Outdoor Opportunities
April 21, 2011, pages 16 and 21.....
Volunteers Need For Spring Projects in Park, Frogbit Removal in Summer and for the Charlotte Land Trust

Charlotte Park and Wildlife Refuge Volunteers Needed for Spring Projects
by The Park Oversight Committee

Hello to Our Fellow Park Lovers
Spring is quickly approaching and we have lots of projects planned to improve our Park. We would love to have your help with any or all of the upcoming activities.
Here is an overview of what we have planned for the next few months. We will send you updates as the project dates approach.

Riparian Buffer - Holmes Creek
April 23 – 9 a.m.
20 Volunteers Needed
The Park has received a grant from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to purchase native shrubs to be used to create a riparian buffer between the agricultural field and the headwater creek of the Holmes Brook. 
We have ordered both potted and bare root shrubs and need volunteers to help plant them. Please bring your own shovel, bucket and work gloves. We will provide snacks and beverages.
Contact Jessie Bradley at jrbradley@madriver.com or 425-3636, or               Sue Smith at ssmith@gmavt.net or 425-2732.

Green Up Day
May 7 - 9:30 a.m. to noon
We will be planting small evergreen trees, continuing the quest to remove invasive plants, and putting the final touches on the riparian buffer. 
Meet at the parking lot on Greenbush Road.  Please bring brush-cutting tools and work gloves. Refreshments will be provided.
Contact Jessie Bradley at jrbradley@madriver.com or 425-3636, or               Jenny Cole at colelogcabin@gmavt.net or 425-3105.
 
Biological Control of Purple Loosestrife - Leaf Feeding Beetles
May to July -
Specific Dates To Be Determined
Ryan Crehan from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service will be coming to Charlotte to show us how to find and collect beetles where they have previously been released and have colonized in wetland areas around Charlotte. Once we collect the beetles, we will be relocating them to areas in the park that have been overtaken by purple loosestrife.
Here is a link to an article if you are interested in learning more about this project: extension.umn.edu/distribution/horticulture/dg7080.html.
Contact Jenny Cole at colelogcabin@gmavt.net or 425-3105, or Jessie Bradley at jrbradley@madriver.com or 425-3636.

The Charlotte Park & Wildlife Refuge Oversight Committee would like to thank you in advance for your support and enthusiasm!
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Caretakers Needed For Aquatic Invasive Removal of European frogbit plants (hydrocharis morsus-ranae) in the Thorp/Kimball wetlands of Town Farm Bay of Lake Champlain in Charlotte. Frogbit is similar in its behavior as an aquatic invasive to water chestnut but it is free floating and very easily plucked out of the water. A long term volunteer caretaker management plan is being employed now and caretakers are needed. The caretaker work is done in a beautiful wetland environment. Lewis Creek Association welcomes caretaker volunteers to sign up for discrete management zone hand work. Onsite training, boats, life vests and other field work gear are provided.

2011 VOLUNTEER SIGN UP DAYS FOR FROGBIT REMOVAL

June 14, 15, 16
June 21, 22, 23
June 28, 29, 30
July 5, 6, 7
July 12, 13, 14
July 19, 20, 21
July 26

Contact Susan Smith, ssmith@gmavt.net
425-2732
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Volunteer Opportunity with the Charlotte Land Trust

The Charlotte Land Trust is looking for a volunteer to help us manage our stewardship of conserved properties. The job would be ideal for a fit person who would enjoy yearly visits and walks around beautiful Charlotte farms and natural areas in the fall.  The purpose of these visits is to check in with the owners and their properties on which CLT holds conservation easements. The land trust currently holds 12 easements, totaling about 400 acres. 
A stewardship volunteer would be responsible for sending out a brief note to each property owner asking for a convenient time for a visit. After conducting the visit and ensuring that the properties are in compliance, the volunteer would follow up with another letter to the owners and create a site visit report for the property file.  
Volunteers would receive training and support from the CLT board. Our past Stewardship person did this job for five years and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. He will be available to help the new volunteer.  If interested, or for more information, please contact Frances Foster at 425-3510.