Wildlands Restoration Volunteers
Projects: | 2010 | 2009 | 2008 | 2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 |

2007 Projects
Project Name Day(s) Date(s)
Spruce Gulch Restoration       Thursday
Apr 5, 2007

Coot Pond Wetland Restoration       Saturday
Apr 14, 2007

Eldorado Canyon / Mesa Trail Myrtle Spurge Project       Wednesday
Monday
Apr 18, 2007
Apr 30, 2007

Dragonfly Pond Wetland Restoration       Saturday
Apr 21, 2007

Boulder Prairie Restoration IV       Saturday
May 12, 2007

Arapaho NWR River Restoration       Saturday
Sunday
May 19, 2007
May 20, 2007

Castle Rock Restoration       Saturday
Jun 2, 2007

Mediterranean Sage Last Stand       Wednesday
Jun 13, 2007

St. Vrain Creek Tamarisk Project       Wednesday
Jun 20, 2007

Phantom Canyon Habitat Restoration       Friday
Jul 6, 2007

Boulder Creek Restoration 1       Friday
Jul 13, 2007

Seed Collection II       Wednesday
Jul 18, 2007

Waldrop Niwot Trail Projects       Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Jul 27, 2007
Jul 28, 2007
Jul 29, 2007

Cultiva Youth Project       Wednesday
Thursday
Aug 1, 2007
Aug 2, 2007

Fan Lake Wetland Restoration       Saturday
Sunday
Aug 4, 2007
Aug 5, 2007

Lake Isabelle Trail and Alpine Restoration       Thursday
Friday
Aug 9, 2007
Aug 10, 2007

Boulder Creek Restoration 2       Tuesday
Aug 21, 2007

RESCHEDULED Seed Collection III       Wednesday
Aug 22, 2007

Crater Lakes Trail Project       Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Aug 24, 2007
Aug 25, 2007
Aug 26, 2007

Seed Collection III       Wednesday
Aug 29, 2007

Boulder Creek Restoration 3       Saturday
Sep 1, 2007

Arapaho NWR Boardwalk Construction       Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
Monday
Sep 6, 2007
Sep 7, 2007
Sep 8, 2007
Sep 9, 2007
Sep 10, 2007

Arapaho NWR Willow Monitoring & Planting       Thursday-Monday
Friday-Sunday
Friday-Sunday
Sep 6, 2007-Sep 10, 2007
Sep 7, 2007-Sep 9, 2007
Sep 7, 2007-Sep 9, 2007

Seed Collection IV       Saturday
Sep 15, 2007

Left Hand Canyon Protection Barrier       Wednesday
Sep 19, 2007

Left Hand Canyon Restoration       Saturday
Sep 22, 2007

Marshall Mesa Grassland Restoration       Saturday
Oct 13, 2007

Tool Fest       Saturday
Oct 20, 2007


No experience is required. Meals are served in most cases.
Spread the word! Tell your friends about these exciting projects!



Spruce Gulch Restoration
COMPLETED
 

Easy    ●       ●    Family Friendly    ●   

Date(s):
Thursday Apr 5, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 15

Continuing work WRV began last year, volunteers pulled the highly invasive Colorado A-listed Myrtle Spurge on over 50 acres at three different sites, Eldorado Canyon State Park, Mesa Trailhead for Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, and Spruce Gulch on national forest land.



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Coot Pond Wetland Restoration
COMPLETED
 

Easy    ●       ●    Family Friendly    ●    Miniumum Age: 10

Date(s):
Saturday Apr 14, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 100

WRV restored 1800 feet of shoreline habitat along the banks of Coot Pond. We installed numerous wetland plants, willow poles, ball-and-burlap shrubs, and 718 feet of erosion control matting to stabilize the shoreline and re-establish a native plant community.



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Eldorado Canyon / Mesa Trail Myrtle Spurge Project
COMPLETED
 

Easy    ●       ●    Family Friendly    ●   
Sponsors
Colorado Department of Agriculture

Date(s):
Wednesday Apr 18, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 35
Monday Apr 30, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 10

Continuing work WRV began two years ago, volunteers pulled the highly invasive Colorado A-listed Myrtle Spurge. We have now reduced the Myrtle Spurge population in the Eldorado/Mesa Trailhead area by over 95%.


