2012-North Fork of the Gunnison River Ecological Restoration

Start Date-End Date: 08/25/2012-08/26/2012 Land Manager Office: NFRIA-WSERC Conservation Center Land Manager Contact: Anna Santo Funding Partner: Programmatic Partner: Summary: Be part of an important ecological restoration effort to control invasive weeds that have begun to infest the North Fork of the Gunnison River conservation area in Paonia (near Hotchkiss, CO) on the weekend of August 25-26th. Description: STEWARDSHIP SITE The North Fork of the Gunnison River flows into the main stem of the Gunnison River, a tributary of the Colorado River. This valley is in the canyons and high desert of southwest Colorado, west of the Elk Mountains. The site has been actively mined for gravel since 1977 and has been severely degraded as a result. In 2007, the North Fork River Improvement Association (NFRIA), now the NFRIA-WSERC Conservation Center (NWCC), began restoration work by completing a channel rehabilitation project at the site. The project realigned over 3,000 feet of linear channel, stabilized the river banks, created two acres of wetland and backwater areas for waterfowl nesting and fish spawning, and created pools, scour pockets, and eddies for in-stream fish habitat. The land was put into permanent conservation easement in 2008. VOLUNTEER PROJECT - WHAT & WHY Be part of an important ecological restoration effort to control invasive weeds that have begun to infest the surrounding riparian (river) and wetland areas of the North Fork of the Gunnison River conservation area. This is a great opportunity to learn techniques for controlling invasive tamarisk, Russian olive, Siberian elm, and other secondary weeds. Help remove weeds using techniques such as stump-cut and basal bark treatment. Staff will be on hand to apply herbicides and operate chainsaws. We may also work on re-seeding some of the disturbed areas. The project will require volunteers to walk up to one mile to the work site. PARTNERS NFRIA-WSERC Conservation Center OTHER FUN STUFF Meals: Saturday breakfast through Sunday lunch Camping: available Friday and Saturday nights Latitude/Longitude: 38.81240081787109, -107.74720001220703 Additional Information: Camping Available: Yes Physical Difficulty: Moderate High Altitude Project: No Desired Number of Volunteers: 75 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 60 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 2 Total Volunteer Days: 62 Total Unique Volunteers: 37 Total Volunteer Hours: 873 Staff Hours: 152 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: Successes and Challenges: Lessons Learned: Special Notes: Stewardship Education: NFRIA volunteer and botanist give a weeds talk on Saturday night. County Weed Coordinator andCecily gave herbicide training to applicators on Friday night. Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Volunteer handling of herbicides and chainsaws are concerns. More training for the future and a standardization of required training/skills if we continue to ask volunteers to take on technical roles with higher risk. A lot of time required for the technical aspects of this project, especially herbicides. Partners seemed surprised by the amount of PPE required and equipment they needed to obtain for this project (chainsaws, chaps, herbicide equipment). Description of Accidents/Incidents: None Description of Work Completed: On the weekend of August 25-26, over 30 volunteers chain-sawed, hand-cut, hauled, and stump-treated invasive tamarisk, Russian olives, and Siberian elm trees. They cleared these invasive from a reclaimed section the North Forth of the Gunnison River that was previously gravel mined. Volunteers cleared dense stands of these invasives from approximately 110,000 sq feet (2.5 acres). Volunteers were welcomed to the project on Friday with local band Mojo, who entertained the crowd with excellent vocals, saxophone, trombone, flute, and drums. The local community additionally thanked volunteers with a pint of free beer from West Elk Inn and swimming/showers at the North Fork Pool, Park & Recreation District. Local volunteers shared delicious, fresh-picked fruit and vegetables from their garden and orchards. A number partners came together in planning, funding, equipment, and implementation to make this project possible. The partners were: NFRIA- WSERC, Delta Conservation District, Delta County Noxious Weed Program, Western Colorado Conservation Corps, Tamarisk Coalition, Colorado Canyon Association, Colorado Garden & Home Show, and VOC. Food donations from Kaladi Coffee, Einstein Bros Bagels, Raquelitas Tortillas, and Grant Family Farms. Project evaluation form in Project Folder.