Restoring the Tom Basin Burn Area, Part One

A team of volunteers braved chilly temperatures to plant native brush in the Santa Rosa Range, the first of four trips this spring to restore a burned area.

The Tom Basin Fire, which burned in 2011, left the area scorched and gave a foothold for invasive species.

Volunteers planted 700 bitterbrush plants - a staple of the mule deer's winter diet - and over 150 Great Basin Big Sage and Wyoming Big Sage starts were put in the ground. Aside from being a favorite area for mule deer, Tom Basin is also habitat for the sage grouse.

Join us to restore Tom Basin - there are still three more opportunities this spring! Contact Brenna@NevadaOutdoorSchool.org for dates and details.

Pulling Invasive Sweet Clover in the Desert Refuge

Volunteers got down and dirty in Desert National Wildlife Refuge last weekend when they headed out to the riparian area of Corn Creek to pull sweet clover, an invasive weed.

Over two dozen volunteers joined Friends and the Fish and Wildlife Service.

Even Matt Flores, Research Associate at the Great Basin Institute, was there to lend a pulling hand.

A huge thanks to all the volunteers who spent their Saturday getting dirty with us! Native Nevadans - be they plants, animals, or people - appreciate your hard work!

Friends in the News: Soldier Meadows Cabin Restoration

After four trips to add a new roof, windows, and doors (and a much-needed coat of paint!), the Soldier Meadows public-use cabin is open for business, and the Reno Gazette-Journal wanted to let the public know! You can read about it here.

2011: Year of the Volunteer!

In 2011, volunteers worked on 135 projects, totalling over 10,500 hours, and donating a total of $225,000 of in-kind labor. If Nevada's wild lands could thank you, they would!

Soldier Meadows Cabin - Repaired and Ready for the Public

A solitary, scenic spot for photographers, hunters, hikers, and wilderness warriors, the Soldier Meadows cabin is first-come public use. Located in the heart of the Black Rock National Conservation Area, the primitive cabin - there is no electricity or plumbing - comfortably sleeps five, and is open year-round. The area offers access to multiple designated wilderness areas, including the North Black Rock Range Wilderness, High Rock Lake Wilderness, and East Fork High Rock Canyon Wilderness.

The historic cabin is open to all responsible users, from hot springs afficionados to chukar hunters (photo by Phil Akins)

Contractors donated their skills to assist with structural repairs, including the roof. Over three weekends, the storage area was enclosed, two new windows were put in, a gravel floor was laid, and obscene graffiti was painted over (photo by Pat Bruce)

Ladders and tool belts decorate the cabin at lunch (photo by Pat Bruce)

Installed in January, the wood stove will keep visitors toasty! Recommended fire wood size is less than 24 inches long and no more than 4 inches wide (photo by Phil Akins)

Zach Million of the Winnemucca BLM lends a helping hand by installing new shingles (photo by Pat Bruce)

UNR student Seth Barton takes a break from working on the chimney (photo by Pat Bruce)

Project Leader Pat Bruce and a couple volunteers smile after a long day of work!

UPDATE: On March 30, 2012, installation of the new door was finished at the cabin, completing the bulk of the restoration.

 

Pat Bruce ensures a good seal when the door is shut. (photo by Zack Million)

 

The solid new door will keep cabin visitors warm and eliminate drafts during cold weather. (photo by Pat Bruce)

Summer of Sheldon Part One

Over 30 volunteers came out to Badger Campground in the Sheldon National Wildlife Refuge to pull fence that was blocking antelope migratory routes and wildlife water access.

Friends of Nevada Wilderness teamed up with the Oregon Natural Desert Association to take out almost four miles of fence in five hours - most of the fence had five strands of wire - that's a total of 20 miles rolled and bundled!

After their hard work, the team was treated to bowls of Dutch oven Jambalaya, a hearty stew prepared by Sheena Britschgi.

Thanks again for all your hardwork - the antelope appreciate it!

