2012-Colorado River Habitat Restoration and Canoe Trip Stewardship Adventure

Start Date-End Date: 09/06/2012-09/09/2012 Land Manager Office: BLM - Grand Junction Field Office Land Manager Contact: Troy Schnurr Funding Partner: Centennial Canoe Outfitters, Inc Programmatic Partner: Summary: Join us on the Colorado River for 4-days of canoeing, tamarisk removal, and great fun! Description: STEWARDSHIP SITE This project follows the Colorado River through the Bureau of Land Management's McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area. The surrounding area is part of BLM's National Landscape Conservation System and offers spectacular canyon and river scenery of shiny granite sculpted by water through the ages. VOLUNTEER PROJECT - WHAT & WHY Need a vacation? Eager to make a difference? Do both on Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado's Stewardship Adventure on the Colorado River. 2012 marks the fifth year VOC, the Grand Junction Bureau of Land Management, and Centennial Canoe team up to remove drought-causing tamarisk trees while enjoying a four-day river trip down the extraordinary Colorado River through the BLM's McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area. We'll paddle the peaceful waters of Horsethief and Ruby Canyons of the Colorado River past remnants of ancient metamorphic Black Rock in canoes furnished by Centennial Canoe Outfitters. No canoe experience necessary! In addition to rewarding stewardship work, you'll also be able to enjoy canyon hikes into the Black Ridge Canyons Wilderness Area, discussions with naturalists and BLM park rangers, camping along the river's banks, and great food and nightly entertainment. This is BIG COUNTRY and a geologist's paradise. PARTNERS Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Centennial Canoe OTHER FUN STUFF Meals: provided for the duration of the project Camping: Thursday through Saturday nights. Volunteers must find their own accommodations on Wednesday night before launch Thursday morning. This project earned VOC and Centennial Canoe, the Bureau of Land Management's highest award for volunteerism presented in May 2009 by U.S. Secretary of Interior Ken Salazar. This trips ALWAYS sells out and has become a yearly tradition and model for river stewardship and volunteerism. There is a $240 non-refundable fee. Registrants' spots are not reserved until payment is made in full. Latitude/Longitude: 39.22790145874023, -108.81490325927734 Additional Information: Camping Available: Yes Physical Difficulty: Moderate High Altitude Project: No Desired Number of Volunteers: 21 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 19 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 0 Total Volunteer Days: 19 Total Unique Volunteers: 19 Total Volunteer Hours: 522.5 Staff Hours: 144 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: Successes and Challenges: Lessons Learned: Special Notes: Stewardship Education: Campfire talks and Q&A with BLM staff on 2 evening on topics of fire management and tamarisk control. Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Volunteers enjoyed the relaxation and fun. Perhaps more work can be providde to the volunteers. Best not to have work on the first afternoon of canoeing and arrival to campsite. Volunteers preferred to get up early the next day to do extra work. Description of Accidents/Incidents: None Description of Work Completed: For the 5th year in a row, VOC partnered with Centennial Canoe and the BLM for a great project on the Colorado River in the McInnis Canyons National Conservation Area. Nineteen volunteers spent September 6-9 taking in breathtaking views while creating 36 huge slash piles (averaging 8-10 feet tall and 20 feet wide) from tamarisk sawed down by BLM staff. Volunteers were treated to delicious meals prepared by Centennial Canoe and beer donated by Colorado Native. Evening talks on tamarisk and other native weeds, fighting wildfires, and National Conservation Areas were provided by BLM staff. Centennial Canoe and BLM staff entertained the group by singing and playing guitar, banjo and harmonica . Highlights of the trip included spotting a bald eagle, peregrine falcons, a herd of about 15 desert bighorn sheep, wild turkeys and many small lizards as volunteers canoed and camped along the river. The group also took a hike to a rock art site in the McDonald Creek Cultural Area. Thank you to all volunteers who helped restore this Colorado landscape while enjoying each other's company and the beauty of the scenery!