2013-Waldo Canyon Fire Restoration - 08/22/2013

Start Date-End Date: 08/22/2013-08/22/2013 Land Manager Office: USFS - Pike & San Isabel National Forests Land Manager Contact: Funding Partner: Habitat Management Inc. Programmatic Partner: Colorado Springs Utilities Summary: Help with habitat restoration and flood mitigation as part of the Waldo Canyon Fire restoration effort. Description: STEWARDSHIP SITE The 2012 18,500-acre Waldo Canyon Fire has already gone down in history as the single most expensive wildfire in Colorado state history. Of those 18,500 acres, 20% were burned so intensely that they were likened to moonscape by the Burned Area Emergency Response team. The severity of the damage will both dramatically slow the recovery of the ecosystem and present near-constant flood risks-risks which experts say may threaten the area for the next decade. VOLUNTEER PROJECT - WHAT & WHY In response to the destruction wrought by the Waldo Canyon Fire, volunteers will help with flood mitigation and fire restoration. These burn areas are now subject to severe erosion and mudslides which threaten Colorado Springs' municipal water supply, Highway 24, and public and private infrastructure.Volunteers will also help to minimize the loss of habitats already significantly harmed by the fire. Work will involve raking, mulching and reseeding the burn area in an effort to manage soil erosion. Volunteers may also have the opportunity to build erosion control structures to stabilize drainages prone to flooding. Sign up for one or both of our remaining 2013 Waldo Canyon Fire Restoration projects. PARTNERS Habitat Management Inc. SPONSORS Pikes Peak Community Foundation Colorado Garden Show, Inc Wooglin's Deli OTHER FUN STUFF Meals: A light breakfast and lunch will be provided. Latitude/Longitude: 38.917279, -104.8855 Additional Information: Camping Available: No Physical Difficulty: Moderate High Altitude Project: Yes Desired Number of Volunteers: 60 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 32 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 0 Total Volunteer Days: 32 Total Unique Volunteers: 32 Total Volunteer Hours: 352 Staff Hours: 45 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: Successes and Challenges: Lessons Learned: Special Notes: Stewardship Education: Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Most memorable volunteer was a woman who had previously led educational hikes through the Waldo Canyon. Since the fire she has been unable to access her favorite trails and signed up because she is so saddened and affected by the fires. Description of Accidents/Incidents: This was another popular fire project which lost numbers due to weather. The week before the project was the major flooding in Manitou Springs. Our project was on the other side of the springs and a few days prior to the project we had about half the people cancel. By this late notice it was hard to fill the spots with our wait-listers. The project itself was ok, because of the low numbers of volunteers and crew leaders we did not get as much work done as we had hoped. The partners were really great and accommodating to work with. The feedback I got from them was that they were happy with the day and the work that was accomplished. This project should be done again but a push for crew leaders and a full project is necessary. Description of Work Completed: On Thursday August 22, 32 volunteers headed up to the Waldo Canyon burn scar outside Colorado Springs to do some much needed fire restoration. The day was cut short by the threat of afternoon thunderstorms, but volunteers managed to get an impressive 11 acres raked and seeded with a native grass seed mixture.