Alternative Spring Break with Friends of Nevada Wilderness

Here's a taste of the work our awesome team of volunteers put in over Alternative Spring Break in the Desert National Wildlife Refuge! (all photos by Kurt Kuznicki)

Thanks again for all your hard work!!

Lovell Canyon Restoration - Day Two

Another successful day in Lovell Canyon!

2010: By the Numbers

Interested to see what we accomplished this past year? Check out the video below!

Volunteering With Friends of Nevada Wilderness

As we gear up for a productive 2011 season, we're excited to see returning volunteers and greenhorns join us! If you're interested in volunteering but not quite sure what you'll be doing, watch our video, "Why Volunteer?", below to get a taste of the Friends of Nevada Wilderness stewardship experience.

Lovell Canyon Restoration - Day One

7 buckets of glass and 32 bags of trash were collected last Saturday by FNW volunteers at Lovell Canyon - a great start to 2011!

Thanks to everyone who came out for our first project of the year...

You made a big difference to a beautiful slice of Nevada wild!

Project Update: Black Rock Dune Protection 2008

The fence completed by our wonderful volunteers over two years ago to protect one set of Black Rock playa dunes is holding strong! Plus, the scattered seeds have grown and turned the area into a mini-oasis, its natural state.

Holding strong... (photo by Darcy Shepard)

...and flourishing from our re-seeding! (Darcy Shepard)

Black Rock Desert Foothills: Before and After

For National Public Lands Day 2010 in the Black Rock Desert with Friends of Black Rock High Rock, Nevada Outdoor School and Mountain View Montessori School, one group worked to fence in sensitive habitat while another set of volunteers traveled into the foothills to clean up an abandoned residence that was on government land.

While there, our team of hard-working volunteers also erased an illegal vehicle track to prevent others from driving through and harming the sensitive habitat.

Before this illegal off-road track was worked on (photo by Brian Beffort)

Volunteers broke down road indicators to prevent off-highway vehicle travel (Brian Beffort)

After the volunteers finish erasing the illegal road (Brian Beffort)

Black Rock: Before and After

Friends of Nevada Wilderness joined other conservation organizations to build a fence around sensitive habitat on the Black Rock playa to celebrate National Public Lands Day. Most sand dunes are formed when loose sand is windblown into an obstacle, forming a mound. However, the dunes on the Black Rock playa indicate springs below the surface. The water pushes the sediment upwards, forming a dune and creating a habitat for desert plants and wildlife.

Irresponsible off-highway vehicles driving through the area have began to slowly destroy the dunes. Volunteers worked a long, hot Saturday in the sun to build a fence around the area to prevent off-roading in the habitat.

Before: the smaller of the two dunes to be encircled. It was also re-seeded with greasewood, the natural foliage of springs on the playa (photo by Darcy Shepard)

Volunteers building the fence (Darcy Shepard)

After Friends of Nevada Wilderness and other participants finished at the Black Rock National Public Lands Day event (Darcy Shepard)

National Public Lands Day Events

Sunrise on the Black Rock Playa (photo by Brian Beffort)

Friends of Nevada Wilderness will be participating in multiple events for National Public Lands Day across the state. In northern Nevada, FNW will be leading a restoration trip to the Black Rock area September 17-19. Nevada Outdoor School will be hosting a kids’ camp to teach the younger campers about conservation and the environment while FNW puts the grown-ups to work. To preserve the playa's natural beauty, we will be building fences to keep off-highway vehicles out of protected areas and removing debris. Interested in joining us? Call (775) 324-7667.

Spring Mountains in Fall (photo by Kurt Kuznicki)

For southern Friends of Nevada Wilderness, Kurt Kuznicki will be leading a trip to the Spring Mountains on September 25 from 8 am to 4 pm, the official date of National Public Lands Day. Trail maintenance and trail building for the Blue Tree Trail System will be the focus of this outing, which is open to adults, families, and seniors. Want to tag along? Call Kurt at (775) 745-3119.

Check back later this week for other National Public Lands Day events in your area!