Volunteer to help build beaver dam analog w/ BHNF

Volunteer to help build beaver dam analog w/ BHNF

Prairie Hills Audubon Society has a major campaign to help beaver recover in the Black  Hills and other parts of SD. We support building of beaver dam analogs and hope to find a bunch of members and friends to help with this project and learn about building beaver dam analogs.

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Black Hills National Forest, Northern Hills District’s hydrologist (Anne Dunckel)  is planning a couple of volunteer work days on Silver Creek building beaver dam analogs –  Friday September 8^thand Saturday September 9^th from 8:30-4:00 pm each day. The Forest Service is inviting you to come join us in the building. If you know others that might be interested please pass along the info.

What is a beaver dam analog? Well it is a small human made attempt at a beaver dam .  Volunteers will be weaving willows around posts, packing them with sod mats, and impounding a little bit of water. So be ready to get a little bit muddy and wet. Forest Service will provide some basic PPE, but please bring your own if you prefer and wear closed toed footwear. All the information is attached and added below. If you are planning on attending please RSVP here: Silver Creek Sign up Form.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdnoVz5UtYswPmGZ_YNCHmCHyrxf0y–HIzcHCdwxmjhnbMaw/viewform

Where? Silver Creek is located just east of Rochford Road a little north of the town of Rochford.
Lat Long is: 44.162900, -103.714895.
Estimated time from Spearfish and Rapid City are both about 1 hour and 15 minutes. See attached map for directions. The road to the site is a little rough so a car/truck with some clearance is recommended.

When? Friday September 8^th  8:30am to 4pm and/or Saturday 9^th 8:30am to 4pm. Volunteers are invited on both days and can attend both days or just attend one day. The Forest Service will  appreciate any help people can give. Volunteer check in will begin at 8:30 am and a quick orientation and demonstration will start at 9:00 am each day. If folks need to leave early that is okay, Forest Service just asks that everyone make it to the volunteer orientation at 9:00 am.

What to bring?

• Sturdy closed toed footwear. No sandals or open toed footwear will be allowed. Muck boots or waders will work best.
• Wear clothes you can get dirty. We will be slinging some mud and will be getting dirty.
• Lunch and snacks.
• Water, some will be available but please bring enough for yourself.
• Work gloves, we will have plenty of dipped gloves in all sizes, but if you prefer leather please bring your own.
• Optional: Muck boots, waders, hip boots. We will have a few pairs but cannot guarantee availability
• Optional: Shovels, loppers, hand pruners. We will have tools available, but more are always welcome. Please make sure to properly tag and identify your equipment so it doesn’t get lost in the other tools
• A ready and willing attitude to have fun and get dirty

What Forest Service will provide:

• Safety equipment: Dipped gloves, eye protection, and ear plugs
• Tools: Shovels, loppers, pruners, buckets, wheel barrows, post pounders
• Bottled water and possibly some snacks
• All the beaver dam making materials

Directions

From Rapid City

• Take Hwy 44 to Hwy 385.
• At 385 take a right. Travel 11.8 miles on 385 to the Custer Crossing Rd intersection.
• Turn left on Custer Crossing Rd.
• Travel about 4.8 miles and then turn left on Forest Service Road 203.1C
• Travel about 2.5 miles to a four-way intersection and take a right down Greens Gulch.
• Follow the road down about 0.6 miles until you see the flagged parking area.

From Spearfish

• Take I-90 to Deadwood
• Take exit 17 and travel to Deadwood
• In Deadwood continue on Pioneer Way to 85 Bypass towards Central City
• Continue on 14A past Lead.
• About 4 miles south of Lead take a left onto North Rochford Road
• Travel about 9.5 miles on North Rochford Road and then take a left onto Custer Crossing Rd.
• Travel about 1.4 miles on Custer Crossing and then take a right onto Forest Service Road 203.1C.
• Travel about 2.5 miles to a four-way intersection and take a right down Greens Gulch.
• Follow the road down about 0.6 miles until you see the flagged parking area.