Gaining Ground Healing the land...

...building community

Spring 2013

How Trail Work Can Restore and Protect Your Favorite Places

By Jarret Roberts and Angie Francis

The WRV 2013 season is one of the busiest seasons we have ever planned. And this year trail-related projects will be a larger part of that schedule than in many past years. That begs the question: what roles do trails play in ecological restoration? In 1968 at the International Union for Conservation of Nature, in New Delhi, India, an environmentalist from Africa planted the following seed of an idea: “In the end, we conserve only what we love. We will only love what we understand. We will only understand what we are taught.” –Senegalese conservationist, Baba Dioum

Trails are one of the primary ways people interact with ecosystems. Trails help us to learn first-hand about nature, and in the long term, our experience with trails ultimately helps us decide to work to conserve nature. We conserve only what we love: There it stood–rooted dead center between the two pin flags that denoted the trail alignment–a three- or maybe four- year-old Engelmann spruce. Leaning on tiptoes to peer around both sides of the tree, looking for a way to build the trail without destroying the young tree, we quickly realized that we were facing a common restoration conundrum: what is the purpose of trail building in restoration, anyway? At national conservation conferences, you might even hear trails referred to as “scars on the land.” And if you have ever seen trail construction, you know it is dirty, hard work. So how can we, as land stewards, intentionally impose such things on these lands, which we love and want to heal? Trails, like fire, are an undeniable part of the environment. Game trails traversed landscapes long before humans were present. There is no argument that modern, human-made trails have an ever-present effect on the ecosystems they meander. But there is a huge difference between sustainably-designed and planned trails and crisscrossing social trails. Social trails are created with no design in mind by hikers or other users simply walking the same area over and over again. A well-designed trail can concentrate use and it can greatly minimize the environmental impact of visitors. Consider this: an unplanned social trail though a marsh meadow may become muddy causing hikers to walk next to it. Over years this can turn in to three, four, or many more parallel social trails that fragment large areas. A single sustainably-built trail is a much better ecological option.

We will only love what we understand: While public lands have many uses and benefits, the less direct experience folks have with those lands, the less they understand and appreciate those benefits. And, in an era of budget cuts and financial strain, that’s not a good thing for the longevity of those lands. If we want our public lands to remain protected, continue to grow, and be restored, then the public must experience and understand them. Statistics from across the country show that many traditional ways people use the outdoors, such as hunting and fishing, are on the decline. Hiking and backpacking, however, are on the upsurge. Trails play an important role in the greater long-term protection of ecosystems. They provide a focused way for people to engage with the land and personally experience the benefits of—or dare we say, fall in love with—open spaces and wild places. This is why WRV focuses effort on improving the sustainability of trails and trail systems. We will only understand what we are taught: On many of WRV’s projects we use, maintain, create, or close trails. As we work on trails we learn about our amazing local environment and we create paths that our fellow citizens can follow to learn more about our wild lands as well—we are being taught important lessons and gaining understanding in the process. As a community of land stewards, we know the powerful connections that being outdoors creates among people as well as between people and the environment. Sustainably-designed trails facilitate these networks in a respectful way and inspire future stewardship. This year will be one of WRV’s busiest yet, and trail work will be a large part of our restoration efforts. We hope to see you and future generations out on the trail! If we have sparked your curiosity about trails you can read more about this topic below. (For more information on the technical aspects of trail building we recommend: Lightly on the Land by Robert C. Birkby.) More about sustainable trails: There are two primary goals for sustainable trail design: to keep people on the trail and to keep water off of it. Keeping large populations of people on the trail, rather than straying across the landscape, helps to limit negative impacts. By preventing trampling and erosion, trails keeps habitat healthy. Well-designed trails focus use, direct people out of ecologically-sensitive areas, and help prevent the spread of invasive species. Keeping water off trails reduces erosion and the overall impact of travelers. ...continued on page 7

What’s Inside: newsletter spring 2013.indd 1

E.D. Corner p. 2 • In-Kind Donors p. 2 • Project Descriptions p. 3 Staff Profile p. 5 • Volunteer Profile p. 4 • Donors p. 6-7 • Your Ideas p. 8 4/3/13 4:06 PM

E.D. C orner

by Ed Self, Executive Director

February 22, 2013 Bring on the spring snow! We need it or we may have a repeat of last year’s fire season. WRV has an incredible slate of over 70 restoration and trail projects planned for the coming season including further restoration efforts on the High Park Fire site west of Fort Collins. Check out the schedule in this newsletter and on our website for more details. Join us for some fun and the deep satisfaction that comes from caring for beloved places. Meaningful Work + Fun + Great Food = Thriving Community This is our simple and powerful formula. When you give your time and sweat to take care of a special place, we say thank you with wonderful food and celebration. Pull up a chair, chat with friends, enjoy a cold beverage, a delicious plate of food, and maybe even some live music. The food is always healthy and hearty. How do satisfying bone-warming vegetarian and meat chili, tender homemade cornbread, crisp fresh salad, and tasty sweet desserts sound? Sometimes the food verges on the exotic – such as a savory Ethiopian stew from Ras Kassas restaurant or a delightful Cajun dish donated by caterer Bill Hundley or a chocolate mousse cheesecake baked by a volunteer cook who loves French cuisine. Where does all this food come from? It’s no small task feeding over 3,000 volunteers each year! Bless our cadre of volunteer cooks, including superstars like: Staci Schmidt, Kim Pierpoint, Sue Percifield, Svenja Knappe, Sherry Gaines, Lynn and Bill Evans, Marty

