Complete details (including directions) here
Calling all volunteers! Mark Friday, August 13th, 2021 on your calendars to help conserve and restore a precious wetland area in the Mount Haggin Wildlife Management Area. We will be meeting at 9:00 AM and will work until 3:30, with optional “happy hour” until ~4:00 PM. We hope you’ll join us!
What we’ll be doing: We will be installing simple, low-tech, hand-built rock “Zeedyk” structures to kickstart the processes in order to heal this ephemeral stream. The emphasis will be on stabilizing shallow head-cuts and counteracting channel incision. Be ready for some good old fashion manual labor. Moving and placing rocks and digging in the dirt. AND LET’S GIVE A HUGE THANK YOU TO THE ANACONDA SPORTSMAN’S CLUB AND THE SKYLINE SPORTSMAN’S ASSOCIATION FOR PURCHASING A LOAD OF ROCKS FOR THIS PROJECT, A COMBINED CONTRIBUTION OF $800! We are lucky to have such passionate, dedicated groups in our community.
Why do this work? Wet meadows and riparian areas occupy a small fraction of the arid western ecosystem, yet these mesic areas provide critically important habitat for many species. Functioning mesic areas capture and store water in the soil, slowly releasing it after runoff events, ensuring continued base flows and maintenance of water tables throughout the growing season. Holding water in the soil later into the summer also results in plant communities that are more productive than the surrounding dry landscape, providing important food and cover for insects, wildlife, and livestock. The hydrological and ecological function of many of these riparian and wet meadow areas have been degraded by past land management, such as improper grazing, roads, invasive plants, and historic flooding events. The result is gully erosion, channel incision, head cutting, and lowered water tables. They are in desperate need of repair.
Details: Beverages and lunch on us! Additional details here.
Questions/RSVP: Contact BHWC Restoration Programs Manager, Ben LaPorte.
Note: Smoke in the area is thick due to the Alder Creek (Wise River) and Trail Creek (Wisdom) fires. Please be aware that air quality may be unhealthy for sensitive groups at the time of the volunteer event. Please plan accordingly.