Capstone Projects – Class of 2009

 

These are some suggested projects that can help you get a taste for a few of the ways Master Naturalists volunteer.  The Chapter’s goal is to help you get involved in volunteering as well as to get better acquainted with the other members.  Therefore, these volunteer opportunities will be shared with other chapter members as well.  You are welcome to participate in any or all.

 

Tanager Trails, Rolla.  This 60-acre nature reserve is owned by the Ozark Rivers Chapter of the National Audubon Society

Directions:  From I-44 Exit 185, take White Columns Drive off the roundabout.  Turn right onto Meriweather Road, which dead ends at the Tanager Trails parking lot.

If driving from 63 (Bishop), take E Highway (University Drive) from the Havener Center to the circle (White Columns Drive is immediately to your right off the circle). Drive down the hill about half way, you will see apartment (duplexes) on your right, turn there.

For more information, contact Connie Roberts (the liaison between ORCNAS and MN) (or by telephone 573-426-5616)

 

1.  Construct a Footbridge and Improve Trail

Date: Saturday, March 6, 2010

Time: Starting at 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Bring a sack lunch or plan to take lunch at one of the nearby fast food joints.

This project will involve building a rustic, cedar log footbridge across a drainage on the Glade Trail.  We will cut down six- or eight-inch dbh cedar, limb them on site, and carry them (using a hand skidder) to the location.  We will dig trenches on each end, lay the logs and tamp in rocks and soil.  If the logs cannot be "planed" on site with a chain saw, then we will nail 2 x 10 boards (nails or screws and boards will be supplied) across the logs.  We will also work on improving and relocating a section (approximately 50 yards) of the Glade Trail bordering the glade, brushing out the trailhead and then marking the trailheads with new signage.  Bring work gloves, shovels, saws, limb clippers, garden rakes, leaf blower, pickax, digging/tamping bar, etc. Anyone using power tools must have the appropriate safety gear.  Wear appropriate-weather clothing and boots.  The trail is on a moderate slope with loose rocks and slippery leaves, soil.

 

 2.  Assist with Prescribed Burn

Date is TBA but will be before April 15, on a Saturday or Sunday.

Time: 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM 

The date cannot be fixed due to requirement of staying within burn plan guidelines on weather and getting permission from the Rolla City Fire Department (TT is in city limits).

Advanced Training: Level 1 Prescribed Burn class (date, time, place TBA) is strongly recommended, but not required. 

We will be burning the glade and grassland areas of the nature reserve.  Wear leather boots and non-synthetic clothing, cotton (denim) or fire retardant material (Nomex).  Bring work gloves, rake, shovel, leaf blower, and water to carry with you. If you have drip torches please bring them. Diesel/gasoline mix will be provided.  Please understand that the prescribed burn may be postponed if weather [wind] conditions are not suitable. Connie Roberts will be supervising the burn.  Please let her know if you are able to assist on a moment’s notice by emailing her with your telephone number (she could call you the morning of the burn).

 

Bray Conservation Area, Rolla.

Establish Native Planting on Pond Bank

Since the Bray pond has recently been renovated, we need to revegetate the bank with Missouri native plants.  We have a clean slate to work with and this would be a great opportunity for the Master Naturalists to learn about the benefits of growing natives.  It would also be a great benefit to the Bray Area aesthetically and as an educational opportunity for future programs.  Lots of visitors to the Bray Area have asked many times about specific plants and how they can grow their own.  Having a variety of species in a highly visible area will encourage more people to use natives to “Grow Native”.

For more information, contact Connie Schmiedeskamp (or by telephone 573-368-2489)

Project Timetable:

Date:  Friday, January 29 or Saturday, January 30.

Time:  8 AM – 4 PM

There will be a Grow Native workshop in Rolla on Jan. 29 & 30.  This will be open to the public and a good introduction to natives.  The 8-hour class is not a prerequisite for participation in this capstone project, but can be used for advanced training hours.  For registration information, check the Grow Native website at Grow Native!

Date:  Thursday, February 4 (Snow Date:  February 11)

Time:  6:00 - 8:00 PM

We will offer an advanced training class at the Bray area on the following Thurs. Feb. 4, 6 – 8 pm. (snow day will be Feb. 11, 6 – 8 pm).  The class will be led by Master Naturalist Pat Perry, with fellow Master Naturalists Judith Dudley and Sandy Hubbard assisting.  Judith and Sandy both have lots of experience with natives and will be good mentors to others hoping to learn more.  The first hour of the class will be an introduction to natives and during the second hour we will plan the planting area and choose which plants to use. 

Date: Saturday April 17 (Rain/Snow Date:  April 24)

Time:  9:00 AM

April 17 will be our planting day (usual last freeze day is about April 15), with a snow/rain day of April 24.  We will plant and mulch the entire bank on that day and finish by mounting a sign to recognize the Master Naturalists for their work.  There will be a pot-luck lunch that day, with dessert provided.

 

Big Piney River, Pulaski County

Monitor Water Quality

Stream Team #3481 (Big Piney Tie Rafters) monitors water quality at 4 sites along a 7-mile stretch of the Big Piney River, near Duke, MO.  For this project, you will be assisting the team in sampling for macroinvertebrates as well as testing water samples for turbidity, pH, conductivity, dissolved oxygen, nitrates, and ammonia; and measuring stream discharge rate.  For more information about the Missouri Stream Team program, see the Stream Team Website

Directions:  The location is about 45 minutes from St. Robert, 1 hour from Rolla, 1 hour+ from Salem.  As parking space is limited, we will decide where to meet up after we know how many are coming, and send you detailed directions at that time.

We must know how many to expect for this project.  To sign up or for more information, contact Pam Barnabee (or by telephone 417-458-3099) by March 20.

Date: Saturday, April 3 (Rain/Flood Date:  April 10)

Time:  10:00 AM to 4:00 PM

We will be wading into the water, so wear shoes that can get wet.  We recommend wearing pants made of material that dries quickly.  Bring a lunch and something to drink; we will picnic on a gravel bar.

Float Trip Option:  We generally float from Six Crossings (private) access (our first sampling site) down to the MDC Ross Access, stopping at our sampling sites and picking up any trash we spot on the way.  If you have a canoe, boat, or kayak, bring it (along with paddles and life jackets/cushions) and we can shuttle.  If you want to float and don’t have a boat, let Pam know.  There’s a possibility of borrowing canoes, or renting from a local outfitter.  Rental would be about $20 per person.

No Boat Option:  This group will sample at 2 of the sites that are accessible by road; they will be finished by about 2:00 PM.

Advanced Training:  The 8-hour Introductory Level Volunteer Water Quality Monitoring Workshop is not a prerequisite for this capstone project, but you will want to take it if you are interested in monitoring water quality with an existing stream team or starting your own team.  Workshops are held at a variety of locations in the spring; the schedule will be released in early February.