Description
Start Date-End Date: 07/17/2015-07/17/2015
Land Manager Office: USFS - South Platte Ranger District
Land Manager Contact: Paige Fulghum
Funding Partner: Coalition for the Upper South Platte
Programmatic Partner:
Summary: NOTE: Registration for this opportunity is FULL. If you register, you will be placed on the wait list. As space becomes available, we will move individuals off the wait list.
Description: ABOUT THE STEWARDSHIP SITE
The 2012 18,500-acre Waldo Canyon Fire went down in history as the single most expensive wildfire in Colorado's history, only to be eclipsed by the Black Forest Fire in 2013. Wildfire experts say that nearly 20 percent of those acres were burned so severely that no living vegetation was left on the surface, nor root systems left below the surface to a depth of about four inches.Three years later, the severity of the damage is still dramatically slowing the recovery of the ecosystem and presenting near-constant flood risks-risks, which experts say may threaten the area for the next decade.
ABOUT THE VOLUNTEER PROJECT
The fire may be over, but the restoration is far from complete. VOC returns to Waldo Canyon again this year to help mitigate flooding and repair fire damage.These burn areas are still subject to erosion and mudslides, which threaten Colorado Springs' municipal water supply, Highway 24, and public and private infrastructure. Work will involve re-shaping the ground surface, re-seeding, tree and seedling planting, and building erosion control structures to stabilize drainages. Work will be moderate- to- strenuous in nature.Volunteers must commit to the whole work day as they will be shuttled from a meeting site to the work site.
A free light breakfast and lunch will be provided.
PARTNERS
U.S. Forest Service
Coalition for the Upper South Platte
Latitude/Longitude:
Additional Information:
Camping Available: No
Physical Difficulty: Moderate
High Altitude Project: Yes
Desired Number of Volunteers: 70
Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 44
Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 9
Total Volunteer Days: 53
Total Unique Volunteers: 53
Total Volunteer Hours: 395
Staff Hours: 32.5
Stipend Hours: 0
Project Summary: On July 17th, 53 volunteers, 2 VOC staff and several members from the CUSP staff came out to help restore part of the Waldo Canyon burn scar on the Rampart Range in the Pike National Forest. This is the 3rd consecutive year (and second time this season) that VOC has partnered with CUSP (Coalition for the Upper South Platte) to help with post-fire restoration projects in this area. Volunteers helped with 1.2 miles of road decommissioning, seeding, raking and slashing. Volunteers were also able to put in 3,200 square feet of jute mating, as well as install 7 water bars and 11 log check dams. Re-establishing plants in this area and putting in erosion control structures will help with stablizing the erosive soil and prevent the material from moving downhill into the water supply of Colorado Springs.
Successes and Challenges: The project was called early (around 2 PM) due to lightning in the area. Volunteers seemed to really enjoy the work and were dissapointed to not be able to work the full day. CUSP did an incredible job with crew leading and ensuring a safe working environment for all of the volunteers. Two reporters from local news stations came to the project and filmed volunteers installing log check dams. It was difficult coordinating with the news crews due to the fact that the site was remote and difficult to reach, but we were able to meet them at the original registration area/parking lot and caravan up to the site.
Lessons Learned: Make sure any VOC guests, board members, etc. are aware of how projects are run differently when partnering with CUSP for future projects.
Special Notes:
Stewardship Education:
Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers:
Description of Accidents/Incidents: None.
Description of Work Completed:
Details
| 16 and older |
