Description
Start Date-End Date: 07/07/2012-07/07/2012
Land Manager Office: USFS - Boulder Ranger District
Land Manager Contact: Beverly Baker
Funding Partner:
Programmatic Partner:
Summary: Help remove spotted knapweed in this rugged area right near Boulder.
Description:
STEWARDSHIP SITE
Spruce Gulch is a rugged area of National Forest land, which is close to Boulder but has a remote feel.
VOLUNTEER PROJECT - WHAT & WHY
For the fourth consecutive year, VOC volunteers will dig and pull spotted knapweed, an aggressive weed that is a priority to eradicate in Boulder County and most of Colorado. To access the site, volunteers will hike up to two miles each way, gaining about 600 feet on the way in. Poison ivy and rattlesnakes are present at the site and much of area is rocky, so volunteers will be required to wear long pants and sturdy footwear with closed toes. Everyone is encouraged to wear long sleeves. Participants will have a chance to learn about University of Colorado research with biological control insects at the site. Volunteers will meet at the Boulder Ranger District and carpool to the access point to Spruce Gulch. Please make sure to bring plenty of water! (at least 2 liters)
PARTNERS
U.S. Forest Service (USFS) Boulder Ranger District
National Forest Foundation
OTHER FUN STUFF
Meals:Snacks; NO lunch will be provided - please bring your own sack lunch
Latitude/Longitude: 40.04970169067383, -105.21430206298828
Additional Information:
Camping Available: No
Physical Difficulty: Moderate
High Altitude Project: No
Desired Number of Volunteers: 40
Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 13
Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 26
Total Volunteer Days: 39
Total Unique Volunteers: 39
Total Volunteer Hours: 322
Staff Hours: 0
Stipend Hours: 0
Project Summary:
Successes and Challenges:
Lessons Learned:
Special Notes:
Stewardship Education:
Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers:
According to Jim Jacobson:
The day went very well.
I think it was really good to have 20 students from the Upward Bound group join us, and I think VOC should consider some sort of longer-term partnership with the group. There were kids from all over the country, and my impression was that they had a nice time. Most of the kids were pretty much done working by noon, so the afternoon productivity was pretty low, but that's not the only thing that we should care about.
Here are some things to consider for improvement, if we have the group come out on another project:
1) arrival time: most of the community volunteers had arrived and were ready to go by 7:45. The youth group arrived around 7:50, and so that delayed the overall start time for the full group.
2) water: I had the impression that the group arrived without water. Fortunately, there were water bottles available, and those were fully used. My immpression was that several of the group members were mighty thirsty by the end of the day. I'm glad that Tom had lemonade, and I brought watermelon, so that gave some relief. The group gets a nice box lunch from the CU cafeteria, so it would be good to reinforce the importance of bringing water.
3) Clothing: one girl arrived in shorts, and fortunately the Forest Service was able to make arrangments for her to participate. The group leaders should be coached to ensure that all of their participants comply with the clothng policies that have been established for the project. That should be addressed when the group is still at CU (e.g., borrow pants from another student).
Description of Accidents/Incidents:
Description of Work Completed:
On Saturday, July 7th, VOC had a great turnout of 40 for our second visit to Spruce Gulch this season. This group of weed warriors continued the battle against noxious invasive weeds by removing over two acres of spotted knapweed as part of a greater weed containment and eradication strategy. VOC had the pleasure of being joined by 20 students from Upward Bound who worked hard through the heat and afternoon. Thank you to our partners at the US Forest Service Boulder Ranger District and to our wonderful volunteer leaders!
Details
| 16 and older |
