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2006 Projects
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| Project Name | Day(s) | Date(s) |
| Pella Crossing |
Saturday |
Apr 15, 2006 |
| Eldorado Canyon Restoration |
Wednesday |
Apr 26, 2006 |
| Boulder Prairie Restoration III |
Saturday |
Apr 29, 2006 |
| Arapaho NWR River Restoration |
Saturday Sunday |
May 20, 2006 May 21, 2006 |
| Jamestown Fire Restoration |
Tuesday |
Jun 6, 2006 |
| EWM Bear Canyon Creek |
Wednesday |
Jun 14, 2006 |
| Orient Land Trust Restoration |
Saturday Sunday |
Jun 17, 2006 Jun 18, 2006 |
| Med Sage Last Stand |
Wednesday |
Jun 21, 2006 |
| Hidden Valley |
Saturday Sunday |
Jun 24, 2006 Jun 25, 2006 |
| Native-1 Seed Collection |
Wednesday |
Jun 28, 2006 |
| Phantom Canyon |
Wednesday |
Jul 12, 2006 |
| Arapaho NWR Boardwalk |
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday Monday |
Jul 13, 2006 Jul 14, 2006 Jul 15, 2006 Jul 16, 2006 Jul 17, 2006 |
| Native-2 Seed Collection |
Wednesday |
Jul 19, 2006 |
| Lake Isabelle Trail |
Thursday Friday Saturday Sunday |
Aug 3, 2006 Aug 4, 2006 Aug 5, 2006 Aug 6, 2006 |
| Native-August Seed Collection |
Wednesday |
Aug 16, 2006 |
| Arapaho Lakes |
Friday Saturday Sunday |
Aug 18, 2006 Aug 19, 2006 Aug 20, 2006 |
| Mud Lake & Bald Mountain |
Saturday Sunday |
Sep 9, 2006 Sep 10, 2006 |
| Native-3 Seed Collection |
Wednesday |
Sep 20, 2006 |
| Carnage Canyon Restoration |
Saturday |
Sep 23, 2006 |
| Pelican Pond |
Saturday |
Oct 14, 2006 |
| Tool Fest |
Saturday |
Oct 21, 2006 |
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No experience is required. Meals are served in most cases. Spread the word! Tell your friends about these exciting projects! |
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Pella Crossing
COMPLETED |
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| ● ● Miniumum Age: 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date(s):
Welcome the spring and return to the site of Wildlands Restoration Volunteers first project. Back In 1999, and 86 projects ago, 20 volunteers restored a stretch of shoreline at this Boulder County Pond. The willows planted are now taller than Michael Jordan! However, other parts of the shoreline have undergone severe erosion from wind-induced waves. Volunteers will stabilize the bank with a variety of willow planting, seeding, and erosion control practices. |
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Eldorado Canyon Restoration
COMPLETED |
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| ● ● Miniumum Age: 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date(s):
Eldorado Canyon State Park is a hidden treasure in Boulder's backyard! The Canyon has it all - offering technical rock climbing, streamside picnic areas and trails with panoramic vistas -- all encompassed in a spectacular canyon setting. Increased recreational use is resulting in degradation of Eldorado's natural environment. The spread of noxious weeds throughout Eldorado Canyon endangers the survival of native plant and animal species by reducing indigenous habitat. Join us in helping to protect this fragile environment by removing invasive myrtle spurge along the scenic Eldorado Canyon Trail. This is a great way to learn more about foothills ecology and local plants. |
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Boulder Prairie Restoration III
COMPLETED |
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| ● ● Miniumum Age: 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date(s):
Building on two years of successful progress (initiated by Volunteers for Outdoor Colorado), Wildlands Restoration Volunteers will continue the urgent quest to remove Mediterranean Sage from Boulder County. Left unchecked, this weed aggressively invades grasslands, reduces native plant populations, degrades wildlife habitat and affects the overall health of prairie ecosystems. We’ll be part of a multi-agency partnership to target our removal efforts at the highest priority sites in Boulder County. Your efforts work will restore and protect vital prairie habitat and take us one more critical step toward eradicating Mediterranean Sage from Colorado. |
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Arapaho NWR River Restoration
COMPLETED |
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| ● ● Miniumum Age: 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date(s):
The 25,000 acre Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge, near Walden, Colorado, protects critical wildlife habitat along 27.4 miles of the Illinois River. This place is gorgeous, with abundant elk, moose, birds, and a spectacular panorama of surrounding mountains. The high mountain willow riparian community is very important for neotropical migrating songbirds. However, much of the willow community was removed by previous ranching practices. Volunteers will gather and plant willow cuttings in a wide variety of ways along the banks of the Illinois River. This project builds on work we began in 2004 as part of a river restoration research project. The purpose is to identify the most effective willow planting techniques that can be applied on a massive scale in the coming years to restore many miles of the Illinois River. We’ll camp near the refuge headquarters. |
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Jamestown Fire Restoration
COMPLETED |
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| ● ● Miniumum Age: 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date(s):
