This year was a big one for CSERC volunteer projects. Enjoy the slideshow and read below for summaries of the work our dedicated crew of staff and volunteers got done. (Inspired by what you see? Be sure and let us know that you want to get in our volunteer projects for 2012! Send us an email today to be notified of future projects.)

Red Hills Area of Critical Environmental Concern

    CSERC and volunteers worked with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) staff at the Red Hills for a very productive day of weed pulling- removing invasive star thistle that was threatening a population of rare plants. The Red Hills, a BLM area of Environmental Concern contains a number of endemic plant species due to its unique serpentine soils.   In November, volunteers and CSERC assisted the BLM with trail maintenance and removal of an illegally created 4WD route.

Fiddler’s Green Meadow Restoration

     This meadow (located in the Stanislaus National Forest) underwent major restoration in 2010, to repair a large gully that had dropped the water table significantly and dried out the meadow.  This year, CSERC staff has coordinated successfully with the Forest Service to help with many aspects of this meadow’s restoration process: native seed collection (at a nearby meadow), willow planting, seed distribution (at the restored meadow site), and stream bank restoration.    

Sapps Meadow Fencing Project

For the third year CSERC staff played a leading role on organizing and putting together a large fencing project to prevent cattle from damaging one of the largest fens that occurs in our Stanislaus Forest.  A fen is a rare type of wetland habitat, and (as is the case with the fen in this project) often has special status plant species that can grow only there.  Three intensive volunteer days brought this long-term project to a close, and will help ensure that this special place is protected indefinitely, and allowed to restore to its natural condition.

Waterhouse Trailhead Meadow Restoration Project

Volunteers gathered on a crisp and beautiful October morning to assist the Forest Service in protecting a high mountain meadow from recreational impacts. Digging holes and installing over 20 barricades, the meadow is now better protected from vehicle and camping damage that had been damaging the integrity of the meadow.

Stream Bank Restoration at Scout’s Gully Meadow

This meadow had been restored from a damaged condition several years ago. This year, the Forest Service asked if CSERC would assist with some budding problems with stream bank degradation.  Staff and volunteers stepped up to help repair and prevent further erosion caused by the stream that goes through the meadow.

Fence Repair at Stump and Cable Meadow

The heavy snow pack from the precious winter severely damaged fencing set up to keep cows out of degraded meadows, restoring from previous years of livestock impact.  With an under-staffed Forest Service unable to make the repairs, CSERC staff and volunteers stepped up to make sure that these meadows got the protection they needed and repaired over a thousand feet of fencing.

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