Dick, Dick Lindenmoyer, Gail Denton, Jay Simonelli, Angela Tirri-Van Do, Tim Henson, Ann Lezberg, Nancy Martin, Deirdre Dalton, Claudia Horn, Colleen Knopinski, Susan Flack, plus dozens of others. The cooks are the most popular volunteers at every project – guaranteed! Do you enjoy cooking for groups? Cooking outdoors? Want to learn? If you are interested in preparing food and you want to help a little or a lot, please give us a call. It takes work and money to feed our beloved volunteers. WRV spends over $24,000 a year to feed everone. We are grateful to the many food establishments that donate food. Check out the list of in-kind donors below. Many of them are wonderful local food purveyors that we are lucky to have in our community. Please show your appreciation by patronizing these businesses! We are grateful to our food donors, and we need many more to keep up with our growing multitude of hardworking and hungry volunteers. WRV is seeking businesses willing to donate or discount food to feed our volunteers. This is a fantastic and very visible way for a business to show it cares for our Colorado public lands. WRV gives donating organizations lots of public praise and recognition, and so do our volunteers! Do you know anyone who works at a restaurant, grocery store, catering company, or other food establishment? If so, please pass along their contact information and put in a good word for our hard-working volunteers.

Thank you

In Kind Donors

13th Street Cafe Alfalfa’s Ají Restaurant Amante Coffee Uptown AmeriCorps Avogadro’s Number Big Daddy Bagels Boulder Beer Boulder Mountainbike Alliance Boulder Outlook Hotel Bronco McLaughlin Budhoe’s Backhoe Catalyst High School Clif Bar Computer Trouble Shooters Confluent Design ContourLogic CSU Env. Learning Ctr. CU Sewall Program CU Environmental Center Dick Lindenmoyer

Eco-Hydro Consulting Eco-Products Einstein Bros. Bagels First Congregational Church -Boulder First Plymouth UCC- Englewood Friedman Family Foundation Gregg Campbell Illegal Pete’s John Knox KCSU FM - Fort Collins Kaiser Permanente King Soopers KneadEd.net Level 3 Lindsay Herrera McCabe Callahan McGuckin Hardware Microsoft Mishawaka Amphitheater Moe’s Broadway Bagel

Mountain Khaki Mountain Sun Brewery Mugs Coffee Lounge Munson Farms- Boulder Natural Resource Services, Inc. New Belgium Brewing Co New Planet Beer Noodles & Co Odell Brewing Co. Otter Box OUTBoulder Overland Mountain Bike Club OZO Coffee Co. Boulder Pasta Jay’s Pat Japenga & Sam Broyles Penske Truck Rental Pioneer Sand Company Ras Kassas Regis University ReMax Realty – Boulder

REI SecurCare Storage Southern Sun Brewery Starbucks St. John’s Episcopal Church Stratus Consulting Sunbelt Rentals - Boulder Sweet Design Team Player Productions Ted’s Montana Grill The Mission Continues Thorne Nature Experience Trees, Water & People VOC Walnut Brewery Waterdrop Films Yancy’s Food Service Youth Services Initiative

Gaining Ground Editor: Erin Mulligan

Article Contributors: Angie Francis, Ed Self, Jarret Roberts, Nate Boschman, Sarah Egolf. Design: Storm Graphic Arts Office: 3012 Sterling Cr., Ste. 201 Boulder, CO 80301 Phone: 303-543-1411 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.wlrv.org We welcome announcements, articles, letters, artwork, and photos for future editions of the newsletter. Please submit materials to: [email protected]. Printed on recycled paper.

2 Gaining Ground | Wildlands Restoration Volunteers | Spring 2013 | www.wlrv.org newsletter spring 2013.indd 2

4/3/13 4:06 PM

2013 Project Descriptions

Project Difficulty Legend

How to Volunteer:

 = Intermediate To register for one or more projects, visit  = Easiest  = Very Difficult  = Difficult our website at www.wlrv.org, or send email FF = Family Friendly to [email protected], or call 303-543-1411.

Chico Basin Ranch Riparian / | Sat - Sun, March 22-24:

Thu. Night Arrival ENCOURAGED Rain Back-up: April 13-14

Join WRV and the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory in restoring riparian habitat essential to the well-being of thousands of birds and other wildlife. An infestation of Russian olive trees is on its way out, and the stage is set for the re-establishment of the likes of golden currant, plains cottonwood, and others. Volunteers will install cuttings and bare-root shrubs amidst the vast serenity of the great plains. Vols: 40

Pella Shoreline Restoration  | Sat, March 30:

Rain Back-up: Sun, April 14

Pella Crossing Open Space, was the site of WRV’s first project in 1999. Come join us this spring as we return to this lovely wetland habitat to plant more willows and stabilize more shoreline. Volunteers will plant 600 willow bundles, install coir logs, plant native seeds, and install protective erosion matting. Vols: 90

