Date/Time
Date(s) - 09/22/2016
9:00 am - 2:00 pm
Location
Beaver Ranch Community Park
Category(ies)
The Nature Conservancy, Pepsi, Coors & CUSP
Beaver Ranch Fire Restoration & Mitigation
Workday: Thursday, September 22nd, 2016
Project Location: Beaver Ranch Community Park
Difficulty Rating: Moderate/Difficult
Project Times: 9am-3pm
Project Location: 11369 S Foxton Rd, Conifer, CO 80433
Map Link: https://goo.gl/58gI9y
Number of Volunteers Anticipated: Up to 100
Background –
The Upper South Platte watershed is a 2,600 square-mile area that reaches from the Continental Divide to Strontia Springs Reservoir, southwest of Denver. The watershed supports many resource values including recreation, gold medal fisheries, wildlife, and drinking water supply reservoirs. The headwaters of the Upper South Platte watershed contain five major municipal supply reservoirs, including Antero, Spinney Mountain, Eleven Mile Canyon, Cheeseman, and Strontia Springs, as well as several other small reservoirs. These reservoirs supply drinking water to approximately 60% of Colorado’s residents. That is why, in 2015, several non-profit organizations and governmental agencies came together with support from MillerCoors, PepsiCo and The Wells Fargo Foundation to form the Upper South Platte Partnership (USPP). We share a common vision of working with forest owners and communities in the Upper South Platte watershed to help ensure that its forests are sustainable and resilient. We are implementing a science-driven approach to all aspects of our projects and innovative outreach. In particular, we are targeting landowners at highest risk of wildfires that would have the most damaging impacts on the watershed. Our primary goal is to foster proactive and engaged communities in the watershed by providing its forest landowners with information, educational workshops and technical assistance that will help them make sound, sustainable, multi-resource management decisions for their land.
Workday Description:
Beaver Ranch is a typical representation of the forest and mountainous areas that exist across the Upper South Platte Watershed. Nestled within a densely populated Wildland Urban Interface (W.U.I.), Beaver Ranch is in the process of being transformed from a potential source of fire and sediment into a model for ecological restoration techniques. Projects on our workday will include: removal of downed fuels within the canopy and the building of burn piles; reduction of invasive weeds that could be inadvertently spread by logging, and planting willows to increase a food course for the eventual return of beavers to the park. Teams will not only perform the labor required for these tasks, but will be fully a hands on learning experience and participants will learn the importance of the restoration tasks they are assigned.
Important Notes:
- CUSP will provide hard hats, materials and necessary tools to complete project work
- Due to variable weather conditions and safety for our volunteers all vehicles and drivers must remain onsite for the duration of the project
- A portable restroom will be available on site, if too far from the portable restroom, we do practice leave no trace principles
- A safety review and work demonstration will precede the project work
- Weather, which could create hazardous conditions, may cause the project to be canceled or rescheduled; staff will monitor weather and notify you of any changes, which will also be posted to this page
Requirements of Volunteers:
Prior to the project each volunteer must submit a completed Liability Release form, CUSP 2015 Release Form, the group also needs to submit a Volunteer Listing, CUSP 2015 Volunteer Listing, attached.
Please print documents on both sides.
Please Bring:
A daypack to carry water and lunch
Two liters of water to carry with you, enough to last the day, we will have Igloos at the trailhead
Any applicable medicines (including epi-pens, insulin and inhalers)
Sunscreen
Sunglasses or safety glasses
Long pants are required; long sleeved shirts are strongly recommended
Work gloves (we will have some if you do not)
Sturdy shoes with good tread; no sandals please
A sack lunch to carry with you; we may not return to vehicles for lunch
What to Expect:
This project will occur in an exposed mountain environment. Please be aware and prepared for potential hazards, including but not limited to: driving on mountainous roads with loose gravel and flash flood potential; exposure to sun, wind, lightning and rapidly changing weather conditions; working with sharpened tools in areas with unstable terrain and footing; hiking at significant elevation. Medications may have adverse effects in sun, heat or altitude; please list medications and medical conditions on the CUSP release form so staff may be aware of potential concerns. Know your limitations and inform staff immediately if you become ill or injured. Be prepared to exit quickly in the event of an emergency or changing environmental conditions. Please be prepared to hike up to a total of three miles at high elevation in varying weather conditions. Please drink plenty of water prior to and during the project to stay hydrated.
GPS systems and Internet map sites are often misleading in the mountains. Cell phone service will be inconsistent or unavailable.
The below office number can be contacted in case of emergency.
The Coalition for the Upper South Platte
Post Office Box 726
Lake George, Colorado 80827
719.748.0033