Free event will focus on student conservation efforts
SAFFORD, Ariz. - The Bureau of Land Management, Safford Field Office is partnering with local community organizations to host a series of brown bag lectures. The lectures provide the public an opportunity to learn more about conservation and public land topics. On Thursday, Feb 18 at BLM’s Safford Field Office, six students from Eastern Arizona College (EAC) will discuss their recent conservation work in Arizona.
All students work with the BLM through the EAC Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM) Partnership, a program supported primarily by the BLM and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation.
The students will discuss ongoing work to assess the condition and effectiveness of water catchment structures in the Peloncillo Mountains southeast of Safford. The structures are small concrete dams constructed in bedrock that provide reliable water for native wildlife and livestock.
Ten years of information about wildlife in the Gila Box Riparian National Conservation will also be presented. The data comes from the observational records of longtime BLM river ranger Richard Law. The students have analyzed the records to help identify trends related to the presence of wildlife like coatimundi, bighorn sheep and beaver. These records have documented 123 species present along the Gila River.
The EAC students presenting include Amber Caldwell, Jeremy Gillette, David Hancock, Dillon Hancock, Janelle Thurber and Kameron Wynne. They work under the direction of Jony Cockman, BLM Lead Natural Resource Specialist for the Safford Field Office.
The lecture will begin at noon and last one hour. Admission is free. Bring your own brown bag lunch. Coffee and tea will be available.
WHAT: A free event that offers the chance to learn more about the region’s natural resources during a brown bag lecture from two EAC students.
WHEN: Thursday, February 18 from noon to 1 p.m.
WHERE: BLM’s Safford Field Office 711 S 14th Ave, Safford, AZ 85546
For more information, contact the Safford Field Office at 928-348-4400.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management