Red Rocks | Sat, April 6 WRV is returning to continue repairing areas damaged by hikers traveling offtrail. Volunteers will have the chance to work on the very same ground as the Civilian Conservation Corps, restoring gullies. Though your help and new policies that keep hikers ontrail, we will be able to provide more natural habitat in this often overlooked ecological wonderland. Vols: 40

O’Fallon Park Restoration /FF | Sat, April 13:

Rain Back-up: Sun, April 28

Join us for this exciting beginning to a multi-year effort to restore stream-side habitat and trails at O’Fallon Park, near Evergreen. O’Fallon is one of the most popular and heavily used of the Denver Mountain Park system, established in the early 1900s. Bear Creek traverses the park complex, offering picnicking and trout fishing within an easy drive of Denver. We will restore stream-side habitat with native shrubs, protective buck’n’rail fencing,and trail restoration. Vols: 80

Wildlands Restoration Volunteers is a non-profit organization that provides opportunities for people to come together, learn about their natural environment, and take direct action to restore and care for public lands. WRV organizes about 70 volunteer projects per year, completing a wide variety of important habitat restoration and conservation work in the Front Range and beyond.

Myrtle Spurge (Boulder Foothills) Earth Day  | Sun, April 21 Myrtle Spurge is an A-listed weed in Colorado – meaning that it’s among our most aggressive weeds, yet limited enough that eradication is possible. Celebrate National Volunteer Week and Earth Day by removing this weed from numerous locations in the foothills west of Boulder. Volunteers will traverse the landscape to dig up plants and enjoy a fun after-party. Vols: 50 Broomfield Open Space Wetland Planting /FF | Fri, April 26 Join us on Arbor Day for WRV’s first project with Broomfield County Open Space. This is a beautiful oasis of habitat in the heart of the city, with fantastic views of the majestic high mountains. Volunteers will restore wetland habitat by planting native willows, cottonwoods, silver buffaloberry, American plum, and chokecherry, which provide a food source for native wildlife. Vols: 50

Radiant Park Creek Restoration /FF | Sat, April 27:

Rain Back-up: Sun, May 5

Phase II of Radiant Park Restoration (McClelland Creek), alongside the City of Fort Collins Stormwater Utility Department, will engage volunteers on a quest to restore local streams and rivers, improving water quality and wildlife habitat. On this project, volunteers will help to stabilize eroding banks, plant native shrubs and trees, and break ground for a brand new park and education site, and restore a historic plains riparian plant community. Vols: 75

Campbell Valley Wetland Restoration

 | Sat-Sun, May 4-5 Note: There are several adopt-a-site days. If you would like to be a Technical Advisor or Crew Leader for an adopt day, call the FC Office, 970-493-2075 North of Ft. Collins lies one of the Front Range’s most important

mountains-to-plains transition zones. Within this Laramie Foothills Conservation Area is Campbell Valley which lost over 120 million cubic ft. of sediment in the early 1900s. Today, the ranch is protected by a conservation easement and WRV volunteers work to restore its pastures, riparian areas, and wetlands. Vols: 40

Boulder Prairie Restoration /FF | Sat, May 11, Wed, May 29, & .

& Wed, June 5 Celebrate 10 years of successful invasive species removal! We’re now on a search and destroy mission (Find! Dig! Kill!) of Most Wanted Mediterranean Sage in Boulder County! One single Med sage plant can produce 100,000 seed. You get the picture. Your help is needed as part of a multi-agency partnership at the highest priority local sites, including the newlypurchased Loukonen property near Longmont. Vols: 30-60

Moraine Park Willow Restoration Rocky Mountain National Park

 | Fri-Sun, June 7-9 At Rocky Mountain National Park overgrazing by elk has contributed to the decimation of willow habitat that is so important for much other wildlife. Beavers, once abundant in the valley, serve the role of “planting” willows as they cut fresh materials for their lodges. With their habitat gone, so are they, and now it is the role of volunteers to harvest and install native willow cuttings to rebuild this habitat. Camping is provided. Vols: 25

Phantom Canyon Trail Improvement /FF | Sat, August 3

Volunteers will take on the task of rerouting and rebuilding some of the unsustainable portions of the river access trail on the beautiful Phantom Canyon Ranch. With multiple river crossings through the North Fork Cache La Poudre, this will be an exciting project even before we reach the work sites. Volunteers will need to have their own hip waders or be comfortable with

Gaining Ground | Wildlands Restoration Volunteers | Spring 2013 | www.wlrv.org

newsletter spring 2013.indd 3

3 4/3/13 4:06 PM

working wet. And with the opportunity to fish these exclusive waters at the end of the work day and to spend a night on the preserve, the rewards will be more than the volunteerism high WRVrs seek. Vols: 25 Thunder Basin Seed Collection (WY) /FF | Thu - Sun, June 27-30 Go where no WRV Volunteer has gone before! To Bill, WY. In the heart of the Powder River Basin, the Thunder Basin National grassland is a hallmark of grassland conservation efforts, serving as essential habitat for the threatened Sage Grouse, herds of pronghorn, elk, and many other wildlife. Vols: 25 Echo Lake Trail and Resto  | Sat- Sun , July 13-14: Fri Arrival ENCOURAGED Nestled in the shadow of majestic Mt. Evans, Echo Lake draws large numbers of people because of its beauty and easy access. To help mitigate the impacts of increasing use, volunteers will reroute trails, restore trampled areas, plant native seeds, build fence, and camp in a beautiful location with friends. Vols: 50

