Contact: Kris Adams
Western Colorado Conservation Corps
Phone: 970-241-1027
Email: kadams@mesapartners.org
The Western Colorado Conservation Corps celebrate the 75th anniversary of the Civilian Conservation Corps
Grand Junction, CO, October 9th , 2008— This afternoon, the Western Colorado Conservation Corps (WCCC) of Mesa County Partners will celebrate the completion of their rehabilitation project on Otto’s Trail in the Colorado National Monument. The project is in honor of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and provides an opportunity for the community and our Corpsmembers to come together for the purpose of conservation awareness and historical appreciation.
The CCC was started by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on March 21, 1933 as part of the New Deal to combat the growing unemployment rate of the Great Depression. From 1933 to 1942, over 1,000 members of the CCC contributed greatly towards the enjoyment and recreation opportunities of today’s visitors to the Colorado National Monument. Several of their major project contributions include constructing the following: 15 miles of Rim Rock, 25 individual camp sites, a comfort station, caretaker’s residence, garage, four utility buildings, the Devils Kitchen Picnic Shelter, and miles of fencing and trails. WCCC has worked extensively within the Monument as well, making it a great location for connecting Corpsmembers with the history of the area and the CCC of the Western Slope. Today there are 111 Conservation Corps working in the spirit of the CCC in 42 states.
A WCCC crew will work on the project from Monday, October 6th through the 9th and the event will conclude with a lunch and reception from 12-2pm on Thursday, October 9th at the Devil’s Kitchen picnic area located just inside the east entrance in Grand Junction. Community members, elected officials, and CCC alumni will be attending the luncheon.
The WCCC was started in 1999 under the umbrella of Mesa County Partners in order to offer youth and young adults a conservation minded employment and education opportunity. The WCCC works on various conservation projects around the Western Colorado area including trail building and maintenance, habitat restoration, invasive species removal, and in-home energy conservation and education.
For more information please contact Rusty Lloyd, Western Colorado Conservation Corps at rlloyd@mesapartners.org or at (970) 241-1027
OttosTrailRehabPressRelease.docx