City Nature Challenge

Chad WelchLeave a commentAlliance Messages, Animals, Plants

The Eagle Mountain Nature and Wildlife Alliance is teaming up with the Natural History Museum of Utah, Eagle Mountain City, and several other organizations across the Wasatch to participate in The City Nature Challenge.

Any observation made using iNaturalist in Box Elder, Cache, Davis, Salt Lake, Summit, Utah, Wasatch, or Weber Counties will count towards the total in Utah’s Wasatch portion of the collaborative competition, but we really want you to help us showcase the diversity and quantity of wild organisms living in our great city!

The Alliance is also hosting a bioblitz Saturday, April 29 beginning near the Eagle Mountain Public Works building. The city’s Wildlife Biologist, Todd Black will lead the blitz from 7:30-9:30 that morning to help document the biodiversity throughout the city. Even if you can’t join us Saturday for the bioblitz, the challenge will be open for all submissions April 28-May 1. Any observations made during that timeframe will automatically become part of the City Nature Challenge.

Sponsors and Prizes

In addition to the contribution you will make to science, these local businesses have donated prizes for the “best of” submissions. “Best of” awards will be determined by the Board of Directors of the Eagle Mountain Nature and Wildlife Alliance. (The board and their immediate family members are ineligible for winning any of the prizes.)

An assortment of soaps

Gift basket

$5 gift certificate

20% off any 3D image and statue

Free 50-minute Float

Gift Basket

More Information

  • iNaturalist.org. Sign up for an account and then check out the great Help section for more information on how to use the app or website.
  • Utah’s Wasatch. The portion of the City Nature Challenge that we are part of.
  • Eagle Mountain bioblitz. Hosted by the Alliance and led by Wildlife Biologist, Todd Black.
  • Natural History Museum of Utah. See what other events are happening as part of Utah’s Wasatch project. The Museum is also offering prizes in addition to the ones specific to Eagle Mountain.
  • City Nature Challenge. The official website, see stats for the current and past years and learn the history of this world-wide community event. They also have great resources for learning how to capture scientifically useful observations.

Newsletter – February 2023

Trista TorsonLeave a commentAlliance Messages

Lifetime Wildlife Advocate

Marian BurninghamLeave a commentAlliance Messages
Photo by Nathan Clark

Melissa is a familiar figure to the residents of Eagle Mountain, Utah. She earned a reputation of concern for her fellow residents while serving on the City Council. She answered calls for help from them in difficult situations and connected them with resources to solve problems in their neighborhoods. One would be hard pressed to find a social media page used by Eagle Mountaineers that didn’t have Melissa helping residents and answering questions. One Board member couple tells of first encountering Melissa when she answered their call of concern regarding a planned development that threatened a cherished and unique section of wildlife habitat. Melissa showed up to see the area for herself. Despite rain, rough muddy terrain, and wearing a pair of “clogs,” she unflinchingly followed out into wash to see for herself how she could help. Since finishing her term on the City Council, she has moved on to another position of service as President and Executive Director of the Eagle Mountain Chamber of Commerce.

Melissa’s passion for service has been evident through her dedication to preserving open space and protecting wildlife while on City Council. Melissa developed an appreciation for nonprofit organizations and, because of this deep belief in service, has assisted in forming a number of them. She has likewise been an advocate and supporter of the work of the Eagle Mountain Nature and Wildlife Alliance. Melissa has consistently answered our calls for volunteers, regularly showing up and contributing snacks and beverages for those working on planting and other service projects, offering moral support. She not only encouraged the formation of our own non-profit corporation, she has dedicated many hours to us, guiding our application effort, including the creation of our Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws. She continues this advocacy for the Alliance and our efforts on behalf of wildlife and natural open spaces with community businesses and leaders. What was it that engrained in her such a strong ethic of service and compassion?

Early in life, Melissa learned the meaning of service. She grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the daughter of a single mother who fought through some difficult circumstances to rase her. In her mid-teens, Melissa went to live with her father and stepmother. During the summers she visited with each of her grandmothers, Bernice and Shirley, in rural Minnesota. They modeled this value of service and encouraged it in their young granddaughter. Melissa later moved to Utah to attend college at Utah Valley College (now Utah Valley University). She met her husband Nathan at work. They married in 1998 and moved to Eagle Mountain in 2008. Together they have raised four beautiful daughters.

Thank you, Melissa! We and our local wildlife owe you a debt of gratitude for the positive changes you’ve helped create and the lasting legacy that will remain for future generations.