| Interested in joining the Umpqua Watersheds Education Committee? Contact Mike mike@umpqua-watersheds.org | ||||||
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| Green Fire and Wild Roots Education Programs Our initiatives expose youth and adults to the grandeur and complexity of nature. Field excursions support classroom lessons that provide life changing experiences and develop environmental science literacy and critical thinking skills. Connecting the classroom to field for secondary and college students, we provide research experience and workforce development opportunities in restoration ecology, wildlife technology, and other science-based career pathways. Current Activities: “Green Fire” (youth) and “Wild Roots” (adults) field studies; Phoenix Charter School, South Umpqua High School, Douglas High School and Umpqua Community College volunteers and interns in monitoring and restoration projects; Development of the Western Institute for the Study of Ecosystem Recovery; Veterans’ wilderness and recreational therapy. Silent Creek Snowshoe February 2012 In line with Green Fire, Umpqua Watersheds led an educational snowshoe excursion with students from the Phoenix School. Hike leader and Umpqua Watersheds volunteer Patrick Starnes led students and community members through a pristine piece of the Umpqua National Forest in order to explore high alpine ecosystems and critical carnivore habitat. With fresh snow-pack and breathtaking views of Mt. Thielson and Mt. Bailey, both the students and community members alike learned the value of road-less pieces of our National Forest. A great time was had by all!
Invasive Species Pond Surveys
This wetland is one of many in the Tiller Forest district impacted by dredging. The area was dynamited in the 1970s and 80s to deepen ponds in order to create fishing recreation in what once was a complex fishless pond wetland. In addition to simplifying the wetland habitat structure and loss of riparian vegetation (due to B horizon soil left on top of the banks surrounding the pond), the pond has experienced recreational impacts such as shooting western pond turtles, a sensitive species, and impacts to the native amphibians from introduction of fish. Heavy timber harvest surrounding the pond has also caused high sediment loading and changes in water availability and understory moisture conditions. Students broke into three different survey crews where each surveyed separate ponds and wetlands in the area. After a rewarding survey, Leonard and Lois Huston of the South Umpqua Community Rural Partnership Beaver Advocacy Committee beavers@surcp. org joined the class during lunch in a short discussion about beaver restoration program in the area. On March 10th , 2 college student volunteers accompanied UW wildlife biologist Cindy Haws to the Upper Andreioff Pond to monitor amphibian populations. This pond serves as a reference pond due to its relative intact condition compared to others impacted by development and harvest activities. It is one of only a few known wetlands that still have fairy shrimp due to not having been stocked with fish. Red Legged Frog egg masses were counted along with fresh Cascade Frog egg masses (a place where both species breeding habitat overlaps) and Pacific Chorus Frog masses. Now trained in the use of the protocol for survey these students will be leading other students in the upcoming weeks to continue surveying as many of the ponds as we can before the breeding season ends. This is one of the best, most efficient means to estimate amphibian populations. Read more about this project >>2010 Phoenix Charter School and Umpqua Community College
During the summer and fall of 2010 students from Phoenix Charter School and Umpqua Community College science student volunteers Cris Salazar and Courtney Gallimore helped to complete invasive species surveys in five impacted wetlands on the Tiller Ranger District. The first surveys focused upon invasive mollusk species presence. Nancy Duncan a Pacific Northwest mollusk species expert contributed 2 days to train students and Umpqua Watersheds staff in the identification and biology of native and invasive mollusk species. Students learned how native clams and mussels play significant roles in water cleansing processes of the aquatic ecosystem and how non-native mollusk species severely impact the balance and biological diversity in these systems. Students also learned and applied a randomized plot survey of aquatic mollusks to quantify species relative abundance. Survey results identified one pond/wetland that has a non-native mollusk species. While the other ponds/wetlands did not have non-native invasive mollusk species, they did have non-native invasive fish and amphibians. Read more about this project >>
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March 2011 - Douglas High School