Join us to "Mulch the Gulch!" In October, 2003, nearly 4000 acres of foothills land burned in a fast moving high intensity fire, driven by tinder dry conditions and high winds. Portions of the burn area have been restored by a wide range of partners, including the US Forest Service, WRV, and the James Creek Watershed Initiative (JCWI). However, there is a gulch above Jamestown in dire need of help. Each of the last two summers, a torrent of mud and debris has flooded down from the gulch through Jamestown during major summer storms. In 2006, WRV will collaborate with JCWI once again, and with Fire Break Tree Services. Volunteers will spread straw mulch on acres of hillside above town to stabilize slopes and promote water absorption into the soil. WRV has been working with JCWI for six years, completing nearly ten projects to restore the James Creek watershed. |
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EWM Bear Canyon Creek
COMPLETED |
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| ● ● Miniumum Age: 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date(s):
Map and pull Eurasian Watermilfoil from stretch of Bear Canyon Creek flowing alongside Foothills Pkwy, as part of plan to remove EWM from tributaries feeding into Boulder Creek. |
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Orient Land Trust Restoration
COMPLETED |
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| ● ● Miniumum Age: 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date(s):
Volunteers will remove houndstongue at Orient Land Trust--Valley View Hot Springs. We'll work two half days, Saturday and Sunday, and enjoy good food and soaks in the hot spring pools. |
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Med Sage Last Stand
COMPLETED |
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| ● ● Miniumum Age: 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date(s):
The Boulder Prairie Restoration on April 29 was a huge success thanks to over 120 volunteers who attended. A huge amount of Mediterranean Sage was removed, but inevitably, some small plants are always missed. Left unchecked, this weed aggressively invades grasslands, reduces native plant populations, and degrades wildlife habitat and the overall health of prairie ecosystems. Please come celebrate the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, and help us remove those pesky Mediterranean Sage plants that missed our gaze on April 29. By mid June these plants bolt and are easily visible. Volunteers will traverse Table Mountain, looking for these plants. We'll cut and bag these plants to prevent them from soon spreading many thousands of seeds, while enjoying the lovely summer evening. |
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Hidden Valley
COMPLETED |
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| ● ● Miniumum Age: 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date(s):
Rocky Mountain National Park is a prime destination for millions of summer travelers. Not so long ago, the Park’s Hidden Valley ski area also drew enthusiastic crowds. Overuse led to the closure of the ski area and the associated buildings and parking lot, and the initiation of extensive ecological restoration. As part of this broad effort, WRV will assist the Park Service in rehabilitating a wetland area that was once covered by the parking lot. Volunteers will transplant over 18,000 plants to recreate native subalpine wetland habitat. This area has beautiful panoramic views. Volunteers will camp at Morraine Park Camp, a site devoted specially to volunteer and other special groups. Meals will be provided. |
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Native-1 Seed Collection
COMPLETED |
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| ● ● Miniumum Age: 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date(s):
June 2006 notes: Probably collecting flax at Wolf Run (near intersection of hwy 36 and Nelson Road). Native seed collection is a wonderful family activity! It’s fun, mellow, and brings us out to beautiful outdoor locations where we can learn more about native plants and local ecology. Many land restoration projects depend on precious hand collected native seed because purchased seeds are unavailable, too expensive or not an acceptable match to the local native species ecotypes. During these seed collection sessions, volunteers will hand collect a variety of species, including mostly grasses, sedges, and occasionally wildflowers and other forbs. These seeds will be utilized by an inter-agency partnership through which wild collected native species are “increased” or grown out agriculturally. This process dramatically increases the amount of locally adapted grass seed that is available for revegetation projects on local public lands. |
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Phantom Canyon
COMPLETED |
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| ● ● Miniumum Age: 14 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date(s):
Enjoy a rare opportunity to visit the spectacular Phantom Canyon Preserve, located 25 miles northwest of Fort Collins. Phantom Canyon spans six miles without any interruption from roads, offering habitat for 100 bird species and a varied topography and soil composition that supports 200 plant species. In order to protect this special part of the Laramie Foothills’ ecological heritage, The Nature Conservancy only allows visitors onto the Preserve as part of special guided hikes and volunteer projects. Volunteers will join a multi-part effort to control invasive weeds that would, if left untouched, undo the area’s ecological balance. WRV will remove several weed species along the Cache le Poudre River corridor, preventing their spread. |
