107,189 acres burned in Manti-La Sal National Forest, CCYC project funding interrupted, and a long recovery ahead
CCYC Pivots to Avoid Layoffs
Canyon Country Youth Corps' (CCYC) watershed restoration project in the Manti-La Sal National Forest, and its funding, was interrupted when the Babylon Fire claimed the project area, causing an estimated $100,000 shortfall to CCYC. As one of the very few on-the-job training programs in the region, BEP has resolved to keep our crews working on public lands, gaining experience, and receiving their living stipends during this prolonged period of project interruption.
CCYC pivots to work on projects originally scheduled for autumn as Babylon Fire burns
While grant-funded projects burned in the high elevations of the Manti-La Sal National Forest, our Youth Corps members have remained adaptable and resilient. CCYC leadership has been successfully keeping the crews at work, pivoting daily work plans to other critical projects. Though several projects are located at lower elevations in the extreme summer heat of desert summer, CCYC’s leaders have been able to mobilize crews to the uplands in the La-Sal Mountains to the northeast of the Abajos, also within the Manti-La-Sal district, to keep them working in more favorable conditions.
CCYC’s work site on the largest watershed restoration project in the history of the Manti-La Sal National Forest was located within the fire perimeter. Thus, work was halted and funding interrupted, causing a $100,000 grant funding shortfall. Crew members' well being, and maintaining the Youth Corps' readiness for on the ground in the post-fire rehabilitation efforts have been prioritized.
CCDC becomes Fire Operations Base
Meanwhile, with the fire containment at 95% and evacuation orders lifted, BEP opened the Canyon Country Discovery Center to partner agencies, where they have based operations to begin assessing the impact of the fire on the landscape, cultural sites and wildlife.
USFS Manti-La Sal District updates indicate crews are working to reopen roads within the fire perimeter as a Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER) Team assesses post-fire trail conditions, burn severity, and potential hazards using Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). UAS flights are also documenting remote cultural resource sites, helping specialists evaluate post-fire impacts and identify emergency stabilization needs. The information gathered supports science-based recommendations to protect public safety, natural resources, and cultural sites.
BEP opened the Canyon Country Discovery Center where fire operations have been based and is co-leading the Bears Ears Conservation Partnership (BECP), which is working in collaboration with our Tribal and Nonprofit partners alongside the USFS, BLM, Bureau of Indian Affairs and Utah Division of Wildlife Resources to develop next steps to survey the damage and form a strategy for restoring the landscape and stewarding the resources that were impacted.
Members of BECP recently visited North Cottonwood Creek where evidence of monsoonal flash flooding was observed, which contained fire debris washed down from higher elevations. This is an early indication there will be significant need for stabilization and rehabilitation in the burn zone to help prevent erosion and promote long-term watershed health.
Full assessment of damage to the area will take well into 2027 to be fully understood, and restoration and rehabilitation efforts will be ongoing for years to come.
Babylon Fire Resources:
Watch Duty: https://app.watchduty.org/i/104843
Manti-La Sal National Forest Alerts - https://www.fs.usda.gov/r04/manti-lasal/alerts
Bureau of Land Management Alerts - https://www.blm.gov/.../regional-info/utah/fire-restrictions