Description
Start Date-End Date: 04/09/2016-04/09/2016
Land Manager Office: City of Greeley - Parks and Recreation
Land Manager Contact: Chris Scully
Funding Partner:
Programmatic Partner:
Summary: Help restore a section of the iconic Signature Bluffs Natural Area.
Description: About the Stewardship Site
The Signature Bluffs Natural Area, situated along the Cache La Poudre River in Greeley, is home to a large swath of natural river habitat and, of course, the "signature bluffs." This significant geological system, carved by the river over millions of years, is distinctive along the Cache La Poudre's edge. The Signature Bluffs Natural Area serves as a mecca for Weld County residents, offering top-notch amenities for fishing, hiking, and biking, including the paved Poudre River Trail and a small network of trails.
About the Volunteer Experience
This is a two-part project ideal for volunteers ages 12 and up. First, volunteers will improve the surface of a trail that branches off from the main Poudre River Trail, by spreading gravel on a dirt path. Secondly, volunteers will revegetate an eroded riverbank by making cuttings of existing willow shrubs and transplanting those cuttings into the restored bank. A light breakfast and lunch will be provided.
About the Overall Impact
This project will improve the surface of a trail that meanders through the most frequently used natural area in Greeley. By making this upgrade, access into the area following spring flooding events will happen much more quickly than if the surface were to remain dirt. Further, the revegetation of the riverbank will ultimately help hold the soil during future high water flows, preventing future damage.
Latitude/Longitude: 40.442331, -104.787949
Additional Information:
Camping Available: No
Physical Difficulty: Easy, Moderate
High Altitude Project: No
Desired Number of Volunteers: 50
Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 67
Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 2
Total Volunteer Days: 69
Total Unique Volunteers: 69
Total Volunteer Hours: 464.5
Staff Hours: 26
Stipend Hours: 0
Project Summary: 67 volunteers came out for a day of Riparian and Trail restoration at Signautre Bluffs Natural Area in Greeley. While one crew transplanted 200 willow stakes and poles into 150 ft of streambank, the rest of the group reinforced approximatley 6800 ft. (over a mile!) of soft surface trail by laying down a new, gravel surface. This work will help to improve the long-term sustainability of the flood prone area and open new opportunities to recreationists, buttresing the streambank, and providing additional reinforcement to a soft surface trail network that connects to the regional Poudre RIver Trail.
Successes and Challenges: This project was rescheduled due to a blizzard a few days before the original date.
Lessons Learned:
Special Notes: Thinking from a volunteer hour perspective, this is an outlier for the trail work accomplishment. This trail was much less built than a standard crusher fines trail would be.
Stewardship Education:
Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers:
Description of Accidents/Incidents:
Description of Work Completed:
Details
| 12 and older |