Boulder Greenways Weeding on Wheels /FF | Thu, July 18 & Sat,

September 14 Boulder Greenways are important wildlife corridors and great opportunities to connect with nature. Help remove in-town populations of invasive species by clipping teasel (July) and cutting and dragging Russian olive (Sept.). Since sites are close, we encourage biking to projects! Don't worry, there will also be parking for carpoolers. Vols: 26

Maroon Trail  | Thu-Sun, Jul

25-28 The Maroon Bells are one of the most iconic landscapes in our country. Here a group of 13 will get the rare opportunity to restore an eroding section of trail, enjoy stunning views, have fun building check dams, construct plank walls, transplant local vegetation, and plant seed. Vols: 13

West Magnolia Trail / | Sat – Sun, Aug. 3-4: Fri Arrival REQUIRED The popular and fun trail system has been severely impacted by recent logging activities. WRV and Boulder Mountain bike Alliance will be teaming up to help the Forest Service repair and rebuild the trails, and restore forest habitat. Join us to have fun learning specialized trail skills

viewing. We will be camping in the mountains around this natural “park,” collecting native seeds among the splendor of lush forest foliage. Seeds collected will be multiplied on farms to increase them up to 1,000 fold, making them available for large-scale restoration projects. Vols: 25

while camping in the cool forest near Nederland. Vols: 60

Lake Isabelle Restoration and Glacier Route Improvement

Webster Pass Alpine Road Restoration / | Sat-

 | ThuSun, August 8-11: Arrival Thu

Sun, August 24-25: Fri arrival

RECOMMENDED

and hike in REQUIRED

WRV will be returning to one of our favorite sites to close social trails and perform trail maintenance. Volunteers will work either at Lake Isabelle or closer to Isabelle Glacier. Special permission to camp in a secluded area has been granted for this project. Food and gear will be hauled 2.5 miles by llamas to base camp. Vols: 35

Waldrop Trail  | Sat –Sun, August 17-18: Fri Arrival RECOMMENDED Rain Back-up: August 31 - Sept. 1

Join us for some awesome trail work at this spectacular destination near Brainard Lake. Volunteers will construct a new segment of trail to connect the new Gateway Trailhead to the Waldrop Trail. The work will include causeway and boardwalk construction. We’ll also close and restore 700 feet of old trail and enjoy an exclusive nearby campsite. Vols: 90

Medicine Bow Seed Collection

/FF | Fri-Sun, July 26-28: Fri arrival North Park, CO is one of Colorado’s hidden gems, boasting great birding, fishing, hiking, and wildlife

Down a bumpy road outside of Dillon is a beautiful valley that winds its way up to Webster Pass. Here volunteers will be closing an unnecessary and unauthorized road that cuts across a set of switchbacks. Come join us for a fun weekend of camping out, transplanting tundra, seeding, and installing erosion matting! Vols: 40

Brainard Portal Restoration

 | Thu, August 29 Take off early on the Labor Day weekend for a day of fun a t this beautiful mountain location. The Brainard Lake Recreation Area is one of the most popular wilderness access points in the United States, receiving 130,000 visitors each year. Volunteers will landscape an eroding slope near the entrance station, including seeding, erosion matting, and planting of native trees. The fruits of our efforts will be enjoyed by millions of people in the coming years! Vols: 30

Volunteer Profile

Bob Van Dop

Bob Van Dop leads a very full life featuring two teenage kids and a complex work schedule. Yet, he still finds the time to get involved in land stewardship and community-building with WRV. In 2012 Bob volunteered 23 times, and not just as a crew member. With his background in landscape architecture and project management, Bob is well suited to take on on additional responsibility as a Crew Leader, Tool Manager, Technical Adviser or Project Leader. He’s one of the go-to guys in Northern Colorado whenever there is a vacancy in a leadership team. Although they are exceptional, Bob’s qualifications and WRV project history are not his most impressive quality. In the midst of all he does for WRV, Bob almost always manages to get one or both of his twin children Alex and Katie involved as well. Alex comes out with him on many of our camping excursions, and tool fest wouldn’t the same without Katie’s organizational skills. They’re a great couple of kids, and thanks in no small part to Bob’s example, they’re growing up as engaged members of their world. Bob’s dedication to his family and greater community never ceases to impress.