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Dragonfly Pond Wetland Restoration
CANCELLED
Unfortunately, this project had to be cancelled due to unanticipated hydrological issues affecting the water level of the pond. The project cannot proceed until these issues are resolved, which probably means 2008. We recommend the Coot Pond Wetland Restoration as an excellent alternative.
 

Easy    ●       ●    Miniumum Age: 12

Date(s):
Saturday Apr 21, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 65

WRV will return for the eighth time to the site of Wildlands Restoration Volunteers' first project! Back in 1999, and 112 projects ago, 20 volunteers restored shoreline habitat at Heron Pond, in this Boulder County open space park west of Longmont. The willows planted are now over 8 feet tall and thriving! In 2006, we restored 600 feet of shoreline on Webster Pond and 300 feet of shoreline on an island in Heron Pond. This work was very successful with our extensive willow plantings growing several feet by mid-summer. In 2007, we will return to continue restoration at Dragon Fly Pond. The eastern shoreline is unstable and eroding. Volunteers will stabilize the bank with a variety of willow and wetland plantings. This project will improve water quality, enhance habitat for birds, fish and other wildlife.


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Boulder Prairie Restoration IV
COMPLETED
 

Easy    ●       ●    Family Friendly    ●    Miniumum Age: 10
Sponsors
Colorado Department of Agriculture

Date(s):
Saturday May 12, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 110

Building on three years of successful progress, Wildlands Restoration Volunteers continued the urgent quest to remove Mediterranean Sage from Boulder County. Left unchecked, this Colorado A-listed top priority weed aggressively invades grasslands, reduces native plant populations, and degrades wildlife habitat and the overall health of prairie ecosystems. Working closely with OSMP, BCPOS and NOAA, WRV targeted its removal efforts at four high priority sites north of Boulder. Volunteers walked across beautiful open space, popping thousands of plants out of the ground. Agency partners complimented volunteers on the incredible thoroughness of the work. With sustained action, state wide eradication is possible, which would protect prairie ecosystems and wildlife habitat.



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Arapaho NWR River Restoration
COMPLETED
 

Intermediate    ●       ●    Miniumum Age: 12

Date(s):
Saturday May 19, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 45
Sunday May 20, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 45

In 2007, WRV completed the third phase of a river restoration research project we began 2004, in collaboration with USGS researchers, and the Fish and Wildlife Service. Volunteers built elk exclosures to protect plantings from herbivory, then planted close to 1,000 willow cuttings, using four planting methods. The purpose of the study is to identify the most effective willow planting techniques that can be applied in the coming years to restore many miles of the Illinois River.



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Castle Rock Restoration
COMPLETED
 

Intermediate    ●       ●    Miniumum Age: 14

Date(s):
Saturday Jun 2, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 70

Castle Rock (the namesake butte after which the town is named) is an important and historic landmark, and popular hiking area with scenic vistas set in a Gambel Oak/Ponderosa shrubland. Severe erosion is threatening the northern slopes of this dramatic geological feature. Gullies have formed over three feet deep and the area is becoming denuded of vegetation. To stop the erosion, volunteers planted native seed, and installed erosion control fabric, check dams and straw wattles. Over 300 feet of fencing (with signs) were installed to keep people off this erosion prone area.



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Mediterranean Sage Last Stand
COMPLETED
 

Easy    ●       ●    Family Friendly    ●    Miniumum Age: 12

Date(s):
Wednesday Jun 13, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 40

Building on three years of successful progress, Wildlands Restoration Volunteers continued the urgent quest to remove Mediterranean Sage from Boulder County. Left unchecked, this Colorado A-listed top priority weed aggressively invades grasslands, reduces native plant populations, and degrades wildlife habitat and the overall health of prairie ecosystems. Working closely with OSMP, BCPOS and NOAA, WRV targeted its removal efforts at four high priority sites north of Boulder. Volunteers walked across beautiful open space, popping thousands of plants out of the ground. Agency partners complimented volunteers on the incredible thoroughness of the work. With sustained action, state wide eradication is possible, which would protect prairie ecosystems and wildlife habitat.



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St. Vrain Creek Tamarisk Project
COMPLETED
 

Easy    ●       ●    Family Friendly    ●    Miniumum Age: 12

Date(s):
Wednesday Jun 20, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 60

Tamarisk (aka Salt Cedar) has devastated watersheds throughout the west, costing billions in lost water, habitat, and electricity. It has invaded many Colorado Front Range watersheds, including the St. Vrain Creek and Boulder Creek watersheds. Volunteers surveyed and removed Tamarisk along a two-mile stretch of St. Vrain Creek, plus Russian Olive and Siberian Elm.



