Saturday will offer Rio Arriba residents the opportunity to volunteer at two cleanups and fish for free on public lands.
If you’re willing to volunteer time and a little sweat to improving the area around Abiquiú Lake Recreation Area in Rio Arriba County, show up at 9 a.m. Saturday at the Cerrito boat ramp at Abiquiú Lake, but expect to have company.
The United States Army Corps of Engineers, which manages Abiquiú Lake, will host a celebration of National Public Lands Day Saturday for the seventh straight year. The activities will include sustainable trail-building, native landscaping and trash pickup.
“We have the largest turnout of any Public Lands event in New Mexico,” Eric Garner, supervisory park ranger at Abiquiú Lake, said. “We have 100 to 150 people show up.”
National Public Lands Day was initiated in 1994 and last year attracted over 120,000 volunteers nationwide, according to a web site for the day. The purpose of the day is more than just picking up garbage.
“It’s to encourage the public to be a part of the stewardship of public lands,” Garner said. “It’s to strengthen our relationship with the folks from the area and let them get to know us.”
A good, positive attitude is all volunteers need to bring with them, according to Garner.
“We’ll have water for them, gloves and safety glasses,” Garner said. “Volunteers will be allowed to camp for free.”
There will be a free lunch served at noon.
“It’s all to have fun,” Garner said.
Garner may be contacted at 685-4371 for more information.
In addition to the activities at Abiquiú Lake, the Sandia Jeep Club will meet behind Abiquiú Elementary School at 9 a.m. for a cleanup in the Carson National Forest. Anyone interested can volunteer at this cleanup.
Saturday is also National Hunting and Fishing Day in New Mexico. Anglers may fish in any public waters throughout the state without a license.
The state Game and Fish Department and New Mexico State Parks have activities planned from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Fenton Lake State Park including archery, air rifle shooting, fishing instruction and fly tying. There will be hourly drawings for fishing rods and reels, as well as compound bows. The entrance fee to the park is $5 per vehicle.