SANTA ROSA LAKE, N.M. -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-Albuquerque District at Santa Rosa Lake is recruiting volunteers for its annual National Public Lands Day (NPLD) event scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024.
“NPLD gives our youth an opportunity to become volunteers,” said Gary Cordova, Santa Rosa Lake manager. “NPLD is an excellent way to give back to your community and instill in our youth the importance of natural resource conservation,”
For the 2024 National Public Lands Day event, the Santa Rosa Lake office is partnering with the New Mexico Department of Transportation through the Adopt-a-Highway program to clean along Highway 91 (Joe & Louie Page Road) leading to Santa Rosa Lake. The USACE office is also partnering with the N.M. State Park Office for a cleanup around the Juniper Park and boat ramp area.
"We are looking for local sponsors to help with a meal after the event to be at the Juniper Park Group Shelter,” said Cordova.
This is all scheduled to take place Saturday, Sept. 28, 2024, from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Those interested are asked to contact the local Santa Rosa Lake project office at (575) 472-3115 for more information.
Cordova said that at previous NPLD events volunteers from the local school organization, clubs and even the local Boy Scouts and Los Amigos 4-H Club participated in trail maintenance and xeriscaping projects around the Santa Rosa Lake Project Office.
The volunteers planted trees and shrubs eliminating hundreds of water sprinklers, helping conserve valuable drinking water for the city of Santa Rosa. Volunteers have also participated in numerous shoreline and campground clean-ups.
Volunteer NPLD certificates will be given to local volunteers.
“This is a great way to end the summer season by giving back to our community!” said Cordova.
National Public Lands Day is the nation's largest, single-day volunteer event for public lands. Established in 1994 and held annually on the fourth Saturday in September, the event brings out thousands of volunteers to help restore and improve public lands around the country.
Additional information about National Public Lands Day can be found on their website: https://www.neefusa.org/national-public-lands-day
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