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Phantom Canyon Habitat Restoration
COMPLETED
 

Intermediate    ●       ●    Miniumum Age: 14

Date(s):
Friday Jul 6, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 35

Volunteers enjoyed a rare opportunity to visit the spectacular and remote Phantom Canyon Preserve, located 25 miles northwest of Fort Collins. Volunteers removed Canada Thistle, Mullein and Dalmation toadflax along the Cache le Poudre River corridor, preventing their spread.



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Boulder Creek Restoration 1
COMPLETED
 

Easy    ●       ●    Family Friendly    ●    Miniumum Age: 14

Date(s):
Friday Jul 13, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 32

Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) is new to Colorado and has been found in Boulder Creek and a few other places in Colorado. This aggressive aquatic weed has choked rivers and lakes in the mid-west and New England, with devastating impacts to fishing, swimming and boating. In New England, EWM tangles the legs of swimmers and strangles boat motors. EWM displaces native species and drastically reduces biodiversity. Working closely with City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, volunteers traversed a half mile of Boulder Creek, removing EWM as they went. Volunteers learned about aquatic ecology and how to identify and remove EWM, while enjoying the cool water of Boulder Creek on hot summer days.



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Seed Collection II
COMPLETED
 

Easy    ●       ●    Family Friendly    ●    Miniumum Age: 8

Date(s):
Wednesday Jul 18, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 25

Many 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 genotypes. Volunteers gathered native grass and wildflower seeds four times during the summer at different open space locations. These seeds will be used directly in futures restoration projects or "increased" or grown out agriculturally, dramatically increasing the amount of locally adapted grass seed available for revegetation projects on local public lands.



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Waldrop Niwot Trail Projects
COMPLETED
 

Intermediate    ●       ●    Miniumum Age: 16

Date(s):
Friday Jul 27, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 50
Saturday Jul 28, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 50
Sunday Jul 29, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 35

The Brainard Lake area is extremely popular, offering spectacular hiking, x-c skiing, mountainbiking and other recreational opportunities. WRV has adopted this area, having completed over a dozen projects since 2000. In 2007, we worked on two different trails. On the Waldrop Trail, volunteers rerouted a trail away from a fragile subalpine wetland. This, in part, required the construction of a 200+ foot boardwalk. On the Niwot Cut-Off Trail, volunteers rerouted or performed maintenance on hundreds of feet of trail approaching spectacular Long Lake. Volunteers stayed at the historic Brainard CMC cabin.



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Cultiva Youth Project
COMPLETED
 

   ●   

Date(s):
Wednesday Aug 1, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 20
Thursday Aug 2, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 20

WRV strives to include a diverse spectrum of volunteers in its project activities. Youth are the next generation of land stewards. Involving them in our work is essential to the long term cultivation of a caring community of land stewards. WRV continued a seven year tradition, partnering with the Cultiva summer program to involve youth in continuing work on the Niwot Cutoff and Waldrop trails near Brainard Lake. The goal of this project is to provide team building, leadership development and conservation education opportunities to these youth while accomplishing tangible trail maintenance and subalpine restoration. The group enjoyed an overnight stay at the historic Brainard CMC Cabin.



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Fan Lake Wetland Restoration
COMPLETED
 

Intermediate    ●       ●    Family Friendly    ●    Miniumum Age: 12

Date(s):
Saturday Aug 4, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 70
Sunday Aug 5, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 70

A high country earthen dam at Rocky Mountain National Park’s Lawn Lake breeched in 1982, sending a torrential flood down the canyon. The flood created a massive alluvial fan across the valley floor, which artificially dammed Fall River, destroying 12 acres of riparian habitat. Significant hydrological changes and continuous elk grazing have limited the re-establishment of willows within the disturbed area. Successful restoration of willow/riparian habitat is dependent upon restoring the hydrology, developing a revegetation design, and finally replanting willows and other wetland plant species with appropriate elk enclosures. A multi-phase approach is in progress to successfully accomplish these goals over the next two years. Wildlands Restoration Volunteers planted over 17,000 wetland carex and juncus, along with 900 willows to recreate native wetland habitat that was destroyed by the flood.



