Pine Creek Conservation Area Cottonwood Cage Removal
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The Last Darkness
The Last Darkness
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Helen Harbin on Wildlife
Helen Harbin on Wildlife
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Ryan “Dirtmonger” Sylva, ODT thru-hiker 2017
Ryan “Dirtmonger” Sylva, ODT thru-hiker 2017
“To me, it’s a thru-hike in an isolated place that promotes a conversation in land management, ethics and usage. Hiking across a vast and remote landscape and having a random and chance encounter with cowboys and hunters to discuss how ‘all of us’ should treat the land, how we all have a responsibility, no matter our political leanings, really showed me the pulse of the people in rural areas, especially here out west.”
Organizer: Stewardship Team
Project Timeline: 4/1/2025 through 6/30/2025
Region: John Day River Basin
Difficulty Rating: Level 2: Moderate
Volunteers Needed: 20 volunteers
About the place
This project takes place on the Pine Creek Conservation Area, which is owned and managed by the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs. Pine Creek is within the traditional lands of the Tenino people, a band of the Warm Springs Tribe and the Northern Paiute people. The area is also part of the traditional lands of the Cayuse, one of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
Pine Creek Conservation Area is located near Clarno, Oregon and is a protected property managed for its wildlife habitat. Pine Creek is a tributary of the John Day River and runs for over 10 miles through the Conservation Area. It provides important habitat for steelhead and a diversity of wildlife and bird species. ONDA has organized restoration projects at Pine Creek Conservation Area for over 20 years. This project contributes to this work by expanding protective cages around cottonwood trees planted on past volunteer trips.
About the project
This project will involve removing protective fencing from around cottonwood trees that have outgrown their cages, and installing new, expanded fencing to continue protecting these young trees from hungry beavers. Volunteers will receive initial training from Pine Creek Conservation Area staff, then will work indepedently in teams of two to four to visit predetermined points where Conservation Area staff have documented cottonwood trees with cages in need of expansion.
Timing
After signing up for the project, volunteers will be given the opportunity to sign up for a specific date or dates during which they plan to complete the project. Volunteers will then be given instructions on when and where to meet up with Pine Creek Conservation Area staff to receive tools and training to complete the work.
Participant responsibilities
Participants are responsible for providing their own food and water, as well as transportation to and from the trip. Supportive, ankle-high boots are recommended for this project. We recommend bringing your own work gloves to provide a comfortable fit, but PCCA staff has gloves available to borrow if needed.
Difficulty
This project will require walking over uneven ground, using hand tools such as loppers, mallets, and wire cutters, and bending and kneeling.
Registration
An ONDA registration application and medical form are required for this project.
Project Details
All the information you will need to know about this independent project will be emailed to you within 2 weeks of your registration.