2014-SLV14-Crestone Wilderness Stewards 2014

Start Date-End Date: 07/24/2014-09/30/2014 Land Manager Office: USFS - Saguache Ranger District Land Manager Contact: Brinkley Messick Funding Partner: NPS - Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve Programmatic Partner: BLM - San Luis Valley Summary: The Crestone Wilderness Stewards are the first chapter of the San Luis valley Wilderness Stewards and will operate primarily but not exclusively in the Sangre de Cristo Wilderness area on the Rio Grande National Forest. Description: Volunteers with the San Luis Valley Wilderness Stewards will be assisting the Saguache Ranger District with multiple projects and on an as needed basis in 2014. The level of physical activity required to participate in volunteer opportunities will vary from light to strenuous. Volunteers must present all appropriate certifications to the USFS and Volunteer Coordinator prior to activities that require certifications including but not limited to operation of government vehicles, chainsaw, crosscut saw, etc. Appropriate RMA's must be completed for each new task assigned. Volunteers will coordinate projects and report hours and accomplishments to Volunteer Coordinator Brinkley Messick at the end of each month. Volunteers are expected to wear the appropriate Personal Protective Equipment as indicated by the RMA for each activity. Volunteers may work independently upon approval from the Saguache Ranger District. Possible tasks include but are not limited to the following: Trail Maintenance Trail construction Dump site clean up Campground/Campsite improvements Invasive species identification and removal Fence construction Fence removal Back country pack support Front country pack support Trail condition surveys Visitor encounter surveys Volunteers will be required to behave in a manner appropriate to the workplace. List of prohibited activities: Possession or use of firearms except when authorized (Health and Safety Code Handbook, Chapter 17) Consumption of intoxicating beverages Possession or use of any illegal drugs (including medicinal marijuana) Use of Government -owned or Government-leased vehicles, property, tools, equipment, or telephones except as provided in the volunteer agreement Fighting, use of derogatory language, intimidating behavior, discrimination, sexual harassment, violent or threatening behavior Possession of pets without special permission of the district ranger or line officer Violation of any State game and fish regulation Violation of any Federal, State, or local law Selling of distributing non-agency products or literature in a Forest Service facility Disclosing confidential information Violation of any of the above prohibitions may constitute grounds for dismissal or other disciplinary action. Latitude/Longitude: 37.996388, -105.699733 Additional Information: Camping Available: Yes Physical Difficulty: Easy, Moderate, Difficult High Altitude Project: Yes Desired Number of Volunteers: 25 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 11 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 0 Total Volunteer Days: 61 Total Unique Volunteers: 11 Total Volunteer Hours: 532 Staff Hours: 207 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: Successes and Challenges: Lessons Learned: Special Notes: Stewardship Education: Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Description of Accidents/Incidents: Description of Work Completed: