Join Ochoco National Forest on Saturday, September 24 for National Public Lands Day, the nation’s largest, single-day volunteer effort for public lands. On the Ochoco National Forest, the public is invited to take part in a volunteer work day to help cage riparian plants along a recently-restored section of Trout Creek.
National Public Lands Day brings together volunteers, agencies, and partner organizations to connect people to public lands in their community, inspire environmental stewardship, and encourage use of public lands for education, recreation and general health.
The Lookout Mountain Ranger District completed a stream restoration project last year along Trout Creek, just north of McKay Saddle. Following the project, stream banks were replanted with riparian vegetation that will provide cover for fish habitat and shade to keep the water cool. The National Forest is seeking volunteers to spend a day helping cage those plants to protect them from browsing and ensure a thriving riparian ecosystem into the future.
RSVP for this event at Connect Central Oregon: http://www.connectcentraloregon.org/event/detail/?event_id=31480
Last year, National Public Lands Day volunteers planted 125,000 trees, shrubs and other native plants, removed 550 tons of trash from trails and other places, collected 25,000 pounds of invasive plants, built and maintained 1,600 miles of trails, and saved taxpayers an estimated $18.5 million through volunteer services to improve public lands across the country. To learn more about National Public Lands Day, visit www.neefusa.org/public-lands-day
As part of the national Every Kid in a Park initiative, all fourth graders and their families can claim their free Every Kid in a Park pass which allows free entry into and use of all federal parks, forests, and recreation areas for a full year. Fourth graders can print out a paper voucher for free entry into and use of all federal lands by visiting the Every Kid in a Park website at www.everykidinapark.gov. Students and their families can also redeem their paper voucher for a plastic pass at any Forest Service office. The voucher and passes are valid for the entire school year, September 1, 2016 – August 31, 2017.