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Lake Isabelle Trail and Alpine Restoration
COMPLETED
 

Difficult    ●       ●    Miniumum Age: 16

Date(s):
Thursday Aug 9, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 25
Friday Aug 10, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 25

The trails 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. WRV continued with our fourth year of work around Lake Isabelle to improve the trail system, close redundant social trails, and restore alpine habitat. We had special permission from the Forest Service to camp near the lake. The entire watershed is normally closed to camping.



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Boulder Creek Restoration 2
COMPLETED
 

Easy    ●       ●    Family Friendly    ●    Miniumum Age: 14

Date(s):
Tuesday Aug 21, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 32

Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) is new to Colorado and has been found in Boulder Creek and a few other places in Colorado. This aggressive aquatic weed has choked rivers and lakes in the mid-west and New England, with devastating impacts to fishing, swimming and boating. In New England, EWM tangles the legs of swimmers and strangles boat motors. EWM displaces native species and drastically reduces biodiversity. Working closely with City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, volunteers traversed a half mile of Boulder Creek, removing EWM as they went. Volunteers learned about aquatic ecology and how to identify and remove EWM, while enjoying the cool water of Boulder Creek on hot summer days.



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RESCHEDULED Seed Collection III
COMPLETED
 

Easy    ●       ●    Family Friendly    ●    Miniumum Age: 8

Date(s):
Wednesday Aug 22, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 25

Many 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 genotypes. Volunteers gathered native grass and wildflower seeds four times during the summer at different open space locations. These seeds will be used directly in futures restoration projects or "increased" or grown out agriculturally, dramatically increasing the amount of locally adapted grass seed available for revegetation projects on local public lands.



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Crater Lakes Trail Project
COMPLETED
 

Difficult    ●       ●    Miniumum Age: 16

Date(s):
Friday Aug 24, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 35
Saturday Aug 25, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 35
Sunday Aug 26, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 35

Crater Lakes are among the highest and most scenic lakes along the Front Range. With the relatively new James Peak Wilderness designation, trail use will only increase in the years to come. A new trail route has been badly needed to replace the severely eroded maze of unofficial social trails that now lead to Crater lakes. Building on our success on the nearby Forest Lakes and South Boulder Creek trails over the past four years, WRV constructed 1400 feet of trail and closed/restored social trails to help complete the new route to Crater Lakes. Volunteers camped at a beautiful subalpine site near Crater Lakes. The food and gear was hauled in by llamas 2.5 miles to the base camp.



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Seed Collection III
RESCHEDULED, THEN COMPLETED
 

Easy    ●       ●    Family Friendly    ●    Miniumum Age: 8

Date(s):
Wednesday Aug 29, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 25

Seed collection is a great family activity! 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. Volunteers will hand collect a variety of species, including mostly grasses, sedges, and some wildflowers and other forbs. These seeds will be grown out to multiply (100 or 1000 fold) the amount of locally adapted grass seed that is available for revegetation projects on local public lands.


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Boulder Creek Restoration 3
CANCELLED
Good news. City of Boulder Open Space, with the help of WRV, has made excellent progress this summer removing Eurasian Watermilfoil from Boulder Creek, so they will not need our help for this third EWM project of the season. We'll be back out there next year continuing the quest.
 

Easy    ●       ●    Family Friendly    ●    Miniumum Age: 14

Date(s):
Saturday Sep 1, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 60

Come celebrate labor day weekend, learn more about the fascinating ecology of streams and wetlands, and help stop a very serious threat to all Colorado waterways?

THE PROBLEM
Eurasian Watermilfoil (EWM) is new to Colorado and has been found in Boulder Creek and a few other places in Colorado. This aggressive aquatic weed has choked rivers and lakes in the mid-west and New England, with devastating impacts to fishing, swimming and boating. In New England, EWM tangles the legs of swimmers and strangles boat motors. EWM displaces native species and drastically reduces biodiversity. Do we want this future for our beloved Colorado streams?

THE SOLUTION
Working closely with City of Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks, volunteers will traverse a stretch of Boulder Creek, mapping and removing EWM as they go. You'll learn about aquatic ecology and how to identify and remove EWM, while enjoying the cool water of Boulder Creek on a summer day.


