June 2022 Newsletter

AWG depends on donations to help support our monitoring and restoration programs, like sampling for harmful algal blooms and planning for our annual Creek Day community workday.

Please make a mid-year donation today!

DONATE

Photo by Judy Wickwire

West Fork Carson River - Fuels Reduction, Aspen, and Meadow Restoration Project Tour

Tuesday, July 12, 5:30-7:30 p.m.

Please join Alpine Watershed Group, National Forest Foundation, and US Forest Service staff for a walking tour in Hope Valley. Come learn more about this exciting project that will improve forest health by reducing fuels, enhancing aspen stands, and restoring meadows.

RSVP here for meeting location and details.

FLYER

For more information, contact Rachel at (530) 694-2327 or awg.rachel@gmail.com.

Stewardship Spotlights

Thank you to the volunteers who cleaned up the AWG Adopt-A-Highway stretch during the Markleeville Enhancement Committee (MEC) workday. Kudos to MEC and all of the volunteers at this May 14 event!

Alpine Trails Association (ATA) has made incredible progress on repairing Thornburg Canyon Trail in the Tamarack Fire burn area to prevent erosion during summer thunderstorms. They also planted more trees and have been hauling water to all the newly planted trees. We are so grateful to ATA for their watershed stewardship!

Hope Valley Restoration Project Update

Summer 2022 brings us into the second year of monitoring for AWG's Hope Valley Restoration and Aquatic Habitat Enhancement Project. The project aims to address incised stream banks and the continuing bank erosion at two sites. You can see previous Watershed Program Manager Mo Loden's presentation on the project here, and a short time-lapse video of Site 1 construction here.

Last month, with volunteer help, we reinstalled the green mesh exclusionary fence and project sign. The fencing will help protect the sensitive restoration site to allow for continued vegetative growth. As of June 2021, we were on the way to meeting our goal for vegetation survival. This month we will be out doing vegetation monitoring again, with our project goal being greater than 50% vegetation coverage for year two. We will do photo monitoring both this month and at the end of the growing season, and in November we will complete erosion surveys to track bank erosion.

If you are interested in helping with ongoing site maintenance, please email Watershed Coordinator Rachel Kieffer.

Project Webpage

Looking Forward to Death Ride

Do you want to participate in Death Ride but aren't a cyclist? AWG volunteers help with trash and recycling from the event at Turtle Rock Park. You can be in the center of the action while helping to ensure the event is as environmentally-friendly as possible. We are thankful to have filled all of our volunteers shifts on July 15 and 16, but if you are willing to put your name on a back-up volunteer list, please email Sierra.

Registration to ride is still open. Pick your challenge—you do not have to ride the entire route. Visit the event website to secure your spot!

All Things Watersheds

Friends of Hope Valley is hosting a workday on Saturday, June 25 from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m. at Pickett's Junction. Projects include planting willows to help stabilize the river banks; general clean-up; Adopt-A-Highway litter pickup; and replacing old fencing along the highway. For more information, see their flyer.
Alpine County is hosting a community meeting to provide an update on Tamarack Fire restoration projects and facilitate discussion towards the larger recovery on Tuesday, June 28, 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Turtle Rock Park. See flyer.
Check out Carson Water Subconservancy District's June Watershed Moment video, which focuses on the importance of pollinators. Visit the "I am Carson River Watershed" Campaign website to learn more and to take the pledge to keep our waters healthy.
Do you hike in Thornburg Canyon? ATA has been leaving out filled buckets of water at the trailhead so hikers can help water the newly planted trees in the burned area. Contact Andy Lovell at ata.andyl@gmail.com for details or for information on volunteering with ATA. Trail maintenance is critical to preventing erosion and sedimentation into streams.

Grover State Park Update

As of May 6, California State Parks reopened Grover Hot Springs State Park for day-use hiking and picnicking. In addition, the campground (Loop 1, Sites 1-34) is open first come, first served as of June 2022. The pools remain closed. See the park webpage for details.

Upcoming AWG Events

AWG Meeting (Project Site Tour) — Tuesday, July 12, 5:30 p.m.

Creek Day Community Workday — Saturday, September 17

Ways to Connect or Help

We always love to hear from our watershed community! Below are email links to reach AWG's staff, or reach us at AWG's office at (530) 694-2327. Please follow us on Facebook and Instagram, and subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Kimra McAfee, Executive Director
Rachel Kieffer, Watershed Coordinator
Sierra Riker, Monitoring & Outreach Specialist, Sierra Nevada AmeriCorps Partnership (SNAP)

Contact Us!

A quick note for Gmail users:
To get our monthly bulletin email sent to your "Inbox" instead of "Promotions,"
click and drag the email over to your "Primary" tab.

Until next time!

Manage your preferences | Opt out using TrueRemove™
Got this as a forward? Sign up to receive our future emails.
View this email online.

PO Box 296 │ 50 Diamond Valley Road
Markleeville, CA | 96120 United States

This email was sent to .
To continue receiving our emails, add us to your address book.