Date/Time
Date(s) - 05/12/2012
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Location
Mt. Communities Fire Dept.
Category(ies) No Categories
We are looking for 50 volunteers to help with restoration work in the Hayman Burn Area on Saturday, May 12, 2012. Field & Stream magazine will be there with goodies, sweepstakes and a film crew. Lunch will be provided by the Cutthroat Chapter of Trout Unlimited – for registered participants only. Space is limited. Please register below or contact: Lisa@uppersouthplatte.org
Trout Unlimited and Field & Stream “Hero for a Day”
Hayman Fire 10th Year Remembrance Project
Workday: Saturday, May 12th, 2012
Project Location: Meet at Mt. Communities (Westcreek) Fire Dept., directions below
Project Times: Meet at 9:00 am, work until 3:00 pm, with a 30 minute lunch break around noon
Volunteers Needed: 75
Description:
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Hayman Fire, the largest fire in Colorado’s history. The 2002 fire season is a distant memory for many, but the problems still continue. Due to the severity of the fire, and naturally erosive soils, large quantities of sediment, metals and organics have caused significant degradation to tributaries of the South Platte River. Flood waters from the denuded slopes frequently turns to high volume floods, damaging roads and filling reservoirs with sediment. The Upper South Platte watershed provides for over 75% of Colorado’s municipal and agricultural water needs.
This season, the Coalition for the Upper South Platte (CUSP) and dedicated Trout Unlimited volunteers will assist in a range of projects designed to improve the health of the Upper South Platte River Watershed. Crews, utilizing natural materials such as burned trees and boulders, have begun stabilizing steep eroded banks within the Trail Creek area, but much more work remains. Your help is needed to build erosion control structures, plant willows or pine; re-seed native vegetation, mulch and/or build log fencing to protect restoration efforts. Your efforts will help preserve and protect Colorado’s water supply, fisheries, and insect and wildlife habitats.
Field & Stream has chosen ten conservation-focused projects, across the country, to highlight on their website and magazine. We are counting on the support of our volunteer Heroes to make them happen. The project will be joined by a Field & Stream editor and film crew, who may interview participants. Volunteers 18 or older may enter the Field & Stream sweepstakes to win a trip to the Heroes of Conservation Gala in October that includes a fishing trip along the Potomac River.
Important Notes:
- CUSP will provide all necessary materials, hardhats and tools
- CUSP will provide on-site portable restrooms
- Please carpool to maximum capacity to reduce impact to restoration area
- Weather which could create hazardous conditions may cause projects to be canceled or rescheduled; staff will monitor the weather and notify you of any changes in a timely fashion
Requirements of Volunteers:
- Please complete a Field & Stream and CUSP liability release form prior to arrival
- A volunteer sign-up sheet, completed and initialed at the end of the day
Please Bring:
Any applicable medications (including epi-pen and inhalers)
Sun block
Sun glasses or safety glasses
Layered clothing, work gloves and shoes with good tread – please be prepared to get dirty!
Water proof boots or waders (if you have them, not everyone will need them)
Water containers for hiking; water is provided. CUSP encourages the use of reusable containers.
Directions from Denver to Mountain Community (Westcreek) Fire Station:
From C470 take US Hwy 285 south approximately 21 miles to Pine Junction
Turn left on Jefferson CR 126/Pine Valley Rd. go south 25 miles past Deckers
Continue south on CO 67 for 9 miles
Turn right on ABBEY RD (CR 73), 0.8 miles past mile marker 92
Turn left at the T intersection on to Westcreek Road, go less than one mile
Meet at the fire station on the right, at the intersection of Westcreek and Stump Roads.
Directions from Colorado Springs to Mountain Community (Westcreek) Fire Station:
From I-25 in Colorado Springs take Hwy 24 (Cimarron Rd.) to Woodland Park
Turn right on to CO Hwy 67, travel north towards Deckers
Turn left on ABBEY RD (CR 73) about 0.2 miles south of mile marker 91
Turn left at the T intersection on Westcreek Road, travel less than one mile
Meet at the fire station on the right, at the intersection of Westcreek and Stump Roads After meeting, we will caravan to the work site.
Please note that GPS systems are often inaccurate in mountainous areas.
Cell phone service will be inconsistent.
TRAIL CREEK RESTORATION
The Trail Creek area is part of a major restoration effort to stabilize drainages carrying high sediment loads to the South Platte River. Because of the intensity of the fire here and around the Westcreek community, the soil remains loose and unable to soak up rain. Runoff frequently turns to high-volume floods, damaging roads, downstream creeks and filling reservoirs with sediment. Starting in the fall of 2011, crews utilizing natural materials such as burned trees and boulders will raise the height of creeks and stabilize steep eroded banks to re-create more natural flows and fight erosion. Retention ponds will be added to stabilize runoff.
Volunteers will assist the rehab by stabilizing work sites with pine and willow plantings, erosion control matting, protecting sites with exclusionary fencing, reseeding and restoring ephemeral draws with log-step structures and log erosion barriers.
For more information, please visit:
http://www.gazette.com/articles/one-127926-restoring-scar.htmll
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_19269219
http://www.koaa.com/news/new-effort-to-stop-increasing-hayman-burn-area-erosion
RELEASES and FORMS:
Bookings
Bookings are closed for this event.