Event Update:
New date is set for 5th December. All other details remain the same. This time around, if it's impossible weather, we have an alternative location within 500m that is on higher ground where we can plant the trees. Therefore this event will take place regardless of sun, rain, snow , atmospheric rivers, or any other meteorological challenges.
In partnership with the Cougar Creek Streamkeepers we have two tasks for this event. We will be planting shrubs sreamside and building temporary boardwalks. Weather dependant, the planting may be put on hold however the boardwalk building will be our back up for inclement weather and/or if we either have lot's of participants or finish planting early.
Planting:
We'll be adding a variety of native shrubs to a stretch of streambank that has only grass on it at present. The plants include salmonberry, red osier dogwood, willow, snowberry, Douglas spirea and Carex obnupta (slough sedge).
The streambank is very erosion-prone along this stretch, like the similar grassy banks a bit farther downstream. Those have eroded to such a great extent that they are hardly there at all, with the result that the creek floods totally unimpeded across the trail. We're hoping to rescue the upstream planting area before it succumbs to a similar fate!
Boardwalk Building:
We'll be building simple walkways to improve the trail for walkers during the wet season. It'll be simply nailing wooden planks (already on site) to short logs to creat temporary walkways, and placing them at strategic parts of the trail, improving access and reducing erosion (by helping walkers not stray off the trail in search of a dryer route).
Already on site:
- ca. 180 plants (half-hidden in underbrush)
- posts to which we can attach mesh fencing to protect new plants from dogs
- limited supply of boards, hopefully enough to span worst mudholes on trail
- fairly good supply of short log-lengths to support boards
BC Wildlife Federation and/or Streamkeepers will bring:
- work gloves -- 30 pairs or so, mixed sizes
- 20 (?) shovels
- nails
- mesh fencing
Much appreciated if volunteers can bring:
- hammers
- wirecutters
- gloves
- ESSENTIAL: High gumboots, hip waders or rolled-up-old-pants-with-sacrificial-shoes
- a chainsaw (Mr Hippo?), in case more short log-lengths are needed to support boards
- one or more stapleguns, to attach mesh fencing to posts
- anyone got a posthole digger? (never hurts to ask, eh?)
Site Access: From the trailhead waypoint, we'll be following both the trail, alongside the lower creek. Note that we do have to cross the rail track to reach the work site.
Parking: There is limited parking at each waypoint shown (Blake Drive and Bates Road), otherwise there is street parking on Blake Drive. Please ensure you leave a couple of parking spots at the lot on Blake for the supplies vehicles to access easily.
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