besides that it makes hiking a chore as you have to pick your way through this dense jungle. The other very good reason is that I get to meet like minded people who also enjoy the outdoors, many of these have since become very good friends as we find other things in common." - Kim Woynowskie

The Tamarisk Coalition believes strongly in the power of local community to restore and protect our lands. Volunteer projects are an excellent way to facilitate this process. Our volunteer projects focus on education, dialogue, and on-the-ground tamarisk and Russian olive control, native plant revegetation, monitoring, and maintenance. This approach has inspired a core community of local citizens to improve the health of the ecosystems we all depend upon and enjoy.

Some of our past volunteer efforts include:

1. Watson's Island Removal and Revegetation Project (described below)
2. The McInnis Canyons Volunteer Project (MCVP) (described below)
3. The Island Acres Removal and Revegetation Project (described below)
4. The Mack Wash Revegetation Project (described below)
5. Kingsview Open Space Restoration Project in Fruita, CO

Watson’s Island Restoration Project

The Watson Island Complex is formed by a braided stretch of the Colorado River near downtown Grand Junction, CO. The site hosts a section of the Riverfront Trail System and located adjacent to the Western Colorado Botanic Gardens. The 70-acre property, owned by the City of Grand Junction is infested with invasive trees such as tamarisk and Russian olive. The Watson Island Restoration Project began in 2008. The project goals include control of tamarisk, Russian olive, and other invasives; restoration of native vegetation appropriate to the site; enhancement of education and recreation opportunities; and engagement of the community through volunteer projects. To date, volunteers have shown amazing commitment to this project by participating in invasive control and revegetation events.

Partners in the project include City of Grand Junction, Western Colorado Conservation Corps, Western Colorado Botanic Gardens, Grand Junction Lion's Club, Colorado Riverfront Foundation, Mesa County, Chevron, Stoller Corps, US Fish and Wildlife, Grand Valley Audubon, Western Colorado Botanic Gardens, REI, Western Colorado Math and Science Center, Chelsea Nursery, Colorado Water Conservation Board, and others.

McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area (MCNCA)

2006-2009, our staff worked alongside amazingly loyal and hard working volunteers to remove tamarisk and Russian olive from these beautiful canyons located southwest of Grand Junction, CO. Removal work is complete in Devil’s, Flume and Pollock Canyons.

James M. Robb Island Acres State Park

In 2008, we partnered with Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado and in 2009 we partnered with the Western Colorado Conservation Corps to hold an enormously successful, large-scale tamarisk removal, biomass chipping, and revegetation project at the James M. Robb Colorado River State Park Island Acres near Cameo, CO. Funding for this project has been provided by US Fish and Wildlife Service, Williams Energy, Bacon Family Foundation and the Colorado Water Conservation Board.

This project was designed to accomplish three tasks:

1. Engage local citizens to remove non-native invasive tamarisk and Russian olive from public lands and to carry out revegetation plans.
2. Protect and restore fragile riparian and canyon habitats infested with tamarisk and Russian olive..
3. Improve wildlife habitat.

All three goals were achieved thanks to the amazingly hard working volunteers that completed much more than any of the organizing partners expected! Thanks again!