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Arapaho NWR Boardwalk Construction
COMPLETED
 

Intermediate    ●       ●    Miniumum Age: 16 accompanied by an adult

Date(s):
Thursday Sep 6, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 25
Friday Sep 7, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 25
Saturday Sep 8, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 25
Sunday Sep 9, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 25
Monday Sep 10, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 25

WRV Volunteers worked for up to five days on two separate projects at the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge. One group constructed 520 feet of boardwalk, adding to the 400 feet of boardwalk and a 50 foot span bridge we constructed the past two years. Our work re-establishes ecologically friendly public access, especially for persons with disabilities, to this area of prime river/moose habitat along the Illinois River. The second group completed a critical phase of scientific monitoring to document the results of our joint research with the FWS and USGS to identify the most effective willow planting techniques to be used in future riparian restoration along the Illinois River.



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Arapaho NWR Willow Monitoring & Planting
COMPLETED
 

Intermediate    ●       ●    Miniumum Age: 18

Date(s):
Thursday Sep 6, 2007 - Monday Sep 10, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 5
Friday Sep 7, 2007 - Sunday Sep 9, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 3
Friday Sep 7, 2007 - Sunday Sep 9, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 3

Volunteers helped monitor willow canopy dimensions, shoot lengths, and stem diameters. We had experienced monitors, researchers, and botanists on the project and everyone enjoyed the WRV community during and after the work days.


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Seed Collection IV
COMPLETED
 

Easy    ●       ●    Family Friendly    ●    Miniumum Age: 8

Date(s):
Saturday Sep 15, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 40

Many 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 genotypes. Volunteers gathered native grass and wildflower seeds four times during the summer at different open space locations. These seeds will be used directly in futures restoration projects or "increased" or grown out agriculturally, dramatically increasing the amount of locally adapted grass seed available for revegetation projects on local public lands.



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Left Hand Canyon Protection Barrier
COMPLETED
 

Easy    ●       ●    Miniumum Age: 16

Date(s):
Wednesday Sep 19, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 20

Forest habitat along Forest Road 286, in Left Hand Canyon, has been severely impacted by years of motorized recreation. The Forest Service and many members of the motorized community agree that this area needs help. Over the past three years, Wildlands Restoration Volunteers collaborated with the Forest Service, Trail Ridge Runners, and others, to complete the first three phases of an award-winning restoration project. In 2007, Wildlands Restoration Volunteers continued the multi-year effort by installing post and cable fencing the week before the restoration project.



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Left Hand Canyon Restoration
COMPLETED
 

Intermediate    ●       ●    Miniumum Age: 14

Date(s):
Saturday Sep 22, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 90

Forest habitat along Forest Road 286, in Left Hand Canyon, has been severely impacted by years of motorized recreation. The Forest Service and many members of the motorized community agree that this area needs help. Over the past three years, Wildlands Restoration Volunteers collaborated with the Forest Service, Trail Ridge Runners, and others, to complete the first three phases of an award-winning restoration project. In 2007, Wildlands Restoration Volunteers continued the multi-year effort to restore the area. This year, we concentrated our efforts to close and restore eighteen spur roads off the FR286 corridor. This work benefited the larger watershed by reducing the extreme erosion of the site, thus improving downstream stream habitat and water quality in Left Hand Creek. Volunteers seeded multiple areas and applied straw mulch and erosion fabric. The restoration area was protected by post and cable fencing installed the week before the restoration project.



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Marshall Mesa Grassland Restoration
SCHEDULED
 

Intermediate    ●       ●    Family Friendly    ●    Miniumum Age: 12

Date(s):
Saturday Oct 13, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 110

Marshall Mesa, south of Boulder, offers popular open space trails with majestic views of the Flatirons. Much of Marshall Mesa was historically grassland. With the suppression of fires, Ponderosa pines have encroached upon the area. The tree cover has changed the grassland ecosystem by shading out the native understory and adding fuel that could create more intense wildfires. The density of trees approached 500 per acre before WRV began work. Volunteers thinned tens of thousands of small diameter Ponderosa seedlings on 35 acres of the mesa, using loppers and hand saws with some chainsaw support. The results were immediate and dramatic.



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Tool Fest
SCHEDULED
 

Easy    ●       ●    Family Friendly    ●    Miniumum Age: 12

Date(s):
Saturday Oct 20, 2007 - Number of Volunteers: 25

WRV has acquired an extensive collection of tools over the past years. These tools are housed in two large storage units provided free of charge by U Store It Self-Storage in Gunbarrel. These tools require regular maintenance. Volunteers gathered to clean, sharpen, sand, oil, paint, organize, and inventory our tools. We celebrated afterward as this is the final outdoor event of the WRV season!



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980 McIntire St. Boulder CO 80303 303.543.1411