Thanks to a Biodiversity Conservation Grant from the National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF), with major support from Toyota Motor North America, SYRCL will be able to provide hands-on meadow restoration experience to high schoolers as part of its Youth Outdoor Leadership Opportunity (YOLO) program.
The work will occur on the Loney Meadow complex, which is located centrally between the Middle and South Forks of the Yuba River and sits on Tahoe National Forest land. A group of students from Nevada and Yuba counties will embark upon a 5-day expedition during which time they will work alongside SYRCL scientist to preserve and encourage the growth of meadow fringe aspen.
This work is important as encroaching conifers, grazing, and soil compaction all threaten the aspen groves that border meadow areas. SYRCL is working to help the fringe aspen flourish since these areas support a wide diversity of insects, birds, and mammals in addition to providing landscape-scale fire resilience and improved water quality.
YOLO participants will learn about field monitoring techniques, aspen ecology, and current threats current threats to meadows in the region. The work they do will make possible subsequent volunteer opportunities, including monitoring game cameras and further restoration efforts.
During restoration, SYRCL will offer guided Aspen Walks that are open to the public. These tours offer visitors the opportunity to learn about the project, aspen ecology, and how to recreate near aspen stands respectfully and responsibly.
For more information about the Loney Meadow complex restoration project, click here.
