WINNEMUCCA - Community members of Winnemucca, Reno, and the surrounding area volunteered their time out on the Santa Rosa Ranger District throughout April and May and had tremendous stewardship success.
Over the course of just six project days, 66 dedicated volunteers were able to help revive land seriously damaged by the Hanson wildfire this past fall outside Paradise Valley.
The project was designed to ensure the restoration of habitat for mule deer, sage grouse, and native plants, as well as minimize the invasion of plants such as cheatgrass and Medusahead.
Volunteers successfully planted over 6,000 bitterbrush seedlings and placed 1,500 seedling cages. Friends of Nevada Wilderness partnered with the U.S. Forest Service and the Nevada Department of Wildlife on the project. Diverse groups of dedicated volunteers came together in this effort despite various backgrounds.
Volunteers included community members who work at various gold mines, families, government agencies, boy scout troops, ex-military, local nonprofit staff, and even students and faculty from Great Basin College.
These eclectic groups enriched each project weekend working towards a common goal and finding success.
Funding for these events came from the Dream Tag's Charitable Fund at the Community Foundation of Western Nevada. Friends of Nevada Wilderness would like to thank the Community Foundation and the National Forest Foundation for their contributions and support.
Local volunteers will join Friends of Nevada Wilderness this fall to continue on fire restoration efforts, fence removal and range allotment monitoring in the Santa Rosa Ranger District.
If you would like to come together in this effort with your family, friends, organization, or group, please contact Friends of Nevada Wilderness to volunteer.
A first-time volunteer with Friends had this to say about volunteering: "The weekend experience as a volunteer in the Santa Rosa Range doing restoration work definitely gave me an extra bounce in my step and sparkle in my eyes on Monday morning. It was great to be part of a team with the goal of restoring the wilderness in such a beautiful and pristine area. Very few stories of white emigrants crossing Nevada in the 1800s include the term "paradise," so when you hear of a town with the name "Paradise Valley," you'd do well to check it out...Definitely a trip to remember."
Project details can be found at at www.nevadawilderness.org, or contact Brenna Archibald at brenna.archibald@nevadaoutdoorschool.org to join the volunteer efforts and aid this land in recovery for future generations.
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