4 Gaining Ground | Wildlands Restoration Volunteers | Spring 2013 | www.wlrv.org newsletter spring 2013.indd 4

4/3/13 4:06 PM

Bergman Trail and Raptor Habitat  | Sat, August 31 The gorgeous Barr Lake State Park is an ecological oasis on the Colorado plains that draws many birds. On this project we will construct a large portion of trail to provide visitors with a great experience while concentrating visitation away from more sensitive areas and then plant cottonwoods in other areas to reestablish raptor habitat. Vols: 80

Summit Lake Restoration

| Sat- Sun, September 7-8: Fri arrival

REQUIRED

The Chicago Lakes Overlook Trail at Summit Lake Park has transformed over the last three years through thousands of volunteer hours. Join us (if you dare) as we continue our work, at 12,800 ft, on the trail, erosion control, and alpine restoration. We will car camp for two nights with great food and new friends. Vols: 60

Pawnee Prairie Dog Project  | Sat and Sun, September 14-15: Fri night arrival ENCOURAGED

Enjoy two days of high prairie living while putting a prairie dog town into protective custody on the Pawnee National Grasslands. Volunteers will construct a .45-mile-long prairie dog fence between public and private land. This project will help to reduce tensions between the Forest Service and neighboring ranchers and the need for lethal control in one of the Pawnee's few remaining prairie dog towns. Vols: 30

Hewlett Gulch Trail  | Sat, October 5 In our last two seasons, we braved hot summer days and two forest fires

Staff Profile

to build almost a mile of new sustainable trail and close the “asteroid belt” for good. In our third season of trail restoration on one of Fort Collins’ most popular trails, we’ll be focusing on the revegetation of the closed trail! Join us for some hiking, seeding and transplanting native vegetation and a whole lotta fun! Vols: 40

Canyon Lakes Unauthorized Road Obliteration  | Sat - Sun,

September 21-22; & Sat October 12 Over 380,000 miles of dirt roads riddle our National Forests. In addition to the watershed impacts, an estimated $8.4 Billion dollar backlog of maintenance and reconstruction has been created by these roads. This project will close and restore the highest priority unauthorized roads in the Canyon Lakes Ranger District. By decompacting, recontouring, stabilizing, and revegetating these roads, this project improves watershed quality, habitat, and water quality within Colorado’s only National Wild and Scenic River; the Cache La Poudre! Vols: 50-70

Flatirons Vista Grassland Restoration /FF | Sat, October 12

Join us for this late-season project, south of Boulder. This popular area is naturally grassland. The encroachment of ponderosa pines has impacted grassland species, including grasshopper sparrows and skipper butterflies. Volunteers will remove small-diameter ponderosas, assisted by trained chain sawyers. The trees will be dragged into

Christi Turner

Christi came on board this year to oversee our growing Youth and Inclusiveness Program. Most recently she worked on the coast of Madagascar for a marine conservation organization. In a small fishing village, she oversaw an environmental education and outreach program for children and youth, with the goal of training the future environmental stewards of the region. Activities included an environmental club, a weekend environmental class, and the Junior Reporters’ Club, where local youths produced films and radio programs about conservation issues. Christi spent over five years in Madagascar, including four years as a Peace Corps Volunteer, during which time she built a solar-powered radio station, founded a community-based conservation association, and started a handicraft co-op. She has traveled across East Africa, and has lived, worked, and studied in Chile, the Dominican Republic, and London. Christi returned to the U.S. to pursue a graduate degree in environmental journalism at CU, and feels extremely lucky to have found an organization like WRV, where she can apply what she’s learned across the globe with young people here in the U.S.

piles for chipping. We'll enjoy lunch in a meadow with fantastic views of the Flatirons. Vols: 80

Tool Fests /FF | Boulder Sat, October 26, Fort Collins Sat, Novvember 2 Volunteers will gather to celebrate another great season of accomplishment and put our tools to bed for the winter— cleaning, sharpening, painting, oiling tools, and re-organizing our tool shed. Amazingly, this is a very fun and “feelgood” project that has taken on its own identity over the past years. Vols: 30 per event Sandstone Ranch Erosion Control and Seeding /FF | Sat, November

16: Rain Back-up: November 23 This gem of a park offers interesting historical, geological, and wildlife experiences. Near the historic Morse Coffin Ranch house off 119 in Longmont, we need you to help with native seeding and erosion matting placement along the base of a beautiful cliff. Wildlife inhabiting the area include barn owls, prairie dogs, red tail hawks and nesting bald eagles! Vols: 70 High Park Post Fire Restoration /FF | Many dates to be announced. Those already listed: April 7, 21, 28, & May 11 & 18 In 2012, the High Park Fire ravaged over 85,000 acres, almost half of which burned at a moderate to high severity. The highest priority restoration work will likely take two more years. This season, our goal is still to protect rivers, reservoirs, homes, and other community assets from the threat of further erosion, landslides, and flooding. We still need your help to get seeds, mulch, and waddles in the ground! Vols: 30-50

Native Seed Collections around Boulder County

/FF -15 event dates online– midweek evening events plus some ¾ day weekend events Seed collections are the most relaxing activity WRV offers and an important but less well-known part of restoration. Great for family involvement and student community service, volunteers learn to identify and collect specific varieties of native seed on 15 projects throughout the summer with BCPOS and OSMP. Vols: 2540 per event. Full schedule online at: www.wlrv.org

Gaining Ground | Wildlands Restoration Volunteers | Spring 2013 | www.wlrv.org

newsletter spring 2013.indd 5

5 4/3/13 4:06 PM

Thank you t o everyone who donated in 2012 and 2013!

Your generosity allows us to continue our volunteer restoration efforts | Donate online now: wlrv.org

$25,000 and Above

Arapaho Roosevelt Pawnee Foundation City of Greeley Gregg Campbell City of Denver - Mountain Parks & Park & Rec Div. Community Foundation of Northern Colorado Boulder County Parks & Open Space REI - National Office USFS - Boulder RD

$10,000 and Above

Alan Carpenter Colorado Water Conservation Board Barb Kirchner Aspen Meadow Veterinary Specialists P.C. John S. Scurci Foundation State Farm Insurance USFS - Canyon Lakes RD USFS - White River NF

$5,000 and Above

Climax Molybdenum CO Dept. of Agriculture Xcel Energy City of Boulder Open Space & Mountain Parks Foundation for Sustainability & Innovation Friedman Family Foundation City of Boulder - Youth Opportunities Program The Nature Conservancy - Boulder Office

$2,500 and Above

Boulder Business Products Community Foundation Serving Boulder County Mountain States Toyota Colorado State Parks BLM- Royal Gorge Stoney’s Bar & Grill Urban Drainage & Flood Control District

$1,000 and Above

NOAA - Dept. of Commerce Friendship Fund Jay Browne Bull Publishing Jennie Curtis Sky DeBoer David Egolf First Congregational Church -Boulder Randy Hediger Bohemian Foundation Steve & Ruth Johnson

$1,000+ Cont.

Rob Layton Dick Lindenmoyer Pedro Gonsalez & Seneca Murley David Piske Paul Strasburg & Terry Saracino Southwest Conservation Corps Mick Syzek The Nature Conservancy - Phantom Canyon Office

$500 and Above

Perry Abbott Jim & Suzanne Balog William Boitano Kevin Bracy Knight Erin Mulligan & Jim Bull Tom Crowley Claudia Davis Ellen Flannelly Jean-Pierre Georges Blair Johnson Sandra Laursen Troy Mandery Nancy Martin Paul Parsons & Julie Hallquist OtterCares Foundation Lawrence Robins Trees, Water & People

$250 and Above

IBM -Matching Grants Neal Anderson Sarah Bigwood Grover Cleveland Dan Corson

Robert & Norma Carter CLACE Alan Cogen Gillian Collins John Dawson Howard Demuth Cyndra Dietz Sarah Egolf Todd & Tami Elliott Mark Flower Dave Foss Beverly Gholson Mark Gibson Larry E. Glassburn Catherine Glowacki & Mark Geyer Joshua Goldstein Judy Gould Andrew Haase Conny Hayes John & Margaret Heitlinger Greg Holman Susan Hughes InsyncOffsite Suez & Art Jacobson Pat Japenga $100 and Above Bruce Johnson William Alexander Arvid Johnson Anonymous Megan Kelley Jennifer Archuleta Brad Klafehn Dave Armstrong Colleen Knopinski & Ingrid Bamberg Peter Gowen Lee Barber Bruce Barker& Elisabeth Jane Larson Maureen Lawry Denizot Dana Leavitt Heidi Baruch Larry Lechner Lori Beach Andrew Lillie Scott Belonger Deanna Lockwood Jeff & Maureen Berlin Bob & Ellen Lundy Boyd Lake Book Club Chris Macdermaid OtterCares Foundation Janet Machol Stan Brown Chris MacWaters Lora Bulmahn Petrea & George Mah Rick Burton Don & Marty Dick Melinda & Chris Driscoll Laura Elliott Alex Eschenbaum Mo Ewing Cathy Foley Lloyd Fosdick Eric T. Gertler David Gullikson Elaine Hill Jennifer Kathol Paul Liscom & Kim Pierpoint Kristin & Gilbert Lopez Mark Minich Brad Paulsen Diane Rieck & Jason Nutter Sylvia & Leroy Sebesta Ed & Amy Self Scott Smidt Loris and Associates Inc. Bill Strathearn Lucy Stroock

Sherry Moldenhauer Jeff Moline Elizabeth Naughton Pete & Pat Palmer Chris & Linda Paris Raghavendra Paturi Eric Pierson Pam & Joe Piombino Nick Powell John E. Putnam Jackie Ramaley Rhonda Rankin William Roettker Miriam Rosenblum Berkley Rush Pam Schmidt Lorraine Seger Frank Shafer Janet Siegel Ian Siemplenski Gabe Stalcup Walter Stelzer Doug Swartz Carol & Cedric Tarr John Thunen Thurmes Family Angela & My Van Do Robert & Marinda Trout Sarah Venema Jill Vesty Robert Watson Wynne Whyman Ken Wilson & Priscilla Corielle Vivian Wilson

$50 and Above

Tracy & Paul Amidon, Penny Anderson, Gregory Anderson, Anonymous, Amy & Todd Atkins, Rebecca Austin, Ian Baker, Marianne Bergen, DeAnna Bertwell, Linda Bevard, Pete & Suzanne Birkeland, Seth Blum, Dr. Jane Bock, Elizabeth Boyarski, Raymond Bridge, David Bright, Aaron Brockett, John Brooks, Sandy Charles, Mary Clough, Amgen, Owen & Melissa Cooper, Covidien, James Cramer, Edward Cribbs Arnold Cross, Carol & Glenn Cushman, Joyce & Kenneth Davies, Julie & Jan Deemer, Odell Dehart, Susan Donaldson, Preston & Caroline Douglas, Carol Dozier, Elizabeth Drozda-Freeman, Jamie Egolf, Bill & Lynn Evans, Susan Ferguson, Jared Ferguson, Phil Ferrante-Roseberry, Bryon Fessler, Dave & Peg Fletcher, Virginia Gebhart, Ed Green, Allison Hamm, Kaaren Hardy, Graham Harper, Robert Hastings, Roger Hedrick, Lynne Hull, Bob Hunter, Bob Irmiger, Diane Israel, Gina Janett, Robert Johnson, Elizabeth Johnston, Timothy Kearley, Charley Kelly, Lisa Kohl, Patricia Laird, Sonya Lefebre, Amanda Leon, Sheila Lewis, Cyndi Long, Terrill Malleck, Dave McKay, Patricia McMahon, Sara Michl, Kirk Mills, Mindy Mohr, Michael Moran, Mike Tupper & Naseem Munshi, Shay Murphy, Carol Myers, Peter O’Brien, Patti Olson, Pam Packer & Rob Carnachan, Mark & Alice Palmer, Nathan Perkins, Kate Polk,Peter Pollock & Diane Yates, Kathy Reid, Alan & LeAnn Richards, James Richardson, Todd Sanford, Martha Shepard, Molly Smart, Lesley Smith, Charlie Stein,Richard Stewart, Robert Tate, Sheila Todd, Karen Turnquist, Ian Venable, Jan Vermilye, Claudia Vetesy, Jason Vogel, Richard Voigt, Ashley Waddell, Jennifer Walsh, Steve Welter & Rebecca Dickson, Claudia & Tom Wiley, Crystal Yates-White, Doug & Linda Yohn

6 Gaining Ground | Wildlands Restoration Volunteers | Spring 2013 | www.wlrv.org newsletter spring 2013.indd 6

4/3/13 4:06 PM

Special Donations In honor of

Col. Henry E. Syzek, US Army, Ret. from Mick Syzek & Diana Dwyer The Marrige of Cat Campbell and Mike Wubben from Alyssa Wechsler from Robyn Paulekas from Stephen Johnson from Bethany Weir from Kelly Foley from Katherine Parkhurst Dan Corson from Deon Wolfenbarger & Doug Hintzman from John Tayer Frannie Seashole from Therese Glowacki The Marriage of Gowen and Knopinski from Mike & Susan Gowan from Paul & Margaret Gowen from Beverly Gholson Jean Hediger/High Park Fire Coalition from Debra Bruce Jody Berman from Debra Biasca Libby Michaud from Suzy Belmont Nancy York from Tina Naugle Sara Dieterich from John Garvey The Hedigers from Cindy Coopersmith

In Memory of

Caroline Heller Phelan-Jones from Dave Jones Harper Dog from Julie White Nicholas Joseph Barker from Ben Barker Robert Cross from Pamela Guthrie Ronald D. Tabler from Ed Tabler Sam Rozzell from Lara Rozzell Suzanne Louise Castellani from Castellani Family Thomas Ross from Susan Ross

Up to $50 Holly Abbott, Barb Alexy, Toni Allo, Linda Andes-Georges, Anonymous, Briana Aragon, Andrew Arell, Stephen Austin, John & Sandy Baggenstos, Marsha Barber, Warren Barker, David Bathke, Betty Becker & Mike Moorman, Terry Bittner, Tavon Boaman, Andrea Borkenhagen, Brock Bowles, Rachael Bray, Leila Bruno, Randy Buchter, Rex Burns, Steve Butler, Kathy Byrne, Carie Dann & Stephanie Shwiff , Claire Carren, Leigh Castellani, Marin Chambers, Duane Clow, Anita Conner, Margaret Cope, Seth Crooks, Seth Cude, Colleen Cunningham, Kirk Cunningham, Cat Dailey, Kristen Dean, Emily Deemer, Andy Deemer, Jo Dickson, Jan Dorsey, Melissa Dozier, Deb Duke, Bridgid Dunlap, Adele Eastman, Greg Eckert, Mary Eldred, Stewart & Christine Elford, Fran Enright, Connie Esch, Lee Evans, Jessica Evett, Lindsay Winkler, Paul Ferris, Bob Finch, Susan Flack, Kelly Foley, Stacey Fowler, Mary Fulton, Mary Fulton, Sherry Gaines, Ken Gamauf, Paul Gayer, Aaron Gerlach, Larry Glassburn, Alicia Goddard, Joe Godleski, Sarah Gorecki, Brian & Mary Haan, Linda Hamilton, Chelsea Hansen, Anna Harry, David Hawes, Matt Heath, Tim Henson, Jill Hill, Steven Hoffman, Nils Hoglund, Matthew Holzapfel, Joseph Howard, Kurt Janz, Jeremy Johnson, Gloria Johnston, Don Kava, Deb Keammerer, Alyssa King, Peter Kleinman, Sherry Klesner, Wendy Koontz, Jason Kravitz, Terry Kuh, Dan Kullas, Tammy Kurzmack, Chris Labin, Brad Larsen, Ron Larue, Michael Leccese, Gwin Lehman, Pam Leland, Sarah L, Danielle Cassidy Levine, Jason Lillegraven, Jane H. Looney, Estelle Lopes, Lorraine Lutz, Eli Lyon, Matthew Machado, Eugene Mahoney, Joe & Kathy Mantione, Ian McMillan, Kelly McVerry, Lindsey Messinger, Troy Mossoni, Marsha Murphy, Tina Naugle, Ann Newman, Diana Happe, Jody Norman, Lisa Olsen, Emilene Ostlind, Stephanie Owens, Mary Palumbo, Lee Patton, John Penick, Christy Perkins, Julie Perkins, Kate Pierce, Sina Pierret, Dorothy Podel, Caren Pomar, Pavla Pribylova, Rob Pudim, Jessica Reason, Clare Reigelman, Elaine Rideout, Susan Ross, Camille Schiraldi, Terry Scott, Cassandra Scott, Beverly Sears, Margaret Self, Joel Sholtes, Elizabeth Slokar, Jessica Smith, Raspberry Meadows LLC, Philip Straffin, Rose Marie Studer, Andrew Tarr, Todd Thibodeau, Therese & Jay Thompson, Nancy Tomb, Andrew Tredennick, Andrew Truax, Molly Trujillo, Wes Tulli, Jessica Turner, Robert Van Dop, Luke Vesely, Karel Waltermire, Nat Warning, Jim Watkins, Kathy Wellman, Clinton Whitten, Nancy Wigington, Jay Willard, Cheryl Wood, Caitlyn Wood, Bob & Katy Yates, Bill Zawacki

Trail Work...continued from front page.

A sustainably-built trail that sheds water dries faster and harbors fewer puddles so hikers are more likely to stay on it. When people step off the trail, they create braided trails that encourage further off-trail use. (A braided trail is one that splits into more and more parallel trails.) It sounds simple enough but achieving the twin goals of keeping people on trails and water off trails requires careful consideration of terrain, soil-type, location, and climate. We use numerous techniques to accomplish these goals. Water-bars (little dips in the trail the shed water but are hardly noticed by hikers), tilted out-slopes (that allow water to flow over a trail and off), and ditches all help to bring water off of the trail. When it is not feasible to guide water off the trail, techniques like puncheons, culverts, turnpikes, check-dams, and stepping-stones lift the trail tread out of wet areas. Trail building really is a science. One example of WRV using these techniques to construct a more sustainable trail is the Lake Isabelle trail-reroute in the James Peak Wilderness (Lake Isabelle is also a project site for 2013). Careful attention has been brought to the survey, design, layout, execution, and completion of this project. The original trail led up a steep slope winding its way through a wet gully. Erosion and severe trail braiding and scarring were negatively impacting the surrounding habitat. Sediment loss and off-trail travel were a real problem. Working in partnership with the Forest Service, WRV successfully closed and restored the old trail and built a new trail with the proper grade. We hope this new trail will ultimately lead to greater conservation of the land for decades into the future. All of these restoration techniques are important tools and we enlist them to achieve the ultimate goal: making sure that trails are sustainable so that people continue to use them. When people use well-designed trails, they are spending time learning how to understand and love our wild lands, and they have less negative impact on the environment.

Your Ideas and Suggestions Add Up to a Culture of Learning

By: Sarah Egolf

How are we doing? Are we healing the land and building community? Is your experience a positive one? WRV is dedicated to measuring what matters, and your anonymous feedback is critical to that process. For example, six years ago, WRV did not serve vegetarian food at projects. But thanks to feedback from volunteers, all WRV meals now include vegetarian options. Every answer to a question on a WRV survey is reviewed immediately by staff and volunteer leaders, and later read again during a global annual audit of lessons learned. Some truths are self-evident, but others take concerted effort to unearth. Thank you much for taking the time to participate in WRV surveys – you matter, and your comments count! If you can’t wait to share your ideas on the next survey, feel free to email or give the WRV office a call any time. Gaining Ground | Wildlands Restoration Volunteers | Spring 2013 | www.wlrv.org

newsletter spring 2013.indd 7

7 4/3/13 4:06 PM

2013 Project Schedule Inside 3012 Sterling Circle, Suite 201 Boulder, CO 80301

ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Membership

Yes, I want to help restore and preserve precious natural areas along the Colorado Front Range and beyond! Please become a member of WRV at www.wlrv.org or by filling out the form below! A successful membership program is essential to building an organization that endures. A growing membership helps to fund our stewardship projects and demonstrates to other funders and partners that the community supports our work. Member benefits include: priority registration on projects; WRV logo items at a reduced minimum donation; and more. Thank you for your support!

Contact information

Amount

Level

How Your Support Helps

Name

 $20

Student

buys ten tree seedlings

Address

 $35

Friend

purchases one tool

City

 $50

Family

purchases one roll of erosion control matting

State

 $75

Supporter plants 35 feet of stream bank vegetation

Zip

 $150

Patron

feeds 30 volunteers three meals for a day

Phone (home)

 $250

Sustainer

purchases native seeds to plant one acre

Phone (work)

 $500

Leader

trains ten volunteer crew leaders

E-mail

 $1000

Benefactor helps WRV fund an entire restoration project

Employer

 Other $

Donate at www.wlrv.org or send checks payable to: Wildlands Restoration Volunteers 3012 Sterling Circle, Suite 201, Boulder, CO 80301

 My company will match my gift up to the amount of $ (enclosed matching gift form)

newsletter spring 2013.indd 8

 I would like my contribution to be anonymous

Thank You! 4/3/13 4:06 PM