get yer karma on!
Riparian Refuge Seeks Volunteers
By Tomi Owens, 1-25-07
Are you dying to save the environment but not sure where to start? Here is an idea: Stewardship Saturdays!
Jim Clapp of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife service in Washington is looking for a little help (or a lot of help) to replant three small National Wildlife Refuges on the Washington side of the Columbia River Gorge - Steigerwald Lake near Washougal, Franz Lake near Skamania, and Pierce between Beacon Rock and North Bonneville.
Here is the official Press Release:
Native Plantings Scheduled at Steigerwald Lake Refuge
Refuge staff is coordinating plantings of up to 2,000 native trees and shrubs at two restoration sites on Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge – a cottonwood-dominated riparian site along Gibbons Creek and an oak-dominated site south of SR 14. Volunteers are being sought to assist in planting these potted plants, which include shrubs donated by the Vancouver Audubon Society and the Georgia-Pacific mill in Camas. In addition to work, volunteers will learn about the refuge happenings, now and in the future, and will probably be treated to some up close wildlife sightings such as bobcat, coyote, black-deer, and lots of waterfowl (especially Canada geese).
A small group of dedicated volunteer team leaders will provide leadership to volunteers interested in helping plant these shrubs. Because plantings are most successful when done during the rainy winter months and there are a lot of plants to put in the ground, workdays are scheduled for every weekend from Saturday, January 20, through Saturday, March 31; some on Saturdays and some on Sundays. We start at 9 a.m. at try to finish by noon. We will especially be in need of some additional volunteers, as the recent cold and snowy weather has prevented us from planting for two consecutive weekends, eliminating two days of planting opportunity.
Interested volunteers should bring work gloves, waterproof footwear, and weather-appropriate clothing. Bring a beverage to drink; we will provide snacks donated by the Camas and Washougal Safeway stores. Interested volunteers need to call Wilson Cady (360/835-5947) or Carol Kohler (360/834-4344) for registration and additional directions. Those with Internet access can also check for planting dates and team leaders to call directly by clicking hereor here.
I spoke to Jim Clapp this morning and he assured me these work parties are completely kid friendly. So why not make a family day of it? When I brought my boys to a Pick up the Giff work party last fall, it was fun and environmentally rewarding. Plus, because I’m desert born and raised, it was a chance to apply a parental homily: “When I was a kid we didn’t have Beautiful Forests to play in.” But more apt perhaps is this sentiment: “Someday, when you have kids, I want them to have Beautiful Forests to play in.”
Thanks for this article. We will pass this along to our membership on Portlandhikers.org.
Comment By Dad, 1-31-07Tomi Sweethart:
At least when I took you looking for deer in Arizona's forests we
did not have to wear waterwings because of the rain.
Love Dad