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Arapaho NWR Boardwalk
COMPLETED |
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| ● ● Miniumum Age: 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date(s):
The 25,000 acre Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge, near Walden, Colorado, protects critical wildlife habitat along 27.4 miles of the Illinois River. This place is gorgeous, with abundant elk, moose, birds, and a spectacular panorama of surrounding mountains. Volunteers will reconstruct a bridge and 400 feet of an existing 1700 foot boardwalk that accesses beautiful habitat along the Illinois River. Currently, much of the boardwalk is closed because of damage and decay. Our work will allow the boardwalk to be re-opened for public access, including especially persons with disabilities. If you enjoy carpentry, or would like to learn more in a spectacular outdoor setting, and you’re available for a five day stretch, then this is the project for you. We’ll stay in a house near the refuge headquarters. Meals provided. Volunteers strongly encouraged to arrive on Wednesday afternoon. |
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Native-2 Seed Collection
COMPLETED |
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| ● ● Miniumum Age: 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date(s):
Native seed collection is a wonderful family activity! It’s fun, mellow, and brings us out to beautiful outdoor locations where we can learn more about native plants and local ecology. Many land restoration projects depend on precious hand collected native seed because purchased seeds are unavailable, too expensive or not an acceptable match to the local native species ecotypes. During these seed collection sessions, volunteers will hand collect a variety of species, including mostly grasses, sedges, and occasionally wildflowers and other forbs. These seeds will be utilized by an inter-agency partnership through which wild collected native species are “increased” or grown out agriculturally. This process dramatically increases the amount of locally adapted grass seed that is available for revegetation projects on local public lands. |
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Lake Isabelle Trail
COMPLETED |
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| ● ● Miniumum Age: 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date(s):
The trails extending into the Indian Peaks Wilderness near Brainard Lake are among the most heavily used wilderness trails in the country. Lake Isabelle receives a lot of traffic—and, for good reason, since it is truly spectacular, situated in a classic glacial valley. At the west end of this valley the Continental Divide towers above the Isabelle Glacier. Trails around the lake and toward Pawnee Pass need trail maintenance. Volunteer activities will include trail maintenance, closure, and reroutes, plus alpine restoration. This year’s work is a continuation of the great work we began in 2004 and 2005. Normally, the area is closed to camping, but we have received special permission from the Forest Service to camp at a location north east of the lake. Meals will be provided. This project includes a 2 mile backpack into Lake Isabelle. The food and some of the gear will be hauled in by llamas. Volunteers strongly encouraged to hike in to our base camp on Thursday afternoon. |
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Native-August Seed Collection
COMPLETED |
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| ● ● Miniumum Age: 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date(s):
n the evening of Wednesday, August 16th, Wildlands Restoration Volunteers will partner with Boulder County Parks and Open Space to collect seeds from two native species, scurf pea and hairy golden aster, needed for future restoration projects. Would you like to join us? Seed collection is a great family activity. It's fun, mellow, and gets you out to beautiful outdoor locations. Everyone is welcome. Children 8 years old and older can attend with adult supervision. No experience is required. WHEN Wednesday, August 16th 5:30 pm - dusk |
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Arapaho Lakes
COMPLETED |
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| ● ● Miniumum Age: 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date(s):
Project Moved down 1000 feet in elevation. Worksites are now 0.6 to 1.2 miles up from Meadow that is one mile from East Portal. Arapaho Lakes are among the highest and most scenic lakes along the Front Range. With the new James Peak Wilderness designation, trail use will only increase in the years to come. A new trail route is needed to the lakes and eroding trails along the creek and through wetlands need to be closed. Building on our success on the nearby Forest Lakes trail the past three years, we will improve or construct up to 1500 feet of trail and close/restore social trails. The new trail route is through open subalpine country with awesome vistas. And, much of the new trail route is along open gravelly soils (easy trail building), but there is some fun rock work too. Volunteers will camp at a spectacular high elevation site. Meals will be provided. Number of Volunteers: 40. Min. Age: 16 with an adult. |
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Mud Lake & Bald Mountain
RESCHEDULED, THEN COMPLETED |
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| ● ● Miniumum Age: 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date(s):
