2018-Brewers Association SWAT: Eggelston Ditch Restoration in Boulder

Start Date-End Date: 07/19/2018-07/19/2018 Land Manager Office: City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks Land Manager Contact: Beau Clark Funding Partner: Programmatic Partner: Summary: Help restore a historic Boulder County Resource! Description: About the Stewardship Site We will be working to remove shrubs as part of an effort to re-establish and restore the historic Eggleston 4 feeder ditch, which was severely damaged in the 2013 flood and lost its connection to Coal Creek. The water right dates back to the late 1800's and the ditch has historically been used to fill a reservoir northeast of the Greenbelt Plateau Trailhead that was traditionally used for stock watering, and in more recent years, much of the focus for the reservoir has been to support wildlife conservation while also supporting agriculture. About the Volunteer Experience The project site is in a beautiful and remote valley with western views of the flatirons. This will be a challenging yet rewarding experience to remove shrubs to create a new ditch corridor. The area of removal will be around 5000 square ft. Work will require use of tools such as hand saws & loppers to cut shrubs to ground. Cut shrubs will then be consolidated and either chipped or loaded onto trucks for hauling. About the Overall Impact The shrub removal is being performed under best management practices provided by the US Fish and Wildlife Service for the Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse. The full project to re-establish the ditch will entail a shrub removal component and a construction component. There is a June-July window for the shrub removal to minimize potential impact to the Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse. We are also considering ground nesting birds in this project, and the best time to minimize disturbance for those is in July. This project will allow for an important and historical ditch to be restored. The method of removal - hand work vs. utilizing equipment is a much more sensitive way to best protect the Preble's Meadow Jumping Mouse and is far less impactful to the ecological resources in the project area. Latitude/Longitude: Additional Information: Camping Available: No Physical Difficulty: Difficult High Altitude Project: No Desired Number of Volunteers: 40 Total Adult Volunteers Attended: 38 Total Youth Volunteers Attended: 0 Total Volunteer Days: 38 Total Unique Volunteers: 38 Total Volunteer Hours: 228 Staff Hours: 13 Stipend Hours: 0 Project Summary: 40 volunteers from the Brewers Association began reconstructing Boulder's historic Eggelston Ditch. Since the late 1800s, the ditch has been used to fill a reservoir northeast of the Greenbelt Plateau Trailhead for stock watering and, in more recent years, to support wildlife conservation and agriculture. But in 2013, the ditch was damaged by floods, eliminating its connection to Coal Creek. To rebuild the ditch, vegetation must first be removed from the corridor, and doing so by hand was the more wildlife-sensitive way to accomplish it, especially for endangered Preble's Meadow Jumping Mice! These volunteers hacked and slashed their way to remove small trees and brush and establish about 15,000 sq. ft. of new corridor! Successes and Challenges: Surprisingly enjoyable volunteer experience. Just goes to show how much volunteers love slaying trees. Lessons Learned: It was a good idea to set up the 20x20 tent for shade in this hot, sweaty project. Special Notes: Stewardship Education: Key Concerns or Comments from Staff or Volunteers: Description of Accidents/Incidents: Description of Work Completed: