They gathered from across the state of Utah but far from its population centers. Some 70 Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation volunteers came together in late June for the annual state rendezvous and volunteer project in Richfield, about 140 miles south of Salt Lake City and 165 miles north of St. George.
The highlight, other than rekindling long-time friendships and forming new ones, was heading into the backcountry of Fishlake National Forest. RMEF volunteers joined ranks with US Forest Service and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources staffers to build two new wildlife water sources.
Constructing water guzzlers is old hat for this crowd. Volunteers know what to do and how to go about it. RMEF paid for two 1,800-gallon guzzlers, with both finished and in the ground by late afternoon, and prepaid for two more for 2025.
Now, the two units are capturing and storing life-sustaining water on a landscape that can be particularly hot and overly arid for parts of the year. And that’s good news for elk, mule deer, moose, black bears, mountain lions, bobcats, mountain goats, small animals, wild turkey, songbirds and other wildlife who need it.
“We recognize the importance of working with agency partners to accomplish this critical conservation,” said Ron Camp, RMEF Utah regional director. “When we work together, great things happen. Thanks to Team Utah for getting it done!”
To cap the day, the group gathered for its own volunteer fun night, complete with raffles, prizes, games, comradery and much more.
Watch the 2022 RMEF film Utah Guzzler Project – RMEF Volunteers in Action .
(Photo credit: Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation)
