Big Picture
The Wilderness Stewardship Performance Program is a US Forest Service framework that measures human impact within wilderness areas. To ensure that these wilderness areas stay wild forever, the Forest Service has identified key elements that help define successful wilderness stewardship based on the Wilderness Act. These elements combine the essential qualities of wilderness character. One of these elements is Recreation Sites.
In 2023 and 2024, Save Our Canyons is partnering with the Salt Lake Ranger District to ensure that all wilderness recreation sites are managed to protect Wilderness Characteristics in Twin Peaks Wilderness, Mount Olympus Wilderness, Deseret Peak Wilderness, and Lone Peak Wilderness. The Salt Lake Ranger District has developed a survey and mapping app for volunteers to use to collect inventory data of unofficial, recreation sites, including but not limited to; fire rings, camp sites, climbing crags, overlooks, and fishing spots. This process will be done by looking for recreation sites and following protocol to survey current conditions of the location, to then compare over time. If you are someone who likes to get outside and hike, this is for you.
During the 2024 Season
Save Our Canyons will be hosting 5 group monitoring sessions between May and September. The goal is to provide volunteer stewardship opportunities for anyone interested in getting involved. To participate in the Recreation Site Monitoring Program, you must complete a 1 time training session where you will learn the surveying protocol and be able to accurately collect data for long term analysis.
Once you complete your training session, you can attend our group Monitoring sessions, or monitor on your own.