HABITATWORK.ORG - Calendar of Events

"Sentiment without action is the ruin of the soul." ~ Edward Abbey

Save the Dates...
Upcoming Habitat Works Projects

(expanded descriptions below)

June 6, 2009

Marijuana Camp Clean Up

Cuyama Watershed, Los Padres NF

June 20 & 21, 2009

Conservation Backpack Survey

Piedra Blanca, Sespe Wilderness, Los Padres NF

June 27 & 28, 2009

Conservation Backpack Survey

Grassy Flat and Devil's Gate

Sespe Wilderness, Los Padres NF

Many of our activities are subject to climate and habitat conditions, including fire, flood, and the biological cycles of plants and animals which are beyond our control. These factors can force unforeseeable changes in even the best laid plans. We apologize for this inconvenience, and look forward working with you, providing stewardship in Southern California's wildlife habitat! ~ Kim & Tom

June 6, 2009

Marijuana Camp Clean Up &

Invasive Species Removal

Cuyama Watershed, Los Padres NF

Busted marijuana camps are littered with water line and camp supplies which support the farm and the personnel who protect them. Clearing the land for cultivation and camps within forests almost entirely usurps native habitat. They also divert critical water supplies from native streams and the wildlife they support.

We'll be going in to a decommissioned marijuana camp to clear out the junk (sorry, the pot is already confiscated) and help Mother Nature reclaim the habitat for native flora and fauna. We'll drive to within a quarter mile of the camp to take up the infrastructure and take out what we can. On a five scale, this work is about a 3.5.

We'll camp at a totally beautiful campsite Saturday night and enjoy home-grown acoustical music and a lavish community dinner. We'll take in the beauty of the Milky Way over a near full moon, resetting our souls at the dawn of summer. We'll also get to check out some cool rock art.

Sunday we'll hit a small patch of knapweed on our way back to town, bagging the flowering plants before the seeds are set.

Please sign up early, limited spots. Sturdy adults welcome, directions come out a few days before to registered participants.

June 20 & 21, 2009

Invasive Species Survey - Backpack

Piedra Blanca, Sespe Wilderness, Los Padres NF

     On this trip, we will backpack into the Wild and Scenic Sespe River Gorge, surveying for invasive species. Even a few established plants can become a terrible infestation following a major fire or drought, or flooding where invasive species thrive and make their greatest advances in the wake of catastrophic disturbances.
     We are looking for Class I invasives on this important watershed to help secure future planning and funding for their control. Eliminating the introduced invasive plants provides better habitat for wildlife and a richer watershed for us all.
     This trip is best taken with lightweight backpacking gear including 'dry sacks', as dunkings are possible. We will survey 4-6 miles of stream at a major confluence. This project may be somewhat arduous, but the scenery cannot be matched in Southern California.

Sturdy adults welcome, directions come out a few days before to registered participants.

These are a few of our favorite things (clockwise from top left):
long-nosed snake, California condor, mountain yellow-legged frog, pronghorn

Register for a Project

     To register for an event, please copy and paste the following info into an e-mail to wildlife@HabitatWork.org:

Name:
Project:
Date:
Best e-mail:
   (Seriously, if you don't hear from us, check your bulk, spam or junk folders!)
Best phone:
   (may need to contact you the morning of an event)
City:
Vehicle make and model:
Carpool driver or rider?:
Vegetarian, Vegan or Omni?:
Age:
If you're not on our e-list, how did you hear about us?:
Any questions?:

    We'll send you a gear list and put you on the trip or wait list. Directions come out 3 days before the event.
     Project logistics may not lend themselves to arriving late or leaving early. But often a weekend project will have 1-day options. If you have time constraints, please let us know so we can try to to accommodate you.
    Our goal is to provide the most access to participation as is appropriate for the work. We look forward to meeting and working with you, caring for Southern California's wildlife habitat!

June 27 & 28, 2009

Grassy Flat or Bust, Backpack Survey

Devil's Gate, Sespe Wilderness, Los Padres NF

     Help protect this rugged and beautiful watershed and its abundant wildlife in the heart of the Sespe Wilderness.
     There is nothing like the Sespe Wilderness anywhere in Southern California. 'Rugged and beautiful' is the understatement - multi-colored bedrock at every angle, deep and wide swimming ponds, water falls, nesting birds and water fowl, mammal track and sign everywhere and native flora in full riot.
     We'll hike along Sespe Creek with condors flying overhead, near Devil's Gate and Tar Creek. This section has its fair share of boulder scrambling, bush whacking, deep wading and/or swimming, and hiking around water falls, mostly without a trail. This survey-only project will help document the presence of Class 1 invasives (tamarisk and others) and secure planning and funding for future conservation efforts.
    This trip requires very lightweight backpacking gear (20 lbs or less for the weekend) including 'dry sacks', as dunkings are possible.

This unique Southern California experience cannot be matched. The intrepid and well prepared will enjoy this immensely.

Sturdy adults welcome. Directions come out a few days before to registered participants. Limited spots.

© Habitat Works of Southern California.
HW is a project of Social and Environmental Entrepreneurs (saveourplanet.org), a 501c(3) nonprofit organization.