Collaboration 101

Sunny and 75 degrees made for fine weather to get outside and work in the wilderness last Saturday. That's exactly what a bunch of determined volunteers did in the Dog Valley Meadow area in the Toiyabe National Forest, just a few miles north of Verdi on the edge of the eastern Sierras.
 
The purpose of the project was to protect the natural yet fragile meadows from intrusive off-road use by irresponsible users. The delicate riparian area is vital to the ecosystem of the area and sustains a variety of wildlife including a large mule deer herd that utilizes the location as a major migration route.

The Nevada Four Wheel Drive Association, Hills Angels 4x4 Club, and Friends of Nevada Wilderness all joined together with the U.S. Forest Service to dedicate the day to restoring a vehicle trespass path into a single track hiking trail and building an extensive barrier on the road alongside the meadow to safeguard it from future abuse.













Camaraderie was in the air as Pulaskis and sledgehammers swung, picks and shovels broke ground, drills spun, levers worked, saws cut, dirt and dust flew, legs and backs lifted, jokes were told, and water gulped.

The current drought conditions were apparent as the constitution of the soil was extremely dry and hardened. But the workers labored through and ultimately placed and secured a total of 78 large wooden poles along the roadside, all contributed by NV Energy.

After the task was completed, everyone gathered for a delicious feast of foods and BBQ buffet, generously prepared by many of the volunteers.

Altogether, the hard work was accomplished by U.S. Forest Service staff and local volunteers which accounted for 36 heads, 8 dogs, and 4 youngsters. The forester leading the project estimated that the hours of labor donated by the volunteers equaled approximately $7500. Thanks to the efforts of volunteers and donations from other agencies and contributors, out of the $80K it cost for the grant of this project, a whopping $60K of those funds will be returned to go into the OHV Green Sticker Fund program. Not a bad day's work.

In the end, habitat was protected, trails and public access remained, money was saved, and people partnered in service to the community. Even the project's de facto mascots approved.

For video click: here.

"Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress, and working together is success." - Henry Ford (American entrepreneur)