The South Yuba River Citizens League has been involved in aspen restoration for over 6 years now, with a Yuba River watershed-wide aspen assessment completed this year. To involve our community with the work we do, we are hosting an Aspen Volunteer Day on Friday, October 7 at 10 am at Loney Meadow. Join Forest Conservation Project Manger, Anne Marie Holt, Forest Conservation Program Manger Kat Perlman, and Alecia Weisman, Watershed Science Program Manger, on this beautiful fall day to help remove cattle exclusion fencing for the winter. The aspen leaves will likely be changing color at this time – a spectacular sight you don’t want to miss!

Although aspen communities comprise only a small fraction of Sierra Nevada forests, they provide an outsized role in biodiversity, similar to riparian areas. In addition to habitat, aspen stands provide ecosystem services that affect surrounding ecological communities both directly and indirectly including landscape-scale fire resilience, and improved water quality.

VOLUNTEER ROLE

SYRCL is hosting an Aspen Volunteer Work Day within the Yuba River Watershed to help remove cattle exclusion fencing that protects young aspen suckers from over-browsing. Volunteers can expect to spend the day (10 am to 2:30 pm) removing cattle exclusion fencing around 2 beautiful aspen stands and if there is time, collecting important aspen stand data that will inform aspen restoration.

Work gloves will be provided. Bring along water, hiking boots, lunch, snacks, sunscreen, sunhat, warm layers, sunglasses, and anything else that will make you feel comfortable working at 6,000 feet in elevation on an October day. The weather may be variable. Optional items to bring include a camera, binoculars, and field guides, as Loney Meadow is a habitat for many birds, shrubs, meadow vegetation, and wildlife in addition to the aspen stands.

No previous experience is necessary! With many hands, we can make this light work.

LOCATION

Loney Meadow is located about an hour from Nevada City, within the Tahoe National Forest off Bowman Lake Road (USFS Road 18). A high clearance vehicle is recommended, as the last approximate mile to the trailhead is unpaved and rough.  Volunteers will meet at the Loney Meadow trailhead parking area at 10 am on Saturday, Oct. 9th. Detailed driving directions will be provided to volunteers who sign up.