July Mountain Memo – CB Land Trust

July Mountain Memo E-Newsletter

Photo by Xavi Fane

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Summer Stewardship Updates

We know that summer can be a busy time for everyone, and as always, our focus is taking care of your conserved open spaces, trails, rivers, and wetlands. Our aim is to ensure that these spaces can be treasured for generations to come. Be sure to say hi if you see our stewardship team working hard out there!

Voluntary No Float
Thank you for respecting the voluntary no-float period on the upper stretch of the Slate River during critical nesting times of our local Great Blue Heron population. While this no-float period ended on July 15, the Slate River Working Group recommends that recreators float the river responsibly without loud noises through wildlife habitat, stay on their watercraft to avoid trespassing and please leave dogs at home. The river will become too low to float without trespassing in the coming weeks.

Livestock and River Fences
With livestock moving to the upper end of the valley, please be sure to give cows and ranchers plenty of room and respect. Also note that there are “boater friendly” cattle fences up across the Slate River above town. Remember to get low and pass underneath them.

Monitoring
Every year our stewardship team monitors nearly 6,000 acres of land. Whether the Land Trust owns the title or holds the easement, we monitor the land to ensure that all conservation values are being upheld and that the best care possible is given to these landscapes.

Noxious Weeds
Each summer, about 800 acres of CBLT fee-owned properties are surveyed and treated for state-listed noxious weeds using an integrated and ecologically-sensitive approach to ensure native plant communities, wildlife habitats, and grazing lands remain healthy and productive.

Join us for Volunteer Work Days

Thursday, July 27, 11AM-1PM

Where: Confluence Parcel. Limited parking is available along the Slate River Road just west of the intersection with Gothic Road. Please carpool or bike if possible.

What: We’ll be working along the Slate River at the Confluence parcel to pull and bag oxeye daisy. This reduces its population and prevents it from going to seed.

Why: As the county considers potential future replacement of the Gothic Road bridge between the Towns of Crested Butte and Mt Crested Butte, the Land Trust is working to reduce the population of oxeye daisy, a state-listed noxious weed, along this section of the Slate River. Following the bridge replacement, which will mean less water backup and erosion behind the bridge during spring runoff, we expect this site to be ripe for riparian restoration. Reducing the soil seed bank now will put us ahead of the game when the opportunity for site restoration arises.

Other info: Please bring gloves, shoes/boots/sandals you can get wet, and anything else you may like to keep comfortable (sunscreen, hats, bug spray, etc.) Cold drinks and light snacks will be provided.

Tuesday, August 1st and 8th, 4-7PM

Where: Kapushion Conservation Easement. Meet at the small parking area where Butte Ave turns into Peanut Lake Road.

What: Removing old fence line t-posts on one of the Land Trust’s conservation easements near the Slate River. This includes barbed wire!

Why: This particular parcel has a significant amount of obsolete fence line that is no longer in use. To reduce impacts to wildlife that graze and inhabit the property, removing old fences benefits the migration of wildlife.

Other info: The terrain that we’ll be working in is semi-rugged. We will be walking through tall grasses, thick willows, and spots of very wet ground. Please bring durable gloves, clothing, and footwear that you can get wet and dirty. No prior experience or special tools are necessary. Bring sunscreen, a hat, bug spray, water, etc. Food and drinks will be provided afterwards.

Click the links to RSVP!
Tue Aug 1: https://www.backcountryhunters.org/cb_land_trust_fence_pull
Tue Aug 8: https://www.backcountryhunters.org/cb_land_trust_fence_pull_8_8

Summer Events

The Land Trust’s 5th Annual Starry Evening Gala and 21st Annual Caddis Cup Fly Fishing Tournament were a huge success thanks to our amazing community of supporters and sponsors! Whether you were able to attend, volunteer, or support the Land Trust in another way, we are so grateful. We are honored to continue working with you to protect land for people, wildlife, and ranching.

Visit our events webpage to sign up for upcoming field trips and to mark your calendars for next summer’s events!

StoryWalk®

Be sure to take a stroll on the wide path of the Lower Loop to catch the second StoryWalk® book installation of the summer! Together with Gunnison County Libraries, “Would You Come Too?” by Liz Garton Scanlon is now on display.
Enjoy!