Youngsters at the Sorenson's Ranch School in Koosharem are saving the federal government substantial amounts of money through voluntary projects while gaining experiences in conservation.
They have worked on three different projects in the Sevier River and Henry Mountain resource areas this year and have been involved in helpful projects during past years, according to Dave Henderson, area manager.Constructing a barbed-wire fence to create a riparian area around a reservoir has been one of the projects accomplished this summer. The reservoir is a source of animal drinking water.
Henderson said water was previously piped from the reservoir to a trough about one-half mile distant, making it possible to protect the riparian values without adversely affecting the grazing resource. The project is in Emery County.
The youths travel widely to complete their projects, as evidenced by their cleaning an area after flood damage occurred last year 10 miles southeast of Hanksville in Wayne County.
A localized torrential rainstorm swept down Meadow Gulch, wiping out fences, roads and three reservoir dams. About two miles of fence was severely damaged as weeds and other debris wrapped around the posts and wire.
Henderson said the debris had to be dug away and weeds burned so that materials could be salvaged. The youngsters' activities minimized costs for rebuilding the fence.
Community service has also been part of the projects and the youngsters have been eager to perform that type of work, Henderson said.