Join us for our Last Aspen Regeneration Workday of the Year!

SYRCL has completed two aspen regeneration workdays this summer with over 22 SYRCL volunteers helping to restore an aspen stand in Loney Meadow. Our enthusiastic team of volunteers has treated the ½ acre stand by removing small encroaching conifers using hand saws and a lot of love for the Yuba watershed.

The next workday is on August 30^th  and we will treat a new aspen stand as well as conduct aspen monitoring. SYRCL is collecting data to help us understand the ecological and hydrologic condition of our Yuba meadows. This data collection includes walking transects throughout aspen stands to give us information on conifer and aspen density, tree diameter, tree height, and canopy cover throughout the stand.

Aspen groves are in decline from conifer encroachment due to changes in natural fire and hydrologic regimes—this ecosystem needs our assistance to remain healthy. If you missed our last workdays, join us on August 30^th to learn about aspens and meadow habitats and help restore aspen tree habitat, one of the Sierra Nevada’s biodiversity hotspots.

SYRCL’s Final 2014 Aspen Restoration Day:

• When: Saturday August 30^th, 8 am to 4 pm
• Where: To be determined
• RSVP: Please contact Adele Rife, SYRCL Restoration Coordinator at adele@syrcl.org or (530) 265-5961 ext. 218.

Restoration days include:

• Carpooling to the aspen stand
• Learning about the importance of aspen groves and meadows
• 2 to 3 hours of conifer removal and/or aspen stand monitoring
• Training and natural interpretation provided by Tahoe National Forest staff

To learn more, view a video about our past aspen regeneration work created by SYRCL volunteer, Tony Loro. More information about restoring mountain meadows can be found on our restoration page, and  listen to NPR’s report on “Fighting Fire with Fire,” which talks about a similar aspen regeneration project by conifer removal.

SYRCL’s aspen regeneration work is in partnership with the Tahoe National Forest and is funded by the Sierra Nevada Conservancy, The National Forest Foundation, and the California Department of Water Resources.

“I look forward to the aspen-meadow projects every year.   You get to hike a bit, hang out with–and meet–friendly folk. You get to do some good work in beautiful country. Why would I not want to be part of this? Maybe you should too.” states Jim Wofford, SYRCL volunteer. Meadows are fascinating and vital ecosystems – come learn about them and help take action to restore them!