Mud Lake: Mud Lake is a scenic 190 acre parcel, owned by Boulder County Parks and Open Space, the City of Nederland, and the Wild Bear Center for Outdoor Discovery. A long history of mining has left the property with many mine shafts and pits (many of which have been closed), and a network of roads. All told, there are over 4.5 miles of roads and trails criss-crossing the parcel. Many of these were constructed along drainages where they impact habitat, or on steep grades that erode and introduce sediment into the watershed. As part of Boulder County's management plan, unneeded roads will need to be closed and reclaimed to keep recreation on the assigned trails, as well as to lessen impacts of soil erosion and invasive plants. Heavy equipment will prepare the site. Volunteer work will include final grading of soil, seeding, and installing check dams, water bars and erosion blanket where necessary. We may also install post and rail fencing to protect sensitive wildlife habitat and pull thistles or other noxious weeds. Lunch will be provided. Bald Mountain: West of Nederland and the old Caribou townsite, beautiful aspens and subalpine habitat is criss-crossed by a network of roads. The US Forest Service plans to close and restore one road, leaving it open for hikers. The work is similar to that described for Mud Lake. Since the two sites are within 20 minutes drive, WRV has the option to combine these two projects. This would provide an excellent opportunity for fall camping on national forest land, surrounded by the changing colors of autumn! One major meal provided by Kathmandu Restaurant in Nederland for either Mud Lake or Mud Lake-Bald Mtn-combined project. Excellent food! |
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Native-3 Seed Collection
COMPLETED |
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| ● ● Miniumum Age: 8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date(s):
Native seed collection is a wonderful family activity! It’s fun, mellow, and brings us out to beautiful outdoor locations where we can learn more about native plants and local ecology. Many land restoration projects depend on precious hand collected native seed because purchased seeds are unavailable, too expensive or not an acceptable match to the local native species ecotypes. During these seed collection sessions, volunteers will hand collect a variety of species, including mostly grasses, sedges, and occasionally wildflowers and other forbs. These seeds will be utilized by an inter-agency partnership through which wild collected native species are “increased” or grown out agriculturally. This process dramatically increases the amount of locally adapted grass seed that is available for revegetation projects on local public lands. |
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Carnage Canyon Restoration
COMPLETED |
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| ● ● Miniumum Age: 12 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date(s):
Areas of habitat along Forest Road 286, in Left Hand Canyon, have been severely impacted by years of motorized recreation. The Forest Service, and many members of the motorized community agree that this area needs help. Last year, Wildlands Restoration Volunteers collaborated with the Forest Service, Trail Ridge Runners, and Walsh Environmental Services, to complete the first phase of an award-winning project to restore 14 acres of severely disturbed land. That work benefited a much larger area of habitat as well as downstream water quality. The transformation was startling and beautiful! In 2005, we will continue this success, doing similar work in the adjacent watershed to the East, where numerous spur roads criss-cross the landscape. Heavy equipment will prepare the site. Volunteers will seed multiple areas, apply erosion fabric and construct erosion preventing structures. All of this work is protected by fence barriers and extensive user education to ensure long term success. Lunch will be provided. |
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Pelican Pond
COMPLETED |
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| ● ● Miniumum Age: 10 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date(s):
The 600 acre St. Vrain State Park is an ideal location for a variety of outdoor enthusiasts, including fishermen, campers, birders, photographers, hikers, bikers, and boaters. The park offers an oasis of habitat within a rapidly developing region. The parks master plan calls for extensive habitat restoration and expansion of recreational opportunities over the coming decade. WRV volunteers will help to transform the area of a former road into a scenic, natural area alongside a newly developed hiking trail. Volunteers will plant native shrubs and trees and will install erosion control mechanisms to enhance and protect Pelican Pond and the surrounding wetland. There is much work to be done at St. Vrain Park to transform it into the gem of habitat and recreation envisioned in the master plan. WRV is continuing work with St. Vrain State Park to help form a “Friends of St. Vrain State Park” group devoted to this long term vision. |
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Tool Fest
COMPLETED |
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| ● ● Miniumum Age: 16 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Date(s):
Volunteers will gather to celebrate another great season of accomplishment and put our tools to bed